Not having grown up in Utah, when it snows, my first instinct isn’t to start shoveling my driveway. So when it snowed last week, I let the snow pile up in the driveway and assumed it would eventually melt. But it didn’t melt. Several days later, it still didn’t melt. And then it snowed again. In the course of a week, we had driven over … more »

Today I bring you a random compilation of helpful little tips — for work, for home, or for dealing with kids, etc. — that I’ve learned in life. If you’re tired at work, rotate tasks on the half hour to stay productive. If you want to save money on toys, take your kids to a thrift store and let each child choose his or her … more »

We started a blog for Sally last week. The URL is theordinaryprincess.com. So far she’s been excited about it, although one day she did ask me why we blog. It’s funny, because Jane and I both blog fairly regularly. Now Sally blogs too. Just today she was complaining that Mom didn’t help her on the computer and she didn’t get to write her post for … more »

Last night I took Susan to the hospital to get stitches for a cut on her forehead. She and Sally were playing behind the sofa chair. Following Sally’s instruction to pull the chair out a little, I didn’t realize Susan was perched on top, and she came quickly tumbling down, hitting her head on the windowsill ledge. Going to the hospital with one of my … more »

Although it’s outside my blog’s focus, I’d feel remiss if I didn’t express admiration for Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who just passed away tonight at age 97. Much unlike a prophet of doom and gloom, President Hinckley was an optimist who encouraged us to stand taller, to take longer strides and do better. One of my … more »

June 2008 Update: I know you probably found this post by searching for the word Grasshopper. Feel free to save this grasshopper image and use it however you want. I don’t know the official name of the grasshopper, but I took the photo in St. Petersburg, Florida. I then removed the background in Photoshop. If you know the specific species name of this grasshopper, let … more »

I was reflecting today on Avery’s love of reading. When Avery was a baby, Shannon and I had a goal of reading her 3 books a night before bed time. We thought it would be a good idea, and this goal turned into a habit and routine that we have kept up over the years, for the most part. I’ve watched other parents put their … more »

I’m on vacation in Utah right now. The other day Shannon’s dad and I rode four wheelers up the side of Tower Mountain. You have to know exactly where to get off the trail to find this monument, because there’s no marker indicating its presence, and it’s about 25 yards off the main jeep trail.

Shannon’s Makes Me Smile Topic asks what I would do with ten days to live. Day 1: Absorb the shock and start planning. Let’s be real folks. The first day you find out about this, you’ll spend it second-guessing doctors, reacting defensively, and considering alternatives to prescribed ends (assuming its medical). Near the end of the day, you’ll begin planning how you’ll spend your remaining … more »

Lucy has a great smile. I wish I were always this happy, even when giants held me up.

Shannon’s latest Makes Me Smile Monday theme is fathers. When I think of my childhood and spending time with my father, I think of us playing catch in the field near our house. He always pretended I was throwing the ball so hard and fast that it hurt his hand. He would also swing a rope with a ball around the end while I batted … more »

Just a fun post here. I was having a mock interview with my 6-year old, who just graduated from kindergarten. She has already learned to ask tough interview questions, particularly for those who work with computers… [Audio clip: view full post to listen]