Arbor Day!

Picture borrowed from SGcity.org

The City had a lovely little Arbor day activity at the Tonaquint Nature Center this week.  So being a motivated mom - I loaded up children, (before 9:30!) and set off for some service.  The center (city) was planting 150 trees around the trail and down by the river, to create even MORE magic for the place.  (It's quite enchanting, actually.) The property, which is nestled next to a cemetery, has a duck pond, and a rec center with a nice deck out over the water.  A little amphitheater and plenty of woodsy areas to enjoy, in the middle of the desert! So the boys and I adopted an older couple, Nancy and John and began to plant.  We did two big trees with our couple when I could see we might need to do smaller trees in a larger area, where we wouldn't lose Ashton.  He was quickly put in charge of picking up rocks and dropping them in the empty tree buckets.  Nathan helped me shovel, as did Ashton.  We planted about six trees when Ashton decided it was time to explore the marshy, muddy muck. 

Trees we helped to plant - a few days later.

[ I did not have my phone or a camera with me at the service project!!  AGHH! ]

So  we ventured over to the duck pond where a kids craft table was set out.  The kids made pine cone - peanut butter - birdseed bird feeders and hung them in a nearby tree with string.  As NQ made his bird feeder, Ashton went to the waters edge to enjoy harassing the birds.  He put his little red truck down, and not a minute later, inches from my son, was a curious little muskrat exploring the truck!  He seemed to be pretty tame and pretty harmless, so we watched the muskrat visit my son, as Ashton's attention diverted to the rock throwing.  He was amused by the ducks diving in after his rocks. But not long before a slew of kids saw the muskrat and he headed for deeper waters.

We went back a few days later - because it's such a fun spot!

After the craft we picked up our volunteer complementary hot dogs, chips, cookie and water.  We sat up on the deck, over the water and watched the water fowl.  (And threw most of the hot dog bun into the water. Better than rocks, I guess.) Another mom and boy from our neighborhood were there too, so we visited with them for a little while. At least until Ashton decided it run away from mom and hide time...

His feeder was still there.

As we went to leave we were allowed to take a baby pine or baby palm with us for our service!  So I picked a pine, and NQ a palm.  As I was driving away, I got the thought that I should turn around and see where I could buy some more little pines, as our yard could use a little pine culture.  So I did turn around, and I asked the crew where I could buy some of those little guys.  The guy who answered told me that the trees were grown at the city Tree Farm, so they weren't for sale, but that I could have a few more.  I told him great.  But If I could buy some, I could really use about 20 of them.  He thought for minute,  looked at his crew and said,  "Go load her up, boys."  So I got 25 additional little trees!  One of the city workers told me that I was saving them a lot of trouble, because they would have to go back and plant all of the little trees that hadn't been taken.  So he was happy to load me up!  YAY! 

HAPPY ARBOR DAY TO THE PETTY'S!  Home we went with the back of our vehicle loaded with baby trees!  And one palm.  Home we went and planted MORE trees!

Nathan was thrilled with the little trees, as was Ashton who stroked each of them before bidding them good night (for his nap time.)  I was thrilled with our score! I Sunburned my arms and face planting in our yard. NQ got sunburned jumping on the tramp with his favorite little pine in a pot watching him from close by.  Then NQ helped me water our new little friends.

After nap time (and a shower for me) we went to watch zip liners zip over a parking lot, near where we live.  Then we picked up a Papa Murphy's pizza and a mini Murph for NQ.  (he got to make his own at home.) Shane was home in time for pizza and the boys all showered up, played Mario Galaxy 2 on Wii and popped into bed POOPED from our big fun day!

Remembering Mom: Primary Lessons

Mom was in Primary when I was young.  I remember her being in the presidency and then she must have subbed my class a time or two.  I have a few distinct memories of some of the lessons she gave and wanted to jot them down, before my brain gets frayed, and I forget to share them!

Tree of Life:
I remember this one, it was for a sharing time or for a primary activity day.  We did Lehi's dream.  I remember painstakingly stringing marshmallows with a needle and thread, making a string loop for each marshmallow and then hanging them in an artificial tree. (This was done before the activity.)  At the activity I remember a big bar infront of the pulpit and a big blue cloth on the floor representing  water.  I think up behind the stand, there were some loud and prideful children jeering at those of us holding to the rod, and making our way across the room and then up the stairs to the delicious 'fruit.'  I don't remember all of what was said or what we did, but I remember picking my marshmallow of the 'tree' and enjoying it.  And how strange it was to have children stepping all over the blue cloth.(Usually you keep your feet OFF of whatever cloth was about to be used!!!) I remember thinking this was pretty fun, and hoping we would do it again sometime.  (We never did.)

