Music & Toy Room

Today I moved the desk in the music room and have been busy rearranging things. The music room is  now going to be a music and toy room for our princess Katharine. 

The desk in here was already in the music room, my current task was to move it from the center of the room, where I had moved it to in Jan 2025, and now it is up against the walls again. I started the process Monday by moving all the music instruments and books etc stuff out and into the front room. Corey had spent Sunday evening cleaning the front room from all the Little People toys (Corey did that while we were on our fall drive). So a clean space means that gets to be the dump space while we try to make another space a clean space. It's like one step forward then three steps back...

The music room desk is a crazy heavy desk. I have to get under it and do a leg press against the underneath side of the desk and try to shimmy it inch by inch across the room. 

Corey was here and helped me get it against the wall, and also helped get the hutch thing on top of the desk. I felt bad to keep interrupting him, so one last task was to get the carpet under the desk. This is another carpet from my sister that matches the carpet in the side room. I had asked Katharine to help me first, and I had it in position so all she had to do was slide the carpet edge under the desk as I lifted it with a leg press, and then I'd check it and have her push the carpet bubble flat, but instead she slid the fold of the carpet under. I couldn't see what she was doing, but I said "Did you get it under?" and she said "You need to lift it higher..." as I was like I can't lift it higher!! that's when I decided I needed Corey's help, not a toddler's. She's cute though. So Corey helped me with that and now the carpet is centered in the room properly. I moved the books out from the white ikea shelves (I have too many books) and I don't know where I'm going to put all of them, I should probably donate some, but we are using the shelf for her toys for a while. Side room is still clean since Saturday. Daniel reading today. 

We all like clean and simplified spaces. I wish we could all do better and keeping them clean. I'm fighting for the side room though. After scriptures each night, I push the couch cushions back in, fix the pillows and blankets, and I'm also fighting to keep it swept and mopped. As for all the excess I have, I remember reading once that you can't organize clutter, you just have to get rid of it. I need to get in a simplify and purge mood. I did get a book "Simplify" from the library recently. I'll try to read that to help me get rid of stuff I don't use. I took a ride to the ruins this evening. I was going to go tomorrow morning while Katharine is at a playdate, but I decided to go tonight so that I can catch up on computer work tomorrow instead. The autumn colors in the canyon are at their peak right now!

Tonight at scriptures Corey told Sophi that she's going to Korea with him next month. He told me last night that he booked them tickets after he saw a killer deal on airfare. His friend Peter/Byunchul has been asking him to come, so it seemed like the stars aligned. 

She's excited, and in return she agreed to go along with all his silly fatherly rules without question for the next 4 years until she graduates. Then she can do her own thing. 

P-Day Call & Roses

It's Abi's p-day. She Abi shared some fun stories on her call to us today. She's two months in (in two more days) and still smiling.

She called when I was on a drive with Sophi, taking her to fill out some paper work for her new job - she got a job as a sweeper at the local elementary, a job a neighbor friend also has. So that's fun, M-F after school for a few hours, weekends off, so that's a pretty good gig for a 15 year old. For FHE we had a few chocolate raspberry yogurt treats that I made after watching a youtube reel that I can't find now. I made them in ice cube trays, which worked ok. There was precipitation in the forecast for today and tomorrow, so I cut the big beautiful three headed rose from yesterday (and two others) and brought them inside so they wouldn't risk being beat up or destroyed by any hard rain. 

I've been enjoying them all day.

Taking them into the bathroom for a photo shoot - to catch their reflection and make it look like I have even more roses! DO YOU SEE THESE!!!?!?!?!

Oh my goodness. Even without the reflection boosting their number, I have to say that these are the BIGGEST prettiest poofy-est loveliest roses I have ever seen. Wow wow wow and sigh, each time I've walked past them today I press my nose into their soft petals and breath them in, so gorgeous. I've been thinking about Isaiah 35:1- what does it mean to blossom like a rose??

• The Setting: The chapter paints a picture of a dry, empty desert that suddenly becomes glad, joyful, and full of colorful life. My bush was dead and dry and empty looking sticks only a few months ago (last pic), now it's so full and vibrant and colorful! I love the sunset colors of the peace rose...

