The New Quests of The Turetzky Family

We were sitting on the couch last night watching the Olympics and Darren looks over at me and says, "Do you smell a skunk??" I had been sitting there thinking the same thing, but wondering if I was imagining it. Since Darren had finally mentioned it, I admitted to leaving the garage door open a "crack" to let some air circulate (we've been doing this periodically during the summer heat). We had a "What do we do now??" moment next. The stench was quite potent in the house, so we were pretty sure a skunk had been in our garage and not just roadkill in the street. We have a remote for the garage in the house, so Darren took a plate of food to put outside the garage in case the skunk needed lured out. Then he opened the garage with the remote, while I watched from the bedroom window to see if the offender would scurry out. No skunk in sight, but Darren did notice that the extension cord was knocked off the workbench and some empty boxes waiting to be recyc...

---I updated the previous two posts with the pictures I had been neglecting to post, so feel free to scroll down to those posts to see more picture!--- This week I felt like I was going crazy. Finding out about Lila needing cavities filled, not finishing that English paper I've been working on forever, Darren working extra late, making decisions about health insurance during open enrollment time, and other events (detailed below) from the last week just left me wondering about my life. I hope someday that I can get it together and feel like I have things under control. For now I'm just trying my best to do what I can now...and that means my house remains undecorated, I still don't have a weekly schedule, the meal planning doesn't happen every week, and I'm still trying to figure out how to finish my last two online BYU classes. I hope to look back one day and see how far I've come. Anyway, here's the things I found to be thankful for this week: Monday I...

Monday Visiting teaching. I'm thankful for the opportunity to meet sisters I otherwise would not know. Napping with my little ones. Getting the house picked up and dinner made before Darren got home. Rain! Glorious beautiful rain. I've always loved a summer thunderstorm. Taking my littles to the library. Tuesday I went to pay a ticket at the police substation and miraculously the fee was only $20 AND there was no line (the ticket was for forgetting to renew my registration...oops). Then I went down to the vital statistics office to get a copy of Walt's birth certificate and I was out of there with the birth certificate in hand in 20 minutes (while Walt slept through the trip, no less!). I might love Texas just a little bit. My easy baby. He just melts my heart every night when I put him to bed. As I lay him down to swaddle him, he just smiles and coos as if to tell me that I'm doing just what he wants. I kiss him, turn on the white noise and leave the room and...

Here's a recipe I adapted this week and thought was good enough to share! Coconut cream pie Larabars 3/4 cup mix of almonds and cashews 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut 1 cup pitted dates, soaked for 5-10 minutes in 1/3 cup warm water While the dates soak, blend the nuts and coconut in a food processor. Add the dates and process until the mixture holds together a bit. Either roll into balls or spread in a small pan and cut cut into bars. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Monday I was pleased that we had a short wait at the tax office to get the car registered and get our Texas plates. I was glad to have time for a short evening run. At the store today Walt received some compliments on how cute he is (this happens pretty regularly :) Tuesday Lila making up songs. Our to do list on the white board. Taking Darren to get his shots. Fireworks from the porch. Vacuuming with Walt in the sling. Wednesday I'm so thankful for this great country I live in. We were grateful to c...

This week... Monday  I was so thankful for an air conditioned home as the temperature soared to 106. It's been a few months since I last felt such heat, and it sure is hot!! It made my heart break a little that I hadn't asked Lila sooner, because when I did ask her if she wanted me to play dolls with her she completely dropped the computer game she was playing and excitedly asked me, "What did you say, Mom??" I was glad I didn't let the chance pass me by, and I made my girl so happy. Tuesday We beat the heat and got the grocery shopping done in the morning! Then we went to lunch with Darren, which made Miss Lila so happy (she loves eating out). Darren came home early and we all went swimming. Walt went swimming for the first time. She said she was going to the ball. Then we went to lunch with Darren. Wednesday I was thankful for the end of this day. I struggled today, and had to face the consequences of procrastination. I'm crossing my fingers that I'...