Labels:
Another thing I remember, was when mom used a label lesson in sharing time. It must've been winter time, because I remember it was dark outside when she was doing her prep work, and I was still very up and awake.  This time I remember her soaking canned goods in the sink at home.  I remember her sitting at the dining table with a hair dryer and carefully pulling the labels off of the cans.  Then I remember her drying them with the dryer.  The next day at church, I remember her asking a child to come up and pick their favorite food. I believe that a can of corn was picked.  Then mom had her electric can opener at the stand and opened the can.  GUESS WHAT?!!  There were spaghettios in the can, not corn!!!  A different child tried again, instead of peaches there were green beans inside the can labeled 'peaches!'  Clearly the lesson was to find out what's on the inside of a person, on not to base your opinion on only what the outside looked like.

Clean and Pure Thoughts:
The last primary lesson I remember is one I actually still think of often.  Mom had an empty tissue paper roll tube.  That was to represent our mind.  Then she filled the tube with gray dingy lint from the dryer.  She said that's what our mind would look like if we had bad thoughts in our head.  Then in one side of the tube, she started stuffing in pure, white, clean cotton balls.  Out the other side, the dingy lint started to fall out of the tube.  The lesson was that if we had bad thoughts in our head (lint) we needed to push them out with good, happy clean and pure thoughts (cotton balls) and to keep it clean that way!  So even to this day, if I start thinking mean or unkind things about something - I quickly think of stuffing clean cotton balls into the tube, to steer me to a more positive note. 

It's amazing that 20-25 years later these lessons are still circulating in my day to day being.

Our little slice of heaven - getting beautified.

Busy goings ons at the Petty Home.  I've been making things prettier with a little crafting:

New Spring Wreath

Recovered Seats

New Floral and the CUTE pine basket with hand laced roll napkin

My Grape Vines

We've been getting things to green up and grow (keep fingers crossed) in the yard:

1st Edible Strawberry of the season

Ash tree looking good!

The New Fruit Trees!

Blurry photo of TEENY grape clusters!

More Trees!

Our little Apricots

Pretty Pansies

Week in Wyoming

The boys and I spent some quality time in Wyoming over the Easter weekend!  It was capped by a stay-over (2) at Aunt Annette's house which included a treasure hunt (on the way) and a visit from my cousin and her darling girls (on the way back.) The treasure hunt yielded a new Angry Bird Shirt and car for Nathan and a little bunny and car for Ashton - much to their delight!

Easter day included a great Easter Egg hunt in Grandpa's extensive yard, a lovely meeting at church, and traditional Easter Eclairs.  Brooke and Wes came from Sheridan with Stirling (whom SOMEHOW I didn't get on camera) and of course Travis, Olivia and Devlin. (Amy wasn't feeling well.)  The menu included: marinated pork roast, twice baked potatoes, corn, and rolls.  The Eclairs were DELICIOUS and perfectly done, thanks to Brooke and I tag-teaming the very strenuous stirring cycle of the eggs into the dough. Nathan and Stirling were instant friends.  They chased each other to the point of exhaustion.  I think that if Stirling could giggle, he'd have been giggling right along with Nathan as they played and jumped and dashed about.  Half of the time Ashton called Stirling "Fergus."  Fergus is the name of a VERY similar dog from a book we borrowed from the library. 

One day, we had Olivia with us for much of the day.  She and Nathan (and Ashton) were watching an episode of the living scriptures - the one where Jesus Comes to the America's (fitting for Easter week) and the two of them had the BEST conversation EVER about Christ and how happy they'll be able to see Him for real!  And not just on the video, and how He'll stand on Real grass.  Then they talked about how much they loved Him and were so grateful that he died and was resurrected for us.  I cried. Dad commented about what sweet little children they are.  I love that Nathan and his cousin can talk about Jesus without fear of being made fun of, or being persecuted for their beliefs!  I love that they can talk about the scriptures and Heaven with such Joy and Excitement!   That they, at the little ages of 4 and 5, know about the plan of salvation and that families can live together forever!  Such a testimony to ME of what the plain and simple truths ARE!

