Photography

These are beautiful photography books Boo... great coffee table conversation. On sale at Pottery Barn!

Scrapbook Frame

I love this scrapbook frame from Pottery Barn.  You can change it as often as you want with personal pictures and souvies from wherever life is taking you.  I love displaying personal, meaningful things in my home.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY FAMILY & FRIENDS!

My honey took me to Sego Lily Mind & Body Spa last night for a massage for my Valentines surprise.  Ladies... I must strongly encourage you to go see Josh.  I've NEVER had a massage like the one he gave me.  I am also quite sore today... but it feels awesome because I don't have any more pain in my neck and shoulders!  This guy has the massage thing figured out.  Don't go anywhere else... he's worth every dollar! This place is also so elegant and beautiful, more than any of the other local places.  For a special occasion this is the place.

Photography 101

Boo and I are taking a Photography 101 class in March so we can start our own photography business together. She is amazingly creative. I cannot wait to see the beautiful work we will get to share together.

Aaah... Louisiana wild shrimp

This is another perfect dinner. Add some rosemary crusty bread from Costco and voila.

Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel

Ok... here's a tasty little treat. We made this for dinner a few nights ago. It's all we needed and it was so tasty. Tracy told me about this... yummm

Pumpernickel Bread

Cream Cheese (i buy whipped)

Smoked Salmon

Purple Onion... sliced thin

Capers

(any other veggie you like is optional, like sliced cucumbers)

Andrew's Address

Please write him letters...

Andrew English

SO #299625

Salt Lake County Correctional Facility

3415 South 900 West

Salt Lake City, Utah 84119

Andrew Letters

I received a letter from Andrew recently that has touched my heart... I want to share it it with all of my family and close friends.

"Mom, I hope you enjoyed yourself down in St. George. I've been thinking alot about Grandpa's surgery and I really hope it went well. I said my prayers for him every night. I've also been thinking alot about our last visit. There was something special there and I feel like we were brought alot closer somehow. I was able to get my power of attorney signed and notarized, so you now have full legal power of me... lol... but I will send it out with this letter. I've been continuing to study the Bible and I feel more at peace with myself everyday. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I miss my family more and more by the day and I would have to say that this is the hardest thing for me to endure. I was reading the scriptures before I wrote this and there is one I read everyday that helps me feel the love from my family. I'd like to share it with you... "And now abide Faith, Hope, and Love, these three, but the greatest is Love. Love never fails". I know everything will be ok when I read these words for I feel the love of my family that will never fail. Mom thank you so much for all the blessings you have given me. I'm so thankful that I have had the opportunity to live back at the house. In a weird way, jail has brought us closer. I look forward to seeing you on Thursday's. You and the family are always in my prayers and always will be. Tell everybody hi for me and do tell them to please write. Thanks again for staying with me through the hard times. Keep your head up!

With All My Love,
Andrew

Williams-Sonoma

I found this princess spatula on Williams-Sonoma website. Now I'm just going to have to get it for Livia so she can help Mommy frost cupcakes!

Happy Valentine's Honey

I am making these desserts tonight for my Hubby Dear... this is his Valentine from "Me" ... the cake is a Black Russian Cake passed down from my dear Grandma Madsen. I think you all know now what the 2 secret ingredients are... right? Do we need to talk?

Dan's Retirement Party

Oh Danny Boy... you have the perfect life now, or... do you? Let's look at your new schedule that Julia & Clark put together to lend you a hand with your new busy life.

(click on the photo to see your new life!)

My new hot date every morning at 6:00am

Tracy & Eric....thanks for the motivational talk you gave me to get to know this sweet machine... now I love him! Thanks Al for making the big purchase... I don't have to try to be a gym rat anymore.

I got me a new ride... i'm so happy i'm so happy

So now... which one is my new car?

Like... a perfect dinner

This is just about perfect for me, missing um, that really good beverage of course.

My Luscious Liv

Can u possibly stand it? I just melt when I see her.

Landon meets Shantel

Landon met Shantel, a very cute and spunky girl in his biology lab at UVSC. He brought her over for Sunday dinner yesterday. She is a DOLL! I feel like I've known her forever.

These 2 have invited me to go skydiving in March.... say what? S-K-Y-DIVING? I'm actually thinking about doing IT..... aaaaghh!