• The Symbolism: Blooming like a rose shows that God can bring beauty and new life into the hardest, most empty places. 

That is a beautiful symbol! Corey shared with our class yesterday that we can take Isaiah's teachings and make them ours - like how Brigham Young took that same verse and made it about the Salt Lake Desert. I'm going to try and find some verses in Isaiah that I can take and make my own - make them about my life. 

Kyhv Peak

I took the kids on a fall drive this evening. I wanted to go all day, but didn't get the troops rallied in time to beat the sunset, so we cut it a little short and didn't do the Alpine loop and just went up Squaw Peak. 

I shared this pic with the college kids, and I got a few comments - Hyrum: "Why does it look like there's barely any kids home when there's 7?" Ethan: "Yea fr, that's it? And how is Sophi second in command??" Haha. Yeah, Sophi was the first baby born at this house, when this current chapter of our life started. Now it's 15 years later and she's not only second in command, but Lily is a senior and leaving next summer, so in less than a year, Sophi will be in charge of the kids! That's nuts. "Where'd all the time go?"  

I'm not sure we'll make it around the Alpine Loop or Guardsman this year, but we did something tonight so we'll call that a win. We left too late to do Alpine Loop. Maybe we could do it for FHE tomorrow? Hmm, but the kids prob don't want to go on another drive with me. Hmm, this was 9 Oct 2022 (THAT was a gorgeous year!) ... maybe there's still time? It was such a hot dry summer though, I think most of the colors are past their peak. But maybe we can try to drive around during General Conference this next weekend. So it was a nice drive. One more pic as the sun was setting over Timp. Can barely see Peter...

Not as brilliant as other years, but that's ok, we'll take whatever autumn we're able to get. We've been up here before, 12 Oct 2017 and 10 Oct 2019. Oh I need to correct myself - back then it was named Squaw Peak, but I learned tonight that it was renamed in September 2022 to Kyhv, the Ute word for "mountain". Ok I had to look this up too, cause it sounds like Kyiv Ukraine... Kyve the Ute word is pronounced as "kaiv" (rhyming with dive or hive), or phonetically as keye-v. Good to know. The drive was nice. Fall is slipping away too quickly though, sigh. When we got back, Corey had just cleaned the house the whole time. The Little People in the front room are all cleaned up now. I need to make a play room area for Katharine... I shall work on that this week. 

I do like that fall comes with a few fall roses, and check out these beauties!

These are huge roses like I usually have gotten over the years on this shrub, not like the beginner buds from this summer as the bush recovered from Wesley's pruning job. 

I'm very happy with these! I've been taking time to smell the roses every day. They are lovely. 

Big Mountain

The forecast says it's going to rain Monday and Tuesday next week, so I really wanted to get up in the mountains today. Corey needed to get in a ride too, since he spent his morning at soccer games. I spent mine helping my sister move. There were some logistics we had to work out first - Natalie had a b-day party at 6. Hyrum agreed to take her there (out by Churchill) and then he'd go to Wayne's and stay there for the next few days. Ok great. Sophi agreed to stay home while we did our ride. She had a b-day party at 8. That works, we'll be back by then. Katharine wanted to go to Uptown Jungle, but I told her that Sloane was coming over to play, and so she was ok with that. Then Corey and I left. I was game for the ruins, Park City, or Corner Canyon. Corey veto's PC cause he didn't want to drive that far. He was game for Snowbird. So we went there, and unfortunately it is Oktoberfest, which means we had to park far away. Not that big of a deal, cause we were able to just ride our bikes down, BUT I think it did cause enough of a delay that we didn't get to the top like I was hoping. But it was beautiful. 

Maybe us not getting to the top was because I kept stopping to take pictures. 

IT WAS SO PRETTY! Not the most amazing pretty (kinda muted colors again this year) but still pretty, and with the sun shining through the trees it was lovely.

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous

Thanks for the ride sweetie! 13.61 miles in 2 hours 47 min, 2 hour climb, 47 min ride back down.

