My Mom

I was looking through some old photos and came across these of my mom and her brother when she was young. Even though it is not Mother's Day, my mother deserves to be honored every day. I would not be where I am today, pursuing the things I am if it were not for my mother.
As many of you know my mother is from Germany and grew up during the war. She later immigrated to America on her own.

We Were Young Once

Sanders Children - As I didn't mention the names and point out myself in the last photo (I just assumed everyone would spot the cutest and brighest with blue eyes and blonde hair). But for those of you who are challenged, here are the names:
Back row: Kristina, Barbara, Heidi
Front row: Michael, Kirsten, David

Creative

I am usually not the type of cook to be creative in the kithen. I more the kind of cook who follows a recipe. But we had a ton of tomatoes from the garden that needed to be eaten. So I roasted them with an onion and decided to make a salad with them. While they were cooking I had the idea to cook some spaghetti noodles and make a teriyaki noodle salad. The real experimentation came with the dressing as I used rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, brown mustard, sugar, garlic, and ginger. I tossed the salad with some the dressing and some fresh basil from the garden. Surprisingly it turned out to be really delicious. We all enjoyed it. Maybe after tasting success I will be more creative in my cooking. Sorry, I didn't have my camera on me so no picture.

School

I had to be in Phoenix for three days for school. My mom went with me to just relax. We flew back to SLC with Michael and David and walked with them towards baggage claim and headed towards our gate to Phoenix. This was my first time in Phoenix and we were pleasantly surprised how clean and quiet everything was. We stayed a short distance from the airport in Tempe. It was a business park and the only restaurant was a Denney's right in front of our hotel. Although only about a mile to the school it was too hot to walk and I was thankful for the hotel shuttle that drove me in the morning and picked me up at 5:00 p.m.
School went really well as we spent the three days talking and writing our concept papers in prepartion to begin the dissertation. We also have to pick a dissertation chair (mentor) and I was fortunate to already have someone in mind and connet with her during the three days. Luckily she had an opening and was holding it for me. I was able to work ahead of everyone else and submit my concept paper to her for feedback.
Mutti and I of course ate every night at Denney's. It wasn't really busy and at least they have a lot of variety. During the day she would hang out and read in the hotels courtyard, which she really enjoyed. I suffered in class from 8-5 waiting for my head to explode. Each day I would reach cognitive overload earlier and by the last day couldn't think any more. In the evenings, after dinner, we would walk up the street and back but there was not much to see. We stayed on University Drive and I believe the temple is further down. Each day during lunch and my breaks I would walk a little outside. Students kept asking me what I was doing, especially the smokers who I think felt a little guilty sitting and feeding their addiction. I just couldn't sit that long without getting a little exercise.

Disneyland was Awesome

Just got back from our trip to Disneyland and school in Phoenix. Disneyland was so much fun. We always travel well together (Michael, David, and mom) although we missed the fifth person of our group, My Sweet Boy on his mission. Plus, we like him to sit up front on Splash Mountain (ha, ha...). Although he thinks I am loving him being on a mission so I can spend on the money on myself and isn't too happy with us that we have gone a third time without him.

We had to go during September because of my school schedule so we missed the Haunted Mansion by two days and Pirates closure due to refurbishment. We still had a blast as it was the off season and almost no lines. We basically walked on to everything.

Favorites - where do I begin: Just walking under the bridge into the park creates a different change in behavior. Love it - all your cares just melt away. We started on the 11th with Memories of President Lincoln, which if you have never seen is really a great and patriotic show. We thought it was a nice start as we remembered Sept. 11th. Splash Mountain although David made me sit up front and despite having a poncho I got soaked. Michael's comments on all the rides, especially Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Hilarious!!! I'm still laughing. Storybook Land (always a favorite). The Tea Cups (I love the lights at night). A Small World, Soarin Over California, Ariels Under Sea Adventure (really cute), lunch at Ariel's Grotte (YUMMY!!), the Monte Cristo sandwich (although better at the Blue Bayou), all the Halloween decoration, which they started putting up while we were there, the music, shopping on Main Street and the District, eating at the Rain Forest Cafe.

Disneyland would be nothing without the memories created with my family. Thanks guys for being so awesome and going every year. It wouldn't be the same without you.

Day 1: Arrived in the afternoon and grabbed some lunch at McD's, shopping on the district, and dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe. We stopped to listen to a guy performing and loved his music so purchased to CDs that he autographed for Tyler. Violinist Drew Tretick.

