Bathrooms and Pigs and Sugar Cookies...

When I was a little girl visiting my Grandma Price's house I loved using the upstairs bathroom that was down the hall towards her bedroom. It was pink. BEAUTIFUL pink and the soap had a lovely flower smell. There was a doll with a crocheted skirt that hid toilet paper.  Seriously, it was the perfect bathroom for a little girl. The only problem with it was the light was not by the door, but over by the toilet instead.  I always thought that was a little weird but it didn't bother me too much because I could see the light switch when I walked into the room. One time when I was about 5 years old, I finished with my business and then turned the light off before I walked over to open the door.  It was instantly black. No more lovely pink. I didn't know where the door was. I really scared but I didn't want to call for help and be teased. I remember standing in the middle of the room panicking before walking slowly to a wall, placing my hand on the wall and then walking slowly for what seemed like an eternity, until I found the door. It was easily opened and I was free. Phew! That was a close one.  I learned a lesson that day. I NEVER again turned the light off before opening the door in the pink bathroom.

Today when I left my children's restroom I turned the light off (which is right next to the door) before opening the door. When the room went black, I was suddenly 5 years old at my grandma's remembering that experience. the only difference was I wasn't lost inside the bathroom. I just opened the door. I just thought I'd share.

Another funny thing that happened today:

My friend came over and we were talking about what we were making for dinner.  I told her I was making sloppy joes. She said she was making spaghetti. I told her I don't like spaghetti. (Sorry Kate.) She said she doesn't mind spaghetti but she doesn't like hamburger. I told her my sister, Wendi, doesn't like beef at all. Matthew interrupted:
M: Wendi doesn't like beef?!
Me: nope.
M: How come she has a pig?
Me: Pigs are pork.
M: Oh yeah.

So my friend Kate (who happens to love spaghetti) stole and idea from her friends' blog and I'm stealing it from her. For the month of November, she is sharing one thing each day that she is thankful for. I'm going to do that too.

Yesterday: Believe it or not, yesterday I was thankful for Walmart. It pains me to even type that because I HATE Walmart. But yesterday, they were my dream come true. I bought 3 weeks of groceries for less than $200. there. HOORAY! I also took Ken's watch in to get the battery replaced and they broke it. they couldn't get it put back together, even with THREE associates working on it. They told me they were so sorry and gave him a brand new watch, a nice one like the one they  broke, not a crummy one. Thanks Walmart! I'm thankful for you...for the moment.

Today: I'm thankful for good neighbors. Four of the neighbor girls came over and decorated sugar cookies with us today. They are a lot of them, getting them out of my home. It was great to visit with their mom too. I like her. See pictures below for our cookie decorating awesomeness.

Here is my awesome sugar cookie recipe:
1 1/2 C butter softened, not melted
2 C sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (I used almond)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
*mix all of the above until well blended (I let them mix in my kitchenaid for about 4 minutes)
5 C flour
*slowly add flour until well blended
*chill for 2-3 hours
*roll out until 1/4-1/2 inch thick
*bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes (I did them for 6)

Frosting
1/3 C butter softened, not melted
1 1/2 tsp vanilla or almond extract (I used almond)
1/4 C milk
4 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
*cream butter
*add flavoring and milk
*slowly add powdered sugar
*add more milk if needed, to make it spreadable (I usually end up using about 1/3 C)
*add desired food coloring and enjoy decorating your cookies!

Meet Perri. She is SO SWEET! Except when she eats too much sugar. Some people get hyper. She becomes angry. Before that happened, she went home and then off to Activity Days. I felt kind of like a grandma this afternoon. Sugared her up and then sent her home to detox. :)

Early Birthday Present

Once upon a time I was a little girl who lived far away from my grandparents and all my cousins. A couple of times a year we would go visit them and the highlights of my visits were:

*Spending the night in my Uncle Steve and Aunt Marla's home

*Playing "Mother May I" in the playroom

*Riding in the mini car

*Sneaking into the 'orange room' when Mom and Grandma went to town so I could play the piano and the organ

*Eating honeycomb cereal for breakfast

*Seeing my aunts and uncles that came to visit at grandma's while we were there visiting.


Grandma died when I was 11 years old. Although there was a huge void in her home when we would visit, many things remained the same. Eventually the mini car died and we got too old to play 'Mother May I' but other than that, it was a lot the same. Grandpa would let us play the piano but we still had to wait for the grown-ups to leave so we could play the organ.


My senior year of high school grandpa gave the organ to my mom. I remember watching them bring it into the house. It was a novelty for a while so we got to play on it a little bit but as time went on and grandbabies started coming over, Mom eventually covered the keys with towels and no one was allowed to use it. (Play on it)


Mom died when my daughter, Nicole, was 11. (It's strange how much Nicole and I have in common...)many things are the same when we go visit mom and dad's house but there are some voids. The organ is still there and no one is allowed to touch it, without permission. I have practiced it a few times when I've gone over to visit.


Last night my dad gave me the organ. Ken and Dad worked together to surprise me as close to my birthday as possible. Last night as it was being unloaded I had many memories rush through my head. Playing it at grandma's, learning how to play 'Jesus Once Was a Little Child' for a video we sent to Ryan on his mission, and practicing it after mom has died. I thought about watching it being brought into the house and I spotted Nicole watching the same thing. More memories were born last night.


I'm excited to have an organ in my home. Two nights a week at the church practicing isn't enough to make me feel calm on many Sunday mornings, so now I get to practice everyday. I'm also sad to have this specific organ in my home. It truly means my mom had passed away. I have tangible proof in my home. I'm more grateful than sad that it's here. Thank you Ken and Dad for a wonderful birthday surprise!



The orange room. Looking at this picture makes me miss grandama right now. The only thing you can't see if the organ. On the right hand side you can see a small corner of the couch and the organ was right next to it. As a side note, the person who took this picture was standing in the entry way. It was a tile entry way and we used to put on our church shoes and 'tap' for grandma. I have cousins and an aunt who really can tap so she probably thought we were silly, but it was fun.

The organ at Mom and Dad's home. (Dad and I were working on funeral arrangements.) If you click on this picture, you will notice right behind my head the willow tree statue is standing there with her back to us. hahaha
The corner where the organ will go in my home.

The organ in the back of the van.

The bench and the stops in my front room

Ken and our friend James getting it out of the van.

It's in the doorway.

James, Yoshki and Ken got it down 'the stair' and into the front room.

Almost done

Ahhh, all done.

Here it is...in my front room. Ironically an orange (ish) one.

The view from the front window.