Bed & Breakfasts

Tom and I have stayed at 3 different Bed & Breakfasts in Salt Lake. We've found they are a great little get-away. In case any of you are looking for such an occasion, here is a little review of the ones we've stayed in:

Anniversary Inn: They have different themed rooms which is fun. When we stayed there, the breakfast was brought to our room--which was nice so we didn't have to get all ready to go eat breakfast. We stayed in the Mississippi Serenade---the shower was like a little waterfall into the tub. The room was clean and nice. Very fun.


Armstrong Mansion: The room in this one was my least favorite--was quite small and not quite as clean as I like (but not gross.) The history of the mansion is pretty cool and it still has original architecture, which I always find fascinating. The breakfast at this one was the best we've ever had at a B&B. It was sort of a continental breakfast, but with so many yummy hot and cold options. Since there are other room options at this one, I'd definitely give it another try. (just need to remember which room we stayed at so we don't repeat it!)


Inn on the Hill: This place also had awesome architecture with a really upscale-oldtime feel. The room we stayed in was called Zion and it was very clean and nicely furnished with a beautiful view. Out of the all the SLC B&B's, it was our favorite room that we've stayed in. The breakfast, however, left much to be desired. I think it changes daily, but we had a breakfast casserole. It tasted good, but it is not something I would have chosen. The really nice thing about this B&B is the location. It is walking distance from downtown so we didn't have to worry about parking for any downtown venue.

Just in Time for Corn on the Cob!

This photo is a couple of weeks old, but I haven't had time to do much posting lately. Chan lost both front teeth within a few days of each other and just in time for corn on the cob and apples. I need to buy some corn since our garden is too small to grow corn, but he has had a go at apples and he does amazingly well. He isn't one to be stopped by missing teeth from enjoying foods he loves!

Disclosure Documents

With school starting, it has meant I've had a lot of disclosure documents to read and sign--so many that I've wondered a few times who has the homework here: me or the kids? (then I look at Cache and see how much homework the HS is pouring on him and know it's not me!) Most of the documents are your typical rules, expectations and teacher contact info. But a few of them have had things that have caught my funny bone. Here are a lines I found comical:

**Contact lenses should not be worn in the laboratory unless you have permission by the instructor. (I'm aware of the dangers of contacts in a chem lab, but I laugh because what teenager is going to put aside vanity just for a chem lab? Few, methinks.)

**Never look into a container that is being heated. (I don't know why, but I just find this funny--maybe it's because all of the containers I heat, need to be looked into or else supper is yucky!)

**Student grades are kept on the instructor's computer. These grades are confidential. In order to maintain confidentiality, NO STUDENT MAY VIEW OR LOOK AT THE TEACHER'S COMPUTER. This means that STUDENTS MAY NOT STAND IN A POSITION THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SEE THE TEACHER'S COMPUTER SCREEN. (honestly, does this teacher not know how to minimize??? and how subjective. . .how does the teacher determine and prove the 'position' at which a student may be able to see the computer screen?)

And then a few statements that make me realize high school is not like it was when I was there:

**Tests can be made up on the Wednesday following the missed test at 6:30 am.

**Homework is due on the assigned due date. NO EXCEPTIONS. If you were present for the assignment to be given, it is due whether you are not. You may send your work to school with a parent or a friend, but it must be received by this class period or it will not be accepted.

While I understand the need for stringent standards because, frankly, some kids these days need it, but is there ever room for compassion? I don't have the answer to that--especially having taught for 10 years and know how difficult it is to be a teacher and make requirements and have kids slack off (and that was 1st & 2nd grades). But it makes me feel like our lives need to be 100% devoted to school and academics. While I value these very highly and encourage my children to do their best, I don't think it is the end-all. I don't have the answers.

My other thoughts along this line are comparison thoughts. While my grandparents had to walk to school in the snow (up hill both ways, right?) the kids these days have very different struggles and pressures. This could be a whole different discussion and this post is long enough already, but I give hats off to both generations who live/have lived valiantly! I think both are better and stronger than I will ever be.