Day 2: The Orleans Cafe where the french fries were tasty, sprinkled with parmesian cheese and herbs and the Monte Cristo could be checked off our list plus pineapple soft serve. Fantasmic and Fireworks shows - both great. Tinker Bell flew across the sky multiple times. Really awesome.

Day 3: Lunch at Ariel's Grotto. We had the princesses sign a card for Tyler and as many characters as we could find. Ariel's is a little pricey but worth it. If you haven't been before you should give it a try. My mom loved Grizzly Mountain and kept wanting everyone else to get soaked. She thought it was funny and would stand and watch the geyser catch people. She was disappointed when it missed them.

Day 4 & 5: park hopping, the parade, break down on Big Thunder Mountain where it took them 10 minutes to decide what to do, only to exit us and walk us back. They were concerned about us getting out of the train but everybody just hopped out. Then right after got stuck on Snow White. Loved Peter Pan (as always). The park closed at 8:00 so we went back to the Rain Forest cafe and ordered a pizza - a great night time snack.

Off to Disneyland

We (Michael, David, my mom, and myself) are off to Disneyland in the morning. We are not going into the park tomorrow but just heading down on the district to shop and eat at the RainForest Cafe, as usual activity the first day. So excited to see what cute things can be found in the shops. Of course, we wish Tyler were going with us and although he is not pleased that we have gone three times while he is out on his mission, we have promised him Disney World next Christmas when he gets home....and a lot more. Oh, the promises I have had to make to make up for three trips to Disneyland without him.

Day of Caring cont.

I helped out mostly with the map of the U.S. and the State of Utah but late in the painting as I was too busy directing. But someone came up with the idea of painting a "Y" in the state of Utah for Brigham Young University. If you do not live in Utah there is a huge rivalry between BYU and the University of Utah. I thought it was funny but while I was talking to the group painting the snail a guy approached asking who was in charge. I informed him I was and he let me have it about the "Y" because he is a Utah fan. It took me a while to figure out he was kidding, at least I think he was. After he stopped yelling at me I discovered that he was the 5th/6th grade teacher. For a minute there I was stumped regarding what to say to him. But all the kids loved it - of course, it is Utah County not SLC.
Four square was another one we painted a lot, which I have never heard of but is apparently a big deal and battles are fought over it. Plus a couple of kick-ball fields, which I thought were a little small. I rocked at kick-ball as a child and would have kicked it way out of that little square.

United Way Day of Caring

Yesterday was the Day of Caring. I had emailed my contacts at United Way to inform them that I had been layed off but was still planning on attending, just not leading a project. They sent me an email at home requesting that I still lead the project as they did not have anyone else. To be honest, I probably would not have gone if they hadn't asked me to lead. An early morning, during a busy week was not my idea of fun. But then again, that's not why I do service. Plus, I enjoy leading and telling others what to do.
It turned out to be a great project. We were at Westridge Elementary and I had no idea before I arrived the scope or number of volunteers. I thought it would be some simple weeding with only the Wells Fargo volunteers. I had 30-40 volunteers from different companies and yes, some weeding involved but mostly painting the black-top and also in the kindergarten area. I though it turned out great. I had to send someone to get some additional supplies so some of us got a late start and it was a bit hectic in the morning but we managed to get everything painted.
The kids were so excited when they came out for recess. Although not allowed on the black-top they kept commenting on everything and even asked us to paint some lines I had not planned on painting. One kid asked a co-worker who was paying him to paint. He told him no one but that the kid could pay him. So the kid pulled out a dollar. We laughed about it and of course didn't take his money.
The snail was a bit of a confusion because all we had was a big circle so I asked if anyone was an artist and could do it freehand. We did have a drawing and I thought it turned out really well. I realised after going to the kindergarten area that it is where the snail had been drawn.
Afterwards we went to Red Lobster for all you can shrimp, which I of course added on a 1/2 pound of crab legs, a pineapple freeze, and chocolate cake for dessert. I was so stuffed that there was no need to eat any dinner that night but it was worth it!

Orem Owlz

David went with me to the annual Kiwanis Orem Owlz event. I probably would not bother going as I am not a huge fan of baseball but David enjoys it and is anxiously waiting for Tyler to come home and go to the sports events with him. We were unable to stay long - only about three innings as I was meeting a friend to go walking. But the Owlz were already down and not playing particularly well. David checked the paper and they lost 6-9 so something must have happened after we left.