Not bad for two 50 year olds. 

It got dark quickly.

Pretty pretty. Maybe there will still be a chance to go to the top, but that was a lot of work... I wonder if I have it in me to go again this year even if we do get a chance. We were so close! We got the same distance as last time, 13.60 miles, actually we got 13.61 today, but that's cause we rode from up on the road down to the parking lot cause parking was all full with Oktoberfest, boo. Oh well. I bet we'll have another chance, though Saturday soccer games makes it tricky. First and last time that we got to the top was 2024. I love the view from up there on top of the world. 

SO, it was a busy day and I am glad we were able to fit that in eventhough we didn't have as long as I would have liked. Corey took the boys to their games this morning, and he took Katharine with him as well, she was happy to play with Scarlett. I took HLSNP to help my sister move at 10am. There were a lot of men from the neighborhood there, so that was good. They did most of the heavy lifting but we tried to contribute where we could. Peter sweeping, he's a sweetheart. 

He likes to sweep too. 

Sophi learned that she has a natural talent for playing the accordion and she wants an accordion now. I shall keep my eyes out! Anything to help this girl practice something music wise, she and Natalie haven't done much the past year. The girls and Peter got a few gifts after cleaning - some lego flowers that were not going to make the move. 

Natalie got a new car! I mean desk!

Congratulations.

Jersh was also not taking two carpets, and I thought we could use them in the basement, so my brother Neil helped bring those to our house with the desk. Even though people in my family have allergies (Corey, Sophi, Daniel, Peter...) and these carpets have been living in an area with three dogs and two cats, I decided I'm not scared of that. Natalie helped me and we vacuumed them a lot, and mopped the side room, and Natalie vacuumed under the couch cushions and stuff too, and they are nice big area rugs, which I've been wishing for for a while. The side room has been heavy with the black shag carpet in there, which wasn't large enough with the big couches and ottoman, I haven't liked it for a while... We moved the ottoman downstairs, the carpet is larger and lighter colored, and it looks really nice now! 

So that was a blessing, thanks Jersh. Hyrum went up with Neil and helped unload at her new house in Bountiful. Natalie and I stayed and cleaned, took time to smell the roses...

Here is my three headed rose from the front yard peace rose bush - I love them! We worked hard today, so I was glad to reward myself with the ride tonight. Tomorrow is fast Sunday, started my fast around 3. We left at 4 with a few logistics that the kids helped us out with - Hyrum stayed to watch kids and then he took Natalie out to a b-day party at 6, then went to stay at Wayne's again. It's been nice having him here! Lily had work, Sophi stayed and watched kids, Katharine had been asking to go to Uptown Jungle, but I told her that Sloane was coming over, and we babysat her, she's Peter's age, so Kat was ok with that. They played sliding a toddler mattress down the stairs. 

Mel and Christian were here when we got back. They are going to Florida on Monday, fun! Corey visited with them and I went to pick up Natalie at 10. It's late, tiredness has just hit me. Goodnight. 

No School

Katharine has been sleeping with Peter lately. They are a cute little pair. 

Daniel and Peter didn't have school today because of parent teacher conferences, so Katharine was glad to have her basement buddy here to play with her. They played legos downstairs and little people in the front room. I let them take it over a few days ago and they are still happy reigning over their little kingdom. Hyrum was home, and I was thinking I'd try to sneak away for a hike... I asked Hyrum if I could take his car, he said yes, but then I ended up not being in a spot to get away until after the girls got home, so then I just took the van. With Hyrum home to keep a professional eye on things, I felt ok about being gone longer than usual and I was gone exploring in the canyon for 3+ hours. I brought along my clippers with plans to cut my way through some trees and make a more clear trail on the south side. I made good progress and I felt a little bit like a weirdo but it was fun. Once I was was finished clearing things, I headed to my final destination below the ruins waterfall. I got our my little toddler blanket from my back pack, sprayed myself with a little bit of bug spray, and then layed down by the creek and listened to the water. Kind of a nap, just long enough for me to zone out and then come to again. I also made myself a chair, which was fun. I sat there and read the scriptures. I guess it's more of a stool, I guess. When I decided I'd fooled around long enough, I started to walk down the main trail, but then remembered I hadn't gotten water, so I went back to the creek and then I got distracted for 15+ more minutes throwing rocks to make another pile for me to possibly cross on. I didn't finish, but made progress. 