Flowers or Chocolate??

If you had your choice, which would you choose? Today is my 4th anniversary and one of the things Tom got me is a nice box of chocolates. (From See's) He said, "I thought about getting you flowers, but thought you'd like chocolates better." And he was right. I'd much rather have a box of chocolates (but it has to be a good one) than flowers. Am I weird? Which would you choose?

Save Your To-Do Lists (repost)

Note: I posted this at the end of June and the post seemed to eat my blog. . .people complained that I had removed links and posts when I had not, so I just deleted it. Finally I'm taking a moment to repost. (and hopefully it works this time!)
When I was pregnant with Tess, I fought a difficult battle with depression. My last few months, all of the kids were in school all day for the first time and I knew I needed something to keep me going so that I didn't wallow away in self pity. So I made this little journal to put to-do lists in. I knew that if they were in a book like this, I'd keep it for a long time and I didn't want to look like a slacker to future generations by not getting my to-do lists done! I'm here to report that it really helped! I also used it as a little journal. Now as I thumb through it, I see what occupied my time in that season. It has turned into a wonderful keepsake. Through this, I have realized how valuable of a record to-do lists are. They give an accurate record of what occupies our time. What would I give to have this kind of a glimpse in my grandmas' or great grandmas' lives--or even from my own 10 and 15 years ago!
Besides big-master lists of things I wanted to accomplish (as shown above), I also kept a few daily to-do lists in here (below). In that season of my life, having that little bit of creative something everyday was essential. I enjoyed it so much that I kept it up as long as I could after Tess was born.With those thoughts, I decided to post our summer job list to document this era of our lives. This is actually last year's list because getting a new computer at the beginning of the summer threw all things computer off for a while. But this one worked for the most part. Each day of the week we have a different list so that the all household jobs are maintained and rotated between us. And because I pencil my daily to-do lists on the list each day (whatever it is: visiting teaching, Primary work, scouting projects etc.) I need to save a few actual lists so I have and accurate documentation (besides this post) of what occupied my summer time in the years 2008.
Tuck a few of your to-do lists away. You'll be glad you did. (make sure you put a date on them!)

Choose happiness!

Been somewhat of a bad blogger. . . got lots of things I've been going to post, just haven't gotten around to it yet. But tonight I decided to tackle one of them. . . .even took a bad picture to support the post and so as to not procrastinate, I am going with it instead of waiting for better lighting.

Ever since Women's Conference, I have carried a For the Strength of Youth mini pamphlet in my back pocket. And when I've had a chance, I've pulled it out and tried to memorize it. The General YW presidency says that it needs to be 'in us'. And one way to do that is to memorize it. One of my favorite lines from it is the very first one (and it is our quote this month on our 'white board'):
Isn't that a powerful statement? It gives us so much power. . . the power to be happy even when everything around is (or isn't) going awry. And how do we choose happiness? By choosing righteousness! So simple. One thing I've loved about this statement is that it goes a long way as a mom when things aren't going quite right for the kids. A simple reminder (that they know I'm quoting!) helps them at least reflect on their opportunity to choose happiness even if it doesn't change their behavior right away. But more than for better mothering skills, it truly helps me stay up. I, too, can choose righteousness and happiness.

And just a few other notes from the General YW presidency from that talk:

We really should look at the pamplet as "For the Strenght of YOU". And who doesn't need or want to be strong? If we live by the standards in that book, we are strong.

They also pointed out the similar size of the pocket version to a temple recommend. They said that if we are keeping the standards in the FSTY, we are worthy for a recommend. I think that is a fantastic point from all of us.

One other wonderful point they made was that we must never under estimate the hunger for righteousness and spiritual capacity of our youth.

If you want to hear the whole talk, you can find it here. I fell in love with Sister Dibb--she is so cute and smiled the entire time. (For any of you who didn't know, she is President Monson's daughter.)