Retro: Heidi's Birthday Party

These are not just fun family photos--consider them a manual on how to throw an awesome party without actually having to BE awesome yourself.

Heidi had been talking about her birthday party since Addie had hers in November. So even though I was a useless lump of sad mess when I got home from AZ, my sisterfriends came to the rescue yet again. First, they came the night after we got home and brought me chicken soup (that really was for the soul), cheese bread, salad, brownies, tulips, a card and SOOOOO much love, I was able to plan the party, create, and distribute THESE invitations. I got on the ol' world wide web and found printable coupons for deep discounts and Papa Murphy's Pizza, made some goody bags, and baked some cupcakes, and that was about the extent of my mama mojo. Luckily, Aunt Debbie (my dear sisterfriend and Heidi's best pal) came to the rescue!...

First, she brought her awesome 13-year old daughter to help us set up. They brought vines and monkeys and a ring toss game to decorate with.

So tip #1 is ask a super-talented, enthusiastic friend to help. Tip#2 is invite the Beehives (12-13 y.o. girls at church) to come help, too. They are so good with the little kids!

While the guests arrived at various times, Debbie and Heidi read a fun jungle-themed storybook to the kids and they pretended to be jungle animals.

Tip #3 is have a good group warm-up activity.
Seriously, the kids just ate it up...Debbie ROCKS with kids!

[PS: you see two of my other sisterfriends in the background there--Kim Strupp & Melissa Westenskow--angels, they are]

After everyone had arrived, Deb took the kids out back for a safari--she had hid tiny plastic jungle animals all over the yard and the kids went wild looking for them!

Tip #4: weather permitting, have energetic outdoor activities, preferably led by said Beehives or awesome energetic friend.

Here are the kids with their jungle animals. I will now attempt to name them all:

back: Addie, Rosalie, Natalie, Rachel, Hailey W., Marissa, Suzy, Chloe, Jackson, Tyler, Hailey S., Jared; front mob: Lauryn, Ashlan, Lydia, Heidi, Danny, Gabe, Ashley, James, and Hannah.Heidi loved having her school friends over and pushing them on the swings.

Rachel, Chloe (on swing), Heidi, and Natalie (on swing).

Ashley Strupp is the love of James' life.

Addie, Aunt Debbie, and Cousin Rosalie on safari

Baby Suzy Westenskow is the life of every party.

Rachel set up quite the jungle

(we were so blessed with good weather! at least until the winds kicked up)

Tyler and Cousin Danny are in the same first grade class.

Cuties: Kim and Jason Strupp

Kids playing freeze dance or something

(notice James is wearing his train engineer overalls)

Little Wyatte Claar came to party with his Grandma (my sisterfriend Jenn) while his daddy is in Afghanistan :(

I think Jason was contemplating eating those animals!

Aunt Debbie leading another fun outdoor game

with help from THREE Beehives (by this time, Michaela and Marissa had joined the fun)

Finally, we served Pizza, lemonade, and cupcakes!

Tip#5: have simple foods you can eat with your hands!

Some friends ate outside...

Heidi blew out her candles & made a wish

Some friends ate in the house...and after cupcakes, we said good bye to all our guests and our magnificent helpers (there was a bridal shower right after Heidi's party).

TIP#...whatever: Open gifts AFTER the party (unless the givers insist) because it's a lot calmer that way and easier to keep track for thank you notes.

PS: I just had to show you what the Strupps got for Heidi (Trevor Strupp is our dentist and Kim is a hygienist)..."Dentist Barbie!" HAHAHA.

In Times of Trouble

Just hours before I entered the MTC (mission training center, "Empty Sea" as I once heard it), I sat with my BYU Stake President and listened to him read THIS scripture to me. I had no idea what heart aches and challenges lay ahead--neither in the mission field nor in life--but that scripture sunk in deep and wrote itself on my heart. So deep, in fact, that everytime I hear it I remember the moment he read it to me. And then, like a slideshow, the moments of trial and sorrow where I was indeed born up by angels and my suffering sanctified, flash through my mind. And then I am comforted because I know that it is true. It is all but a small moment, it will all be for my good, and there is always peace and comfort and a better me on the other side. Every time.