I did 3 miles in 3 hours, so not a lot of distance, but a lot of fun. If I do a 12 hour walk, I'd totally do it up here and just have fun for 12 hours. O'Brady did say it doesn't matter if you do 1 mile or 20, the thing is to be alone and with your thoughts, and I can do that, esp up in our canyon. I love the canyon, it's bliss and color and I love it. 

Enjoying my autumn walk back to the car. 

I got home the same time as Corey. Then we got dressed and went out for date night. Hyrum got a movie on for the kids and went out for some Little Ceasar's pizzas. Corey and I went to eat at the new Aubergine in Sugarhouse. Corey said there was a bit too much greenery there. It was nice, just definitely a girl place. His testosterone took a hit, kinda as if he'd gone shopping at the mall (Mars & Venus) haha.

Belated HBD & Stuff

Today we finally celebrated Daniel's birthday with some cake here at home. Happy Birthday Daniel!

He and Hyrum got home early (1am) yesterday morning. That morning I woke him up when I got Peter up, and asked him if he'd gotten enough sleep (aka if he was able to sleep on the drive home) he said he didn't sleep that much. Ok, so I let him rest two more hours. I sent Peter off and then got Daniel up  around 10 to go to school. At that time a pest control guy was here and he was parked behind Corey's car, so while we waited for him to finish, we did some of D's missing homework. Daniel has 3 weeks of missing work that I learned about at Parent Teacher Conferences, plus this week, so he had a bit of work to do. We took a small chunk out of that, then it was time to drive him over. We are glad you are back Daniel! Have fun at school! Your teacher and friends will be happy to see you again!

(Yes he's wearing the same clothes from country dancing last night). Kat giving him a hug. She likes to give hugs. 

When Natalie got home from school yesterday, I asked her to make the cake, which she did. I picked up ice cream when I dropped Lily off for work, but then we didn't get around to celebrating cause people were gone with friends and then for YW and then it was too late and I didn't want them to all go to bed with a blood sugar spike, so then I said we'd do it today after they got home from school, and that's what we did. Make a wish -

Kids ate all that, plus a Bundt Cake a neighbor dropped off yesterday just because (so nice! Thanks you Farah!) The Bundt cake was chocolate and Daniel likes vanilla, so Natalie still made him a cake. After eating that, I went to the gym, kids went to play, and I was back in time to take Daniel to soccer, then  I did my daily escape to my canyon.

The moon is close to full and it was just rising over the mountains as I picked up Daniel from soccer  - it looked so AMAZING...

Cleaned today, my bedroom and had the kids do some chores. Tomorrow D&P don't have school. Corey and I talked about going on a ride and leaving kids with Hyrum, but he was in the basement all day yesterday with a man cold and I have hardly seen him today, so I'm not sure he'd feel up to being in charge. So probably no morning ride. It might snow in the mountains on Monday and Tuesday, so I was hoping to get to Big Mountain before then. Maybe we'll be able to on Saturday, fingers crossed. 

What else about today - The girls don't eat breakfast cause they use all their morning time doing their hair, makeup, and fit. So this morning I got up and got them some veggie cups to go.

This was in part on Corey's request from last night that the kids eat a healthy breakfast. I was able to use veggie leftovers from dinner to make curried cauliflower and carrots on top (cause you eat veggies first) with an egg below (I don't eat eggs but for them I'll allow it, I still need to get Corey on board with that) and then mashed potatoes on bottom (end with carbs). I also made them a little grab of veggies to eat as they walked on their way to lunch, to get the veggies in first. 

