Home

Before heading to the airport, Alison and I drove to Centennial, CO and walked around the grounds of the Denver, Temple.

We set the timer on my camera and had it take three shots one after the other. I don't know what we were doing in the poses exactly, but neither one of us could stand still for too long because it was so dang cold and drizzly outside. As you can see from the pictures, I didn't really dye my hair blonde. But it is a warmer brown color. Alison is showing off her strawberry blonde hair-do. The color turned out really cute considering I was playing "chemist" when mixing some dyes together (Sally Beauty Supply doesn't sell a strawberry-blonde hair color).

Even though we had stinky weather during our stay, it was so much fun hanging out with Alison. My throat feels raw from talking so much. We talked all day (each day) and late into the nights. I will miss Alison terribly!

Holy family, Batman! I forgot to mention that we gave away the Book of Mormon to Miles, one of the desk clerks at the hotel we stayed at. He had been so kind and helpful to us during our stay. Miles would whip out map after map, showing us many cool places to visit. Plus he tried his best to find us a DVD player so that Alison and I could watch my Pride and Prejudice movie
that I had brought. Miles wasn't on duty when we left the book as we checked out, but inside it was a note from us and a pass-along card with the missionary's numbers on it. This was a great ending to our trip.

Reuniting with my family this evening was wonderful. I had missed them so much. Seeing Dave-o run to me while yelling, "Mommy's home" and feeling his little arms wrap around me was a relief. I had worried that he would forget me. Thank you, David, for being "Mom" during my trip. I understand that it was a huge sacrifice.

There's no place like home.

English Ivy

In my last post, I mentioned that I had a reaction on my arms after cutting down our ivy. Well, over the past couple of days, it has gotten much worse. Both my arms and hands are covered in bumps. Bumps never developed on David's skin. He was just itchy for the one day.

What could be causing this severe reaction?
Could it be my medication (yes, I have another urinary track infection)?
Was there Poison Ivy mixed in with the English Ivy?

Both David and I came to the conclusion that it must be poison ivy. While at work, David researched it in more depth. He emailed me a link this morning saying that he found the cause of my rash. And it wasn't poison ivy. Here is what I read:

English ivy has caused severe dermatitis to sensitive persons. The hardiest, most common and most popular of the ivies. All Hedera pose serious allergy potential unless controlled in containers. The sap causes severe skin rash and the pollen may bring on sudden intense allergic reactions.

Lesson learned: I must be a sensitive person.

To keep my mind off the itchiness,I keep my arms lathered with calamine lotion. Ahhhhhhh! Relief! It's a good thing the lotion is cheap because I'm going to go through many bottles of the stuff.


AND



I also re-covered Kirsten's school chair with left-over fabric I had used on her quilt. Now, Steven wants me to bring new life to his chair. Looks like tomorrow we'll be going to the fabric store.

Interior Decorator?

The other day while David, Justin, Steven, James, and I were laying around trying to recover from our sicknesses, I noticed Kirsten (who was well) coming in and out of the backyard. Each time she came inside, she quickly made sure none of us could see what was in her hands. I asked Kirsten what she was doing and she said, "Nothing."
I left her to her "nothingness" because I didn't have the strength to investigate. I was just happy that she was entertaining herself.
Some time later, Kirsten finished doing "nothing" and wanted us to see it.
She led us to her room and this is what we saw:


Kirsten had decorated her dresser with grass outlining it with leaves and rose petals. What a creative girl! Maybe she'll want to be an interior decorator when she grows up. Her specialty will be bringing the outdoors in.