So having gone to bed with a broken heart and waking up again with it still quite heavy, it was nothing short of tiny miracle, a tender mercy, and hug from My Father, to receive this link from Georgia this morning. My e-friend Stephanie now has her own Mormon Messages episode on you tube. It tells her story so beautifully and succinctly, all the while reiterating that these promises are for all of us. This strength and comfort and growth is available to all of us if we will see the holiness and potential of our sufferings, if w will be humble and let God shape us inside the proverbial refiner's fire. I testify with my life and all that I am that it is true. They will always bear us up.

You Got Some 'Splaining To Do...

I am already tired of hearing people they are ashamed to be Arizonans today. Dude, my state is represented by two dolts (I've yet to meet someone who voted for them, and yet they continue to legislate in our names) who do things that embarrass me on a regular basis, but I'll never be ashamed to be a Montanan. Or an Arizona native. Laws and legislators come and go, the land and its peeps are forever.

UPDATE 5/5/10: I also found THIS LINK helpful.

I think THIS is an interesting discussion about what's happening is Arizona. I am neither outraged nor thrilled. My general feeling is you've nothing to fear if you've nothing to hide, BUT that's easy to say up here in Montana, far from the crisis. I love Mexicans AND I love the law AND I think it's super ingnorant when people get bent out of shape when a law starts being enforced.

BUT I also like the practical arguments of this article because unenforceable laws just make us look stupid and impotent, and I think there are better, more realistic ways of cracking down. oh, sigh.

I don't sound very libertarian here, which is why I don't call myself one, although that's generally how I roll. I kinda feel the same way about this as I did when my parents said they'd never get OnStar cuz the government would be able to track your every move. Mmmmkay, but as for me and my house, we've nothing to hide...that'd get really boring for the government really quick! However, I know there are great legal minds and fabulous constitutional scholars who will hash this out and make it fair for BOTH the legal, tax-paying citizens of Arizona AND the immigrants who do--legally or illegally--so much to make a life here.

(Yes, I know there is a huge crime problem stemming from the immigration crisis, but I also know lots of good, hard-working people who get screwed by the system, including some really dear friends/fellow BYU students and missionaries, the issues run super deep and there are no simple fixes). I am interested in reading your opinions if you can share them rationally (without getting angry).

I'm Not Afraid Because I KNOW

Thinking of my "middle-little" sister tonight... some consequences seem more than we can bear and I pray for mercy and comfort for her tonight. Sinead O'Connor's "Last Day of Our Acquaintance" has been running through my mind, hurting my heart.

And then there are the illnesses...still no good news, just waiting.

A long time ago, Maria McKee had an album called This World Is Not My Home and I loved that title because I have always felt that way. At first it was a sad, hard thing for me. But now I am grateful that I don't belong here. I make the best of it but look forward to better. So when my sister told me about this new Carrie Underwood song, and then my cousin posted its video, I put aside my country/pop aversion and gave it a listen. It's really quite good, and painfully appropos. CLICK HERE to visit Cousin Pearly's site (she's my younger twin, btw), and cry along with me tonight.

Old man, hospital bed,
The room is filled with people he loves.
And he whispers, " Don't cry for me, I'll see you all someday."
He looks up and says, "I can see God's face...
This is my temporary home
It's not where I belong
Windows and rooms that I'm passin' through.
This was just a stop on the way to where I'm going.
I'm not afraid because I know... this was my temporary home."

This is our temporary home.

Provo Parade of Homes

As mentioned below, this year marks twenty years since I moved to Provo, so I took my nieces and my kids on a little photo safari to take pictures of my old houses. Come stroll down student-ghetto-memory-lane with me...

267 W. 1200 N.--Truth be told, I did live in a 6-person apartment at the Riviera all by myself for 3 months before I moved into this basement apartment with Mary Bown and Jeanne Buchert in August 1990. But who needs a picture of the Riv? Not me. We had tons-o-fun at this house and I started the long process of really growing up at this house--painful lessons, Twin Peaks +pumpkin cookies+ Pepsi, good friends, etc. I remember spending a week with Willy before his mission at this house. We watched the Gulf War begin on our tiny TV here.

