Chloe loves her grandma

Okay, I know I posted two days ago, but how could I, in good conscience, not share this?



Have a great week!

Back to Class

Spring semester started on Monday and I'm loving my classes. I was offered a job working as a TA for one of my professors, but he was unaware of the university's requirement for students to carry 12 credits in order to work on campus. I'm taking 5, so I'm not eligible. I was excited for the experience I would have gained, but I guess rules are rules. In spite of the disappointment, I'm grateful to be back on a regular schedule. It helps to have something to focus on during the day.

The hardest times for me are at night and on the weekends. That's when Paul's absence is made abundantly clear. I've been doing better about sticking to a reasonable bedtime--no more staying up until one or two in the morning. Okay, maybe once in a while I'll stay up that late, but it sure makes it hard to get up early!

On Monday I begin training for a half marathon. The university has some coaches who offer a free group training program. I figure if I tell you all that's what I intend to do I'll have to stick with it, if only to save face! The race is the Teton Dam Marathon/Half marathon in June. That gives me seven weeks to work up to thirteen miles. I'm about one-third the way there. Wish me luck!

Parker is staying extremely busy with school and work. I rarely see him before nine o'clock at night. He went to the doctor the other day to have his ankle checked. He hurt it on the last day of snowboarding, but neglected to mention it to his mom, until a week or so later. He pulled some ligaments and is wearing a brace for support. Hayden is getting accustomed to his braces. He announced yesterday that his mouth had toughened up enough that he no longer needs to use wax. Cameron and Jacob have been working on some sort of Frankenstein-type bicycle. They're cannibalizing parts from several bikes to build a new creation. I'll let you know how it turns out.




Tyler, Brandi and Chloe are doing well. Chloe is sleeping well, growing well and getting cuter by the day.


See, she's even cute when she's napping!

Oh, are any of you interested in adopting a couple of cottontail rabbits and a marmot? The rabbits were chasing each other around the wheels of my car today. The marmot is huge and lives in the backyard. They're free to a good home. All you have to do is catch them. Preferably before the garden starts growing.




I looked at headstones today, another one of those things I never thought I'd be doing at this point in my life. It was strange to hear myself telling the saleswoman I needed to pick one for my husband. It just sounded wrong.

3 Months

It's hard to believe that only three months have passed since Paul's death. To me, it feels more like a hundred years. Each day brings some fresh reminder of what I am missing. I started to make a list, but it quickly deteriorated into an exercise in self-torture--and I realized it would take days, or even months to complete. So I'll spare us all. Instead, I will list the good things that have happened in the last three months:

Tyler and Brandi had a healthy baby girl, Chloe Rae.

Chloe sleeps through the night--not so much a big deal for me, but HUGE for her parents.

Hayden got braces.

Jacob has a new bike--it's for his birthday, but he got it a few weeks early.

Parker did well on the ACT (he beat my math score, but I totally skunked him in English.)

Cameron got a space maintainer to prepare for braces in the summer.

I got a grant to help pay for school.

We are following the counsel of the prophet to get out of debt.

General Conference was tailor-made for our family.

We continue to be blessed by the generosity of those around us.

We spent many wonderful hours together as a family enjoying the snow. Alas, ski season is over for the year.

We haven't starved to death, not that we were ever in danger of doing so, I just thought it was nice that we haven't. Wouldn't you agree?

The grass is green. Jacob's hair isn't.

Our roof doesn't leak.

I am getting closer to finishing my bedroom remodel--choosing paint is hard, especially when you don't make time to go to a paint store.

No more black marks on the clothes--Hallelujah!

I have six fewer inches of hair length to deal with.

I no longer look like I did in this picture:


Of course, that change didn't happen in the past three months, but I rediscovered the picture during that time period, so it's fair game!

100 Things Tag

Bold the things you've done, then tag someone else.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Dated someone you met online
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse - lunar
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
47. Had your portrait painted - crayons count, right?
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - been on/drove one!
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (been quoted in the paper)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy


I tag Sherry and Deaun.