Corey asked if we could make this a thing. Sure. But then what did I find in their bedroom tonight? My little bag of green veggies in the trash! Tsk tsk. Corey and I won't give up though. I was thinking that it's great having Corey on board now, cause yeah, we can teach them how to do live healthily, we just can't give up. Sophi sent me a pic of her all eaten cup and let me know she was the only one that did. I guess I'll do smaller portions. But also if the kids aren't hungry at 7am, I don't blame them for not wanting to eat yet. Owen sat and ate though. He's showing us what the ideal child looks like. 

He's SO easy to get up for jazz band. He doesn't leave until 6:40 (he likes to leave at 6:37 though to walk next door) but he wants me to wake him up at 6, and he's ready in 10 minutes so I'm not sure why he doesn't sleep in longer, but that's what he likes to do! He's go this schedule. 

Katharine just after she woke up this morning. Cute little face. She came into my room and told me about her dream where we went to a different house. 

I was glad I got up this morning, cause I stayed up took late trying to fix a stupid thing. I noticed I had a bowl of pinto beans that had been soaking for too long - but I couldn't pour them out cause the sink was stuck/clogged. It was all slippery from the butter from the frosting Natalie made for the cake. Gross gross gross... Usually it's the Ikea cups that get stuck in the disposal (kids STILL NOT remembering to NOT put cups or silverware on the left side of the sink!) so I though it was an ikea cup but it felt like glass and I could NOT get it, and I couldn't find my pliers that I love that have rescued me before (found them today though) I figured I'd just have to break the glass cup and hope it doesn't shatter or that I'm able to get all the glass fragments out. I couldn't find the pliers but I could find clippers and a hammer and screw driver. With the screw driver and hammer I thought I was smashing the cup. but then it didn't make a glass sound. The water drained, and I saw that oh, it was an Ikea cup after all!

So I put that in the trash and have the pic here so I can give the kids a lecture tomorrow. 

A note about bread. One might have noticed that I haven't posted pics of my pretty bread much lately. I've still been baking and we've still been eating it, but something went weird with my starter. It was super thin and acidic, even after feeding it. It was just not working like I was used to and I didn't know what was going on. Thus I haven't liked how they've been turning out - my bread has NOT been pretty. It's been super ugly and flat and more sour than I wanted. Still nice and crunchy fresh out of the oven, but ugly. So last week I put the starter in the fridge to try and pause my frustration while I figured out what was going on. This facebook "beginner Sourdough" group gave me something that I've been experimenting with the past two weeks, and today I followed through with my experimentations and it paid off and I feel like I'm back in business. 

The 1:3:2 ratio was a bit too thick for my liking, so I tried 1:2:2 and that seemed to work great for the loaves I baked tonight. They turned out amazing and nice and poofy!

So for now, until something else weird starts happening, I'm keeping a full jar of starter (I got a lot with my past week of experimenting) and I'm measuring out enough for each loaf I want to bake, so like if I want 100 grams of active starter for one loaf (just started some for a loaf tomorrow), I put 20 grams of starter in a jar and added 40 grams of flour and 40 of water, and it worked! Another thing Danica recommends is stirring the starter 30-45 min after the initial feeding mix, so I'm trying that too! 

Corey worked late tonight (just got home at 10:53) so I did scriptures with the kids. We did just one verse, 2 Nephi 33:6 "I glory in plainness, I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell." I told the kids that for Relief Society this Sunday, we are discussing "I Glory In My Jesus" from April conference. I asked the kids what things do their feel like are their. Lily said her books. "Why are they yours?" "Cause I bought them..." ok, good! So you paid a price. What else? I pointed out that she reads them, spends time with them, and she loves them, loves the stories. So some things are: sacrifice, time, love/gratitude... I told them that Little Cottonwood Canyon is MY canyon. I know lots of people go up there, but it's mine. I LOVE it. I spend a lot of time up there exploring, I see it, I'm grateful for it, I just love it! It is my canyon. So, how do we make Jesus become OURS? Time, sacrifice, gratitude, it's a relationship, and a priority, we want Him in our lives, He IS in our lives, our greatest influence. So yeah, that was our scripture and thought for tonight. I love the Lord, and I want to do better and making Him mine.