The next summer, I lived here at Frankenhaus (is it 189 E. 500N.? Right by the BYAcademy/Library) with a bunch of people, including Julie Paynter Callahan. This is where I met my soul sista, Lisa Robbins Andersen, too. Back then, the Academy building was abandoned, surrounded by chain link, prolly haunted, and it wasn't as fun to live by it as it would be now. One time, all our friends who lived here got arrested for playing hide and seek in the Academy Building. For some reason, I stayed home to study that night (huh?!?!) and missed out on the experience. Best memories here are late nights with Kevin (we watched Johnny Carson retire here), slurpees from the nearby sev, and glow-in-the-dark frisbee in the intersection.

I began to settle down a bit and looked for a quieter place to live than Frankenhaus. I lived briefly in a house in Orem, but after a month or two I moved in with Jeanne Buchert again at this sweet little row house at 639 W. 100 N. This was probably the best living arrangement ever--so peaceful and fun (well, except for our arguments about the dishes--Jeanne bought new dishes rather than washing the dirty old ones, so I introduced her to paper plates and my crazy clean-freak side--we of course forgave each other for this). Both our brothers (Martin and Willy) were on missions and I have fun memories of us sitting down to write them wacky collage letters. It was in this house where I received my personal revelation to serve a mission, and I lived here while working at Maeser Elementary with Dawnelle Sanders. Really good times (and a cute house).

My next "apartment" in Provo was the MTC...I entered on October 7, 1992 and stayed for 18 days. Then I was off to North Carolina Raleigh.
This, of course, is my Heavenly Father's house, which I visited often after October 1992.

IT'S RUPPER FIVE!!!

When I came home from my mission, I lived for a couple of months in an apatment complex until this little beauty opened up (right above a dental office! I would once again live above a dental office in Livingston while we built our house, but when Erin tried to mock me, I said, "I may live above a dental office, but you live WITH A DENTIST!" --word). It's not the prettiest building, but inside many beautiful things happened. I made two of my dearest friends--Heidi Buchert Egan and Erin Lyman Casper--and learned how to live a life of post-mission integrity. It was a wonderful year!

Don't forget the boys next door at the House of Fun...

Or our beloved Sev...the 7-11 where I threw my change under the bushes (for homeless people or for later), where we bought nachos and slurpees (because corn is a grain, cheese is dairy and jalapenos are vegetables and slurpees are fruit) to eat while we watched NHL and Simpsons!

***

I left Rupper 5 to move to DC/ North Carolina for a year, then I moved to Tucson to finish my degree at the University of Arizona. I didn't return to Provo until the new milenium when I got a job teaching English at UVSC and writing marketing copy for Morinda. I lived for a month with Erin, who was now married and had just given birth to her third child, until I found this condo:

This secluded little villa on Carterville Road is special because it is where I met Richard, and where I lived until I moved into our little Draper love nest (at the complex now known as Adagio). I lived here with Kooky Julie, then Michelle Cook, and Kim Sidwell. Totally pleasant experience all around!

We lived up in Salt Lake County for one year after we were married. But in November 2001, when Addie was born, Richard got a job in Provo, so we looked for a place there. Rob and Geo rgia Buchert found this house right next to them and we moved in in February 2002. We stayed until Rich's company went under in September, then made our big move to Livingston. This house mostly holds crazy post-partum memories for me, but again, a great experience.

This concludes our Parade of Provo Homes. We hope you enjoyed your tour...please exit to your left. :)

Spring Break Day 2: Tour de Provo

This year marks 20 years since I moved to Provo, so I took the kids on a little walk down memory lane when we woke up on Saturday morning, March 27th ( you may recall, WAAAAY back when I posted about our hotel slumber party). We took photos of all the places I lived, got gas and sodas at "my" old station on State Street, and took a picnic to Bridal Veil Falls (still freezing cold).