Happy Easter

It's taken me 43 years and a series of life-altering events to truly see the multi-faceted nature of the Atonement. I've always believed the Atonement made it possible for me to repent and be forgiven of my sins, and that it is the means by which I can be resurrected. But it wasn't until I had gone through the experiences of the last two years that I recognized the influence of this gift from the Savior in my daily life. I have learned that I am capable of handling everything that is required of me by putting my complete faith and trust in the Savior. The Atonement has given me the strength to do all I need to, the peace that comes with accepting the Lord's will, and the ability to find joy in the journey. That's what Paul would want for me. Though I miss him deeply, and long to have him here with me, I have no doubt we will be together again. One of the boys put it this way, "It feels like Dad's just out of town on business." So true.

To celebrate Paul's birthday, Parker, Hayden and I went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. I like to think maybe those we did work for could have been taught the gospel by Paul in the spirit world.

A Tale of Two Kitties

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, particularly if you happen to be a cat living along Poleline Road. While out on my run today, I passed by two hapless creatures--quite dead--less than fifty feet apart. I couldn't help but wonder what had brought them to that point. Judging from their size, I safely ruled out inexperience. Despair, perhaps? Are cats susceptible to Seasonal Affective Disorder? I doubt it. And so, we are left with the obvious--plain stupidity. As a concession to those with weak stomachs and the animal lovers among you, I'll forgo posting the pictures--yes, really--that I took with my camera phone.

Poleline Road is also dangerous if you're a road sign.




We had a good time in Utah last weekend. It felt a little strange, being the first time we've been down to visit since Paul's death. He was definitely missed. General Conference was great. It seemed to be tailor-made for our family again. Hayden and Parker went to the Priesthood Session with the rest of the Carling men, while Cameron, Jacob and I stayed at Carol's with the kids and girls. We all got together for dinner on Sunday after the last session. It was chaotic fun. While Parker was snowboarding with Colby at Powder Mountain on Monday, Cameron and Jacob had fun hanging out with the Wilhelmsen cousins. Hayden and I went out to lunch and to purchase the customary several dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. Then after lunch--Subway, not donuts--the three boys and I went to Grandpa Parker's to help construct a fire pit.



The boys worked hard and got most of it finished before we left to come home on Monday.



Sherry, Cluck sends you his love. He misses you!



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Even though the ward temple assignment yesterday took longer than usual, it helped me to put things in perspective when I realized some of the women for whom I was doing the work had waited TWO HUNDRED YEARS! Thirty minutes didn't seem so long.

Do You Know the Muffin, er, Bread Man?

I think Jacob may have found his calling in life--bread baker. He came home from cub scouts with a loaf of bread he had helped make, ready for the oven. He let is rise, then baked it. After it cooled he sliced it, buttered it and shared it with the family.
It was so yummy! He brought the recipe home, so we will see if we can reproduce the results, this time in a larger format. Way to go, Jacob!

The boys are out for Spring Break from Friday to Monday. Unfortunately, Parker is registered to take the ACT on Saturday, which kind of messes with our ability to go anywhere until after he's done. We'll hit Targhee on Friday, then head to Utah on Saturday afternoon for the rest of the break. We'll watch General Conference, and go to the monthly Carling Family dinner on Sunday, which we generally miss, on account of a single meal not being worth the six-hour round-trip--unless it's being catered by Battista's Italian Restaurant out of Las Vegas, which may or may not still be in business. Good news! I just Googled Battista's and they are still open. Next time you are in Las Vegas, I recommend stopping by for dinner. Absolutely magnifico! Check out their website at http://www.battistaslasvegas.com. Parker has big plans for some snowboarding with Colby on Monday. The rest of us will hang out with the grandparents, maybe hit Krispy Kreme Donuts, play with cousins, watch Jane Austen movies, train for a marathon, the possibilities are endless!