My sanity spot

The other day I was able to finish cleaning up my storage room. Now, while I do this several times a year, apparently I forget how nice it is to have it clean and organized. It's way too easy to just drop off a case of this or a bag of that or pull a bucket out just to grab something. This is why I have to clean and organize several times a year. Ever since I finished the other day, I have found myself just going in to look at it at random times during the day. Every time I am in the laundry room, I can't resist a quick look at my storage room. Weird, huh? I was thinking about why it makes me so happy and I realized several things.

1. It is probably the only room in the house that nobody but me messes with. Occasionally I send the kids down to get something, but other than that they never bother with it. This means that for better or for worse, it always stays just how I leave it. That in itself is miraculous to me.

2. You can't hear the phone ring in the storage room. Need I say more?

3. I can use my label machine to my hearts content. Can you say neatly labeled buckets, shelves and cans. Aaah, contentment!

4. The kids frequently forget that we have a storage room, so it is a good hiding place when I need a time out. It also dampens the sound really well so that when they're yelling for me, I can honestly say "I did answer you, you just didn't hear me!"

5. I'm surrounded by food, duh!

Here are a few pictures of my haven. Baylie-when you read this, consider yourself initiated in some of the important details of motherhood. Hold them sacred and secret!

PS. I know there are empty shelves-Empty shelves in storage room=not good. I'm working on it! Baby steps people,baby steps

Grandma Davie

When I was a little girl, I grew up with my Grandpa Garrison and Grandma Mary (My Dad's stepmother) close by, and then Grandma Davie and George in Utah. Grandma Davie was my only "real" grandma. I can remember talking to her on the phone on occasion, getting Christmas presents from her and visiting her in Utah. I always thought it was so cool that she had a mountain in her backyard. When I was in first grade we went to Utah over Christmas and we went to her house. I have many memories of playing with my cousins there and taking pictures together. I remember sliding down the stairs in our socks with Jason and Tyler. Later, when I was 16, Holly and I came out to Utah to go to EFY and we were able to stay with Grandma again. She took us shopping and cooked for us and George showed off the rock in his basement. There were occasional visits when we were in college and later after I was married. Even though we did not live close by and were not able to see her often, to me, she was "grandma".

Sadly, on May 6,2009, Grandma Davie died. My parents were fortunate enough to be here and were able to see her right before she went. Extended family came together for her funeral and we all shared our memories of her. There were many things that I never knew about my Grandma, my Mom and my Grandpa. I was able to recognize some of the character traits that have come down through our family from my Grandma. Hard work and independence were two of the big ones. I also recognize acceptance. The ability to move on past negative events without letting them make you negative, and the ability to let people be who they are-for better or worse. Learning more about my Grandma's life and consequently, my Mom's life, has also made me appreciate many of the incredible things my Mom has done. She made the decision to have a strong marriage and family despite a less than ideal family life of her own. She chose to always share the positive aspects of her childhood with us and she chose to be married in the temple and raise us with the gospel.

Kelsie's Baptism

Kelsie turned 8 on April 6th. Even though she could have been baptized on April 11, we decided to wait until May, so that she and Brynna could be baptized on the same day. It also allowed us to go out of town over spring break.

Well, the big day was May 2. Grandma and Grandpa Garrison came out and Holly and Brent also came with their kids. The weather was a little bit chilly and rainy but it was still a wonderful day.
We spent the morning doing some last minute shopping at Deseret Book and then Holly, my Mom and I went to lunch. It was a nice break before the rest of the busy day.

Kelsie and Brynna were the only ones from our ward being baptized, but there were also about 6 kids from other wards. Our ward was first and things moved along very quickly. Everything was over within about 45 minutes. We were able to stay together with Brynna and her family for the baptism and the confirmation so that was nice too. After the baptism we went back to our house for dinner. There were lots of people there, 34 to be exact! I had made Blackbean chicken and Cilantro lime rice and then everyone else brought different side dishes. We had banana splits for dessert. It was little crazy , but it is so fun to be with family.