NQ and Ashton LOVED riding Shimmer.  LOVED IT!!  We spent the first morning taking about two hours to comb and brush off her winter hair.  I was worried that we'd have to hold onto Ashton as he rode, but he's a natural!!  He gripped onto the saddle horn and rocked his body and said "Go Shimmer! Go GO GO Shimmer!"  Nathan has great rhythm and learned to talk to Shimmer and to pet her and to use his deep voice to say "Whoa."  We're excited to get back in July and spend more time with her!!  NQ and Ashton took turns, and would've ridden for hours and hours, if  only I could've gone that long! We rode in the barn one day, because of the wind, but the other days we spent outside riding.

We spent time up at the cabin - and it's coming along.  We saw the progress on the sheep wagon that's being fixed up and I caught up on a lot of movies I hadn't seen yet: Hunger Games, the Help, King's Speech, Secretariat, and War Horse.  I loved them all, except for War Horse. The scenery was Great, but the reality of war is horrible. And the barb wire scene is completely unrealistic - that is NOT what would have happened if a horse hit wire like that, I've seen what wire can do to a horse, one strand, with very little force used.

Nathan came home with three new angry bird shirts and one Mario shirt and a bunch of new jeans, and a cowboy belt and buckle.  Ashton's got a new belt and buckle and cowboy hat to wear, plus some cute new clothes and pants.

 The visit was so fun, we hated to leave, but we were SO excited to see Shane.  The boys stuck to him like glue for the next two days.  Honestly - like glue.  If Shane sat down, he had two little boys right in his lap.  If Shane got up, he had two little shadows following him around - granted, they are noisy shadows.  But we're ALL looking forward to visiting in July! And who's to say we won't be back before then?

Easter Preview

Early Easter Fun:

Since we're heading to Wyoming for the official Easter Weekend, the boys and I had a little Easter Egg preview with Shane over General Conference Weekend.  We colored, dyed, shrink wrapped and stickered eggs on Saturday and had an egg hunt on Monday Morning.  And you know what?  For St. George, it was COLD on that Monday morning!  Please note the use of jackets in the pictures!  The wind was howling and the eggs that the Easter Bunny had hidden had blown out of their hiding spots!!  The boys didn't mind, but we certainly didn't stay out in the yard, like we had imagined we might do.

I ADORE My Boys!!

Soccer Boy

Here are some shots of my U6 Soccer Boy!  He's playing up a bracket so he can play with some of his primary classmates.  It was nice of the league to do that for us.  Go BLUE DRAGONS!

General Conference Weekend / Green Jello Salad with Shredded Carrots

I love General Conference weekend.  It's not just the sitting in my jammies and overeating tasty treats, or even the amazing spiritual lift you receive from hearing the voice of the Living Prophet and the servants of Jesus Christ! (thought that is a major part of the loving it.) I love it because for a few moments, there we are.  All lumped together on the bed.  All of our warm bodies close together.  I can hear everyone breathe, I can see every ones shiny jeweled eyes, watching the images and hearing the voice on the TV. I focus in on each beautiful face. I can smell the sweetness of the baby lotion. I just FEEL how precious, how fragile, how amazing our little family is.  We're SO BLESSED!!  We still have young kidlets, so trying to rein either of them with us for even a whole hour is impossible, but today, while we listened to the Prophet - there's a little bit of magic binding us. 

And that binding has nothing to do with this: (Sorry, there wasn't an obvious segue...)

In Celebration of General Conference - I made, for the very first time in my life - Green Jello Salad with Shredded carrots!  This was a side-note to the Turkey, homemade rolls (and orange rolls) and potatoes (from potato pearls in my food storage!), butternut squash and mushroom turkey gravy we had for our afternoon meal.  So, Green Jello Salad with Shredded Carrots!!  WOW!  What were the saints thinking!??  What a strange thing to do to Jello.  Shane and I both diligently ate our portion - and had comments to make.  Such as, "man, you sure can taste the flavor of those carrots!"  And you can!  The carrots are very for front in the lime jello.  And, " Huh, this is interesting." ( and crunchy. ) "I don't like it. Yucky," came from Nathan.  Ashton paid it no mind, after hearing his brother.  I can't even make the case that maybe someone was trying to dress up the carrots.  That the addition of Green Jello TO the carrots was really making those plain carrots special.  But I promise, that my kids will eat raw carrots any day of the week. Or green jello.  But NOT as one unit.  I guess I've passed a mark in my life.  The, "yes, I'm a Mormon who has made Green Jello Salad with Shredded Carrots" Mormon. I've not taken it to a ward party, and I'm pretty sure, unless there is an occasion in which I'm either forced, asked or rewarded - that I never will.