St. George Parade of Homes

I sooo love St. George. In fact, I really want to live there. Like soon. Al & I, Trevor, Erin and John, Jules & Clark are all going down to see Mama & Papa for the long weekend. Can't wait. We do this annually this time of year because of the awesome Parade of Homes that is held. I will pick out my new home this time and send you all a picture of it, ok? I want a patio home on the golf course with a swimming pool and firepit / outdoor kitchen entertainment center for all our fun get togethers. Do I hear anyone oppose? Good. :)

Try this one for dinner tonight...

Recipes : Chicken and Broccoli Stir-fry : Food Network

This one is soooo good.... I also added fresh mushrooms and asparagus, yum yum.

Beverages.. they are so divine and I want these

Honey....

Honey, may I have all of these for Valentines Day?

Liv Stories

We had our beautiful Liv this past Friday for a sleepover. I had a plan all set in place to make homemade chocolate chip cookies with her - yes the REAL ones. So I went to the store on my way home from work to pick up all the needed items to make a LOT of cookies, plus of course had my normal shopping to do. I come home and Poppa (what Liv calls Al) goes out to get the groceries. I, of course, doing my nighttime ritual after work, go right into the bathroom for a moment. While in there, I hear all this banging and Al's muted voice coming from somewhere. I assume everything is under control by "Poppa" - so, no worries. A few moments later I come out and Al tells me a good story. Yes... our precoscious Livia locked Poppa out in the garage while he was trying to come through the door with groceries - (he had every bag on his arms and in his hands, a bit heavy). He yells through the door for Liv to please please open it. She yells back at him "just use your key Poppa!" Trying to exert some patience, he yells back, "Liv, I don't have my key with me".... please the groceries are heavy so open the door". Liv... the trickster that she is, says "Oh Poppa, just use your key". Now Poppa is getting a bit frustrated and starts kicking and banging on the door to get my attention - but me, busy in the ladies room am assuming all is well out there with Poppa in charge. HA! So Liv finally opens the door - Poppa comes in a little wound but "relatively cool headed" wanted to tell me the story. We had a little chuckle. Later in the evening, Liv goes out to the garage chasing the puppy, and Al jumps up, runs and locks the door. She comes to the door banging and knocking and Al yells, "Liv... just use your key". Being the spunkly little 3 year old that she is, yells "Poppa, I don't have my key with me". Al plays this game for a bit and succumbs before panic sets in. He opens the door, Liv comes in, and she looks at Poppa and says, (a bit bewildered) "you were tricking me weren't you"? Moral to this story... she really knew he didn't have his key... little smarty pants WAS tricking Papa!

GP'S UPDATE!

January 27, 2008


Update on Gramps...

Well, he is home! Dad is in such awesome health, Dr. Stevens released him a day earlier than we anticipated. Well, maybe his two daughters visiting had something to do with it as far as motivation for him to come home a little earlier! Dad looks great. He isn't the martyr by ANY means.. if anything we have to be one step ahead of HIM. He's had many well wishers - friends and family alike who love him and are interested in how he is doing. It's been a joy for Jules and I to be here with he and Mom! We love our time with them... we only wish we could slow the clock because it goes by all too fast. St. George is such a healing place for all of us. Julie and I love getting away from the snow and fast-paced life we both live. No complaining, it's just a nice break!

2008 Resolutions

I love new years resolutions. They kind of empower me. It'a chance to own the beginning of something new for yourself. It redifines, tweaks and gives a fresh perspective to what seems has become a little "status quo"? I always look forward to thinking "hmmm, what can I do better this year?" As long as we keep moving, keep breathing, keep a forward motion.. I think that we are doing GREAT!


So... I took a little poll of each of my family members. I asked them to give me 3 things they want to change, improve upon, make happen.... you got it.

Al - family harmony, harmony in the family and "in harmony family" (Al, you are so funny)... but no, really this is true.

Cindy - Make my decisions more Christ centered, let go of old grudges, add 3 new hobbies to my life .... photography, writing, EXCERCISE!

Brittany - get my anxiety under control, start a journal, "Live in the Moment"

Landon - read the Book of Mormon again this year, attain a 4.0 over the next 2 semesters, get into better physical shape -running, basketball

Andrew - admitting that I need long-term residential rehab (he did this 5 days ago!), get long term residential treatment, make amends to all the people that I have hurt

Trevor - get my driver's license (translation: car), get better grades, gain more weight

Mom & Dad - getting health under control adding to it a better excercise program, get everything (office) cleaned up and organized, be more tolerant and loving of others

Tanta Julia - get out of debt, condition for 8 organized century biking rides, spend more time focusing on my Annie.