This is a close up of the silly shot below--apparently "silly face" means "Stick your tongue out!"

Heidi, Ally, Addie, Belle, and James
Sweet kids at Bridal Veil Falls
Silly Shot!
***
It was too cold to hang out in the canyon for long, so we headed back into Provo to visit Buchert Tribal Headquarters (it just occured to me the other night that I have never devoted a post to explaining this "other family" of mine--I will write it soon). I am kind of rude that way--just droppin gin when I find a minute--but it's the only way we ever see each other! So we stopped to check in with Ellen and George ("Mom and Papa Buchert") and Aunt Jen (Jeanne Buchert, my former roommate and dear amiga). They were home, working on the yard, cooking chikcen soup, and generally just chillin'. It was WONDERFUL to see them.

Heidi at Bucherts'
James, Heidi, and Addie feeding the chickens

Addie look a bit pouty, but check out the chickens!

Heidi whipped Addie with a switch she found in the backyard, hence the red eyes. The girls came inside and Belle, Addie, and Ally learned some beading ideas from the master, Aunt Jen.

Heidi stayed out and over fed the chickens.

The kids had a wonderful time exploring Bucherts' back yard and I had a wonderful time catching up with some of the dearest friends of my life. It was so soothing and edifying to visit with Ellen and Jeanne, to eat Ellen's perfect chicken noodle soup, and to feel love, love , love! I am so glad we stopped--a good time was had by all and the afternoon just flew by. Before we knew it, it was 4pm and time to head out to Lehi to spend time with my sisters.

(Little did I know, at the same time I was enjoying some Buchert time, my Grandpa in Arizona was being taken to the hospital with bleeding ulcers, and later, lymphoma...good thing I stopped by for some edification--I needed it!)

Spring Break Days 3&4: Church and Dinos!

Sunday Morning, Sara and I got up and got everyone ready to go to church at the Petersen's ward in Lehi. We had a nice meeting and visited with Jill's friend, Lisa, after the meeting. While the kids were in Primary (we left everyone there with Drew), we ran back to the hotel to clean up and get play clothes for the kids so we could go straight out to mom's house after church and cook a nice Sunday dinner (sadly, mom was still not well enough to enjoy it).

We took Ally and Belle with us out to Nana's house--here are all the kids except Marshall after church.

Heidi, Addie, and James at Nana's house 3/28.

We had a nice dinner then went up to Murray to meet up with my Layton sisters, Erin and Rhonda, for Erin's son Max's first birthday. It was so great to see all of them! I didn't take any pictures, but I am hoping Laura will hook me up!

***
Monday was our big activity: The Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving Point. We checked out of the hotel and headed to Lehi at 11am.

Heidi, James, and shark!

Heidi, Addie, and James ready to watch the awesome IMAX movie!

Papa Post, Addie, James, and Heidi.

Papa stopped by to see us after the IMAX because he was right in the neighborhood.

More dinos and crazy kids....

Addie made a fabulous dinosaur world while playing at the "Erosion Table" (a long, winding tub of sand and water and dino figurines).

We loved this display of insects (and other things) stuck in amber

Dino-Scale!

YAY! The T-Rex room!

Awesome Turtle Skeleton!

A tiny prehistoric elephant skeleton--he woulda been the perfect pet for Heidi!
***

After the dinosaur museum, Aunt Debbie (our Livingston friend, Heidi's special buddy) wanted to meet up for treats at the TG Point Ice Cream shop...

Addie loved her float!

Heidi got a mint-chip cone

Haylee and James waiting for treats

Heidi with Deb and her SIL, Cara.

The decor at the shop was so cute!

Easter-rific!

James with a chick

I kind of fell in love with these chicks and ducks in the Emporium!

***

We had such a good time there with Aunt Debbie, we decided to bring the cousins there the next day! Monday night, we headed back to Nana's house to eat Chinese food and have FHE (sorta) with Aunt Sara and The Grays--Aunt Janet, Rachel, and Christa. It was such a nice night, and we slept well in Nana's guest room!