And the Winner is...

I was just reading a friends blog and Kate wrote about her WIN. She challenged us to write about something we'd won and of course, we've all won SOMETHING... Here's my winning story!

When I was in sixth grade, Miss Buss had two contests that ran simultaneouly. The first was to come up with a list of compound words, i.e., CANNOT, ??? - all of a sudden, no other compound words are coming to mind!

The second contest was come up with a list of two words that sound the same, but are spelled differently, i.e., THEIR/THERE, PITCHER/PICTURE, GO COUGARS!!! - Oh, that isn't for this story, anyway...

I decided that both of these contests would be easy for me. They ran at the same time and I fully expected to win both! At the time, I read constantly and so my approach for becoming the WINNER was to read and read and read and everytime I came upon either types of these words, I wrote the word down. The contested lasted a couple of weeks. When the winners were announced, I only won the COMPOUND word category. I believe I had 57 compound words and I think I won a jar of candy. I honestly don't remember...

I just know I WON!!! (Like BYU did today!)

As I have no photos that captured that win, I decided to post a picture of me around my sixth grade year...

My brother David was born during my sixth grade year.

This picture must have been around that time!

My Latest Creation...

I LOVED Pres. Uchdorf's comments about Creativity at the Relief Society General Meeting in September. My latest creative outlet is making headbands. They are so cute and simple and I'm sure a few will be made for my nieces, if they ever read this blog! Once again, I think I will try selling them on Etsy. You never know what will happen! With all of the quilt scraps I have hanging around, there should be quite a few options. I'll be uploading photos for several days...

A few samples....

I LOVE A DEAL!

One of my hobbies, if you will, is watching the grocery ads. This week, Albertsons - aka Albs - has had the 16 oz jar of Taco Bell Salsa on sale - 5 qty for 5 dollars, PLUS with the coupon that was found in the ad (and also on the aisle shelf by where the salsa is located) you then get $3.00 of a bag of candy. So, needless to say, I've been buying salsa in BULK and getting free candy this week. $25.00 worth of salsa and 5 bags of candy for the Halloween kiddies who I hope will drop by our door... So, I have salsa food storage for a year as well as candy for Halloween - okay Mike & I will eat it too!

A couple of weeks ago, Albs had Hershey's Chocolate Chips - 10 for 10.00. Then, if you purchased the 10 qty, you received $3.00 off - which made the price of the choc. chips only .70 per bag. Well, you guessed right, I loaded up on chocolate chips in anticipation of this holiday FUDGE cooking season! Between fudge and choc. chip cookies, I figure 40 bags would be enough for the year.

MORAL: If you are looking for a great deal, look at the ads. It is worth it! I still believe I am a better shopper by shopping the ads than going to Costco or Sams Club. I still don't see how those two places believe they are lowering the food costs - except maybe on spices, cheese, and there is one other item I've found to be cheaper there. Okay, enough pontificating!

Family History, I am doing it...

Well, sort of... Carol Raymond of our ward has been so excited about the finds that have occurred in her family recently, that her enthusiasm caused me to decide that this evening, I'd do a little family history research. Mike's Grandmother, Marjorie Goodman Christensen, was not a member of the church. I know that Mike's mother, Caroline, has researched some of the work, so I decided to start pulling things together. I found a several items. While the Goodman's came from the south, via Texas to Colorado and Utah, I found that generations before settled in the New England area. With that information, I knew that some of the work was probably done. (If you have ancestors from the New England area, there is a VERY GOOD chance all of their work has been done - SEVERAL TIMES!)

But, I think we can build up names from those that went to South Caroline and moved on to Texas. I'm not sure how it will happen, but I decided it was good that I at least found a place to begin.

While looking for this information, I came across some video I took of Madison playing the piano. This is from my visit to Guam in September 2006 - just two years ago. Personally, I think she is a natural at the piano - just like her FAVORITE AUNT, but I have to confess, she has the HART genes as well. She'd only been taking for a couple of months when she played this piece.

Will Mike Fly???

I just found out my brother's family - aka navylangs - will be moving to Hawaii next summer! The big question is now, "Will Mike fly to Hawaii?" I had a good time in Guam, but the only downside was that MIKE wasn't there! Does anyone have any Valium or Xanax we could borrow!

Musings... Renters vs. Children

September has flown by as Mike and I had three tenants give their 30 day notice and a fourth who is struggling with rent. We have six units so having 1/2 give notice was a little scary. We've spent a lot of time getting the homes ready for new tenants, advertising, etc.

The good new is that in early September - we won a judgment against a former tenant who owed us $$$. We'll see if they make good on there promise to pay. Otherwise, come October 1st, GARNISHMENT. (Don't think I'm heartless. They have had PLENTY of chances! Read Alma 48:22-24)

NOW FOR MY MUSING...

I'm wondering if there is much difference between having renters vs. raising children. So, here are my thoughts...

1. Both have their own versions of hazardous waste and leave it to me to clean up!
2. Both have a tendancy to whine and complain.
3. Both seem to never have enough money and think that you - the parent or landlord - should fund THEM!!!
4. Both never seem to be able to clean up after themselves.
5. Sometimes, they tell you one thing and then don't follow through.
6. Rules are nothing they enjoy and would like to CHANGE!
7. Sometimes you really like them, and then, sometimes you don't!
8. There are some who like to keep to themselves. You never seem to know what is going on in their heads!
9. Sometimes you have to spell EVERYTHING out. Clean your room or Clean your home has a different meanting for EVERYONE!
10. Both require a personal long-term commitment to realize your investment in them!

Tomorrow... another trip to Ogden and hopefully a new tenant!


By-the-way - May I just say how grateful I am for FREE ADVERTISING on ksl.com and craigslist. I am amazed at how many of our tenants come from those two sources!

FHE...

What did you do for FHE? We were up in Ogden working on a couple of properties this afternoon. The good news is that one of our properties is rented - the home in Sunset. YEA!!! 1 down, 2 more to go. Our goal is to have all of them rented by the end of the month! So we spent FHE working on properties, having the business take us to dinner, and then for our activity, Mike and I drove the new Legacy Highway - just two days after it opened. I confess, it was dark when we drove it, but we did notice that the overpasses look like fortresses. We also saw a little 'wetland' area. But hey, at least we can say we've driven on it!!!

Hopefully, on another trip home from Ogden - we'll be able to drive home during the daylight and REALLY SEE what's out there!