Uncle Clark - spend more time with my kids and grandkids, condition for the Lotoja biking ride (Logan to Jackson Hole), get out of debt

Ian - get a full time job for summer, get my driver's license, get above average grades

Annie - read more (2 books a month), save $30.00 a month, work on being more organized

New Hips & Knees

It's on the calendar guys! Pops is getting his left... or is it his right... hip replaced on this Friday, January 25th. He will most likely be in the hospital for a couple of days. Julie and I are going down for the weekend to be a support for whatever their needs may be! So... if any of you would like to send a best wishes / get well card or phone call, etc... I know Gramps would appreciate it. I heard the Dr. is going to also remove 3 fart glands that have been growing inside that old hip... so potentially Gramps' gas reserves may soon be dried up! Yeah!!!! Boy is he ever gonna feel better! Then Grams, our goosy goose will be going in for a new knee sometime maybe this Spring. She's going to see how she does over the next couple of months in hopes there will be improvement. If not, she will make that decision then. Darn those old aching joints! But, new ones will hopefully make you both feel A LOT BETTER!

Lesson No. 999

I had a "moment" - a "personal to me moment" while driving into work this morning while thinking about my Andrew. It hit like one of Oprah's "aha moments" - not that I was getting something for the first time that my eyes had not seen before, (one of the reasons why we get goosebumps) but this was let's say.... inspiration. I was thinking of all the people that I need to call and update about my son's recent relapse and I began to feel heavy just thinking about it... kind of an achy feeling you get when you start feeling overwhelmed. I didn't want to keep updating everyone via email - it just seemed kind of cold and empty - a bit impersonal for how close this little soul Andrew is to my heart. With my thoughts jumping around I remembered I had attempted to construct a blog a few months ago, but it lost it's luster because I didn't stay up on it to make it interesting. "Now" I have a BIG reason to write - it's another way for me to tell you all that have loved and supported our trials with Andrew in a much more personal way. They are my thoughts, feelings, sources of comfort and coping mechanisms that come from the trenches of drug addiction. So I'm starting this with my dearest family and friends - you will hear it straight up and right out of my heart. This I am calling Lesson No. 999

Today is January 18th, 2008. I'm thinking how different it is for each of us to learn life's "hard lessons". The ones that we think we can get away with a few times, but just as we escape it, it turns around and sneaks up on us and snaps us on the behind. More commonly known as getting caught, right? Then time passes, we kind of forget how hot that burner was when we touched it, and bam we do it again. Only this time it really burned. Some of us go through that little routine a few times and decide, nah, it's not worth it... movin' on. I'm getting bored with it anyway. For others... let's just say it's a bit of self destructive behavior from low self worth most likely, or... why does the behavior continue? That's what I'm talking about and that's what hurts the most. Where did my baby lose his way? He was a perfect child, ok a bit hot headed at times but so was I. As a Mom, I have analyzed and turned this over in my thoughts throughout each and every day, and probaby through the nights in my dreams and nightmares. And I've heard it all of course.... he has his free agency, it's his not mine to choose... of course! But, then there's that space between the freedom of that choice, and the "why" of it. How many times will it take to learn this lesson my Dear Andrew? When does the "will or desire to end the monster of drug addiction" become stronger than that horrid drug? How much punishment and heartbreak do you have to go through to learn this hard lesson? I look at you from the other side of the window in medium security and I see you in your dark blue jail clothes... with all the pain of the last 6 years welling up in your tears. This is the 3rd time in the last 6 months. Is the drug more powerful than all the love of your 3 brothers, Landon, Trev, Jaron, your caring sister Brittany, your beautiful neice Liv, me... Mom, Al who really loves you, your Dad, Grams and Gramps, Tanta Julie, Uncle Chuck and numerous individuals who pray for and on behalf of you every day? So it goes back to you son, your self worth - I want you to get this so badly. We have nothing to do with it other than to simply love you. This thing... self worth is the part that needs to get fixed. You have been sanctioned by the court for 160 days with the hope that you can get into a residential rehab program. But, this time you don't get to come home for awhile.