New Projects and Past Events

As I looked through my pictures on my phone I remembered that I wanted to mention some projects I've been working on for Liz AND I wanted to mention our fun weekend in Ogden.

First, I saw some pictures of some cute kitchen things and decided that I wanted to make a recipe box and a decorative sign thing for Liz's kitchen, so I got started. I've finished the recipe box (except for maybe a few more recipes to add). The sign is still in the making. So far I have the utensils and hooks painted. If you see the picture, you may be able to see what I have in mind. On the spoons with have the phrase "my Nook." It'll be pretty darn cute. Also I'm making a board on an easel to place her recipe card when she's cooking. I'm making that out of the cutting board in the 3rd picture. So, here are those.

So for the long weekend this January we went to Ogden to see family, and we were lucky enough to spend Saturday evening with the nieces and nephews. We played Cowboys and Indians with both a fort and a tee-pee made by yours truly. We also gave baths, ate food, and watched a movie. It was all fun. Here are some pictures.

relief, distress & noodles

The past two weeks have been filled with job-searching, cleaning, cooking, quilt-tying, organizing, and building. Derek has been going to school and working non-stop. I'm so grateful for him.

The job-searching has been useless. I went to Quizno's today, and I think he was annoyed

and slightly insulted that I came in for a job. A couple weeks ago Jackie went in to get

an application and ask if they were hiring. An employee said he might be hiring a part-time day person in a few weeks. So, I went back today. "Who told you I was hiring?" One of your employees. As if I'm starting a horrible rumor that he sucks his thumb at night.

My mother-in-law and mom have helped me stay busy these past few weeks. Miss Melanie taught me how to make noodles over Thanksgiving,

so I'm becoming a better homemaker.

My mom sent a kitchen table and bookshelves. That helped me to stop flipping out over lack of organization and that "home" feeling I so needed. Now I can eat and do crafts at a table instead of hunching over

on the floor. My 'stuff' is now stacked high and organized instead of in bins. And I'm a little more sane.

The ties from the quilt/comforter Derek and I got for our wedding came out, so I'm spending any bored moment re-tying the quilt. It's a BIG quilt. I may be halfway done now.

Jackie and I have finished most of her home projects. Her apt is looking really fun.

I've been cooking more soups. Last week it was homemade chicken noodle (with homemade noodles) and taco soup. Mmmm. I was sure to store some in the freezer before we ate it all in one weekend.

No big adventures for the Wilcox family... at least not any time soon. I'm just preparing for my recital and opera scenes. Derek is oh so busy with work, but luckily for him he likes it. He's getting pumped for March Madness already. It was a very swift but smooth transition from college football to college basketball. For a while I didn't realize that when he said 'BYU' he was referring to basketball. What's the difference between BYU and BYU? The time. The season.

our life...continued

I have been pretty lame at posting blogs, but now that I'm taking only 3 credits and am currently unemployed, I have plenty of time to post blogs. Of course now my life is boring and I will quite possibly have nothing to blog about. We'll see. I just posted the last of our Disneyland blogs. The further down you read, the less detail there is. Thus is the result of my memory and aching hand.

Update:

Currently, I am in opera workshop and am taking my last semester of voice lessons in preparation for my recital at the end of the semester. Derek is busy with a full schedule of Communications and History classes.

We spent Christmas in Mississippi again. We did a lot of driving, but it was worth it. Lots of good food and great company. My grades kicked butt this past semester, and I'm .04 away from graduating with a 3.8 (I'm currently at a 3.76). Maybe these two classes will pull it up. We'll see. Jackie and I are both off track and both looking for jobs. If you hear anything let us know. It's been nice- exercising, cooking, organizing, decorating. But the projects are depleting, and I can feel boredom coming around the corner.

Lately I've decided to make soups. It made more sense for Derek to grab a container from the freezer to heat up than spend $5.oo a day on lunch. So far I have made 2 different soups- both new from my favorite cookbook and both really really good. I plan on making Taco Soup this or next week- an oldie but goody.

Jackie has grabbed a handful of things from DI that have kept us busy. We spent last week sanding, painting, and hanging stuff on walls. Derek and i were blessed to receive a kitchen table in the mail. Putting that together would have been faster with two people working on it- thus the life of an unemployed wife. :) It only took me an hour and a half. Not bad. AND not one of the chairs are wobbly. (Patting myself on the back.)

So that's about it. I'm signing out for tonight.

all the other Disneyland blogs

Day 1—continued

Here are some more things that happened on day 1 that I forgot to mention. After lunch at the Blue Bayou we attempted an entrance into the infamous Club 33 and enjoyed th

e entertainment of a Swash Bucklin’ quartet. We relaxed on the Mark Twain as we toured the Rivers of America witnessing the adventures of

Native Americans and modern day young pirates as they explored Tom Sawyer’s Island.

After our full tummies settled, we headed over to Tomorrowland (the 1950’s vision of NOW). Given that April 22 is Earth Day, Disneyland’s crew was celebrating our beautiful Earth in unique ways. To encourage recycling, a small group of guys with some big trash cans lured many a tourist with their rhythmic creations.

Buzz Lightyear then beckoned us to the call of fighting the Zorg and save the little green aliens

… Derek mastered this task and saved them all! Space Mountain was so enticing, we couldn’t resist any longer, and goodness was it crazy and fun!! W

e took a small tour around Fantasy

land before we made the trek to California Adventure! While there I tried on a birthday hat, checked out Radiator Springs, soared over California, and found a door labeled 23 with no handle on it. Odd. Door 23. D23. Is there reason for this similarity? After goofing off, taking it in, and riding other rides… we came to Midtown Mania!!! This was by far our favorite ride! We can’t lie. California Screamin’ was next on our list, and it was a nice way to end our California adventure for that day. Back to Disneyland for a Mint Julep.
Day 2
We were so tired from our first day that we ended up sleeping in a bit and missing part of our awesome Early Entry time. As we entered the park and headed toward Main Street, we could see the characters of the hour surrounded by their biggest fans. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto! They weren’t there for too long before they had to leave us temporarily. Goofy seemed so enthralled by the fans that he forgot to look where he was going and tripped off the curb… making a beautiful recovery before waving good-bye to us all.

Pluto didn’t seem to want to leave. He got distracted by the enticing fire hydrant and just had to make his mark.

We went straight for Fantasyland, gave a try at the sword in the stone and got in line for a few rides. Pinnochio’s adventure was a lot scarier than I expected. Peter Pan was AWESOME once we finally got on. We waited in line for a while, and once we got to the front, the ride broke. I think a dad tried to get in the same cart as his wife and kids and overloaded it. Oops. Nevertheless, it was magical flying over London. Unfortunately we never rode Snow White’s ride, but that just means we have more to do the next time we go. :)
Soon, we rushed over to California Adventure right before it opened so we could rush to be the first on Toy Story’s Midway Mania!

ESPN zone for dinner.
Really wanted to ride Nemo, but never did. Bugged Derek about Small World. Autopia. Monster’s Inc.

Tiki Room. Tarzan’s Treehouse. Critter Country. More hats. Spelling “California”… took all day. Gibson Girls Ice Cream. Dropped the whipped cream. :(

Day 3

Toon town. Princess pictures. Early attempt at Midtown Mania. CA parade. Midtown mania! Blue Bayou for dinner. Waited for fireworks… never came. Rushed to Fantasyland. For small world. Alice in Wonderland. Storybook land.