Chocolate and Conversation

Moments to Remember

Aspen's 5th grade promotion, June 15, 2011

She received the Presidential Award for outstanding academic achievement.

I enjoyed watching Aspen growing, and becoming herself this year. She is a loyal friend, and when she was in tough situations, she chose to make the right decisions. After the summer, she will be entering middle school!! -It's hard to believe all my babies are growing up, it seems to be only yesterday I was still serving them up juice from a sippy cup, and kissing their owies better. Through such milestones like birthdays or graduation in their lives am I reminded that time doesn't stand still. I don't necessary feel any older or different, the only thing that reminds me that time is moving is my ever increasing gray hair.

Rebecca, Cindy, Manchun, and Aspen

Jade at her 7th grade promotion, June 16, 2011

From left: Aradhana, Supriya, Payal, and Jade

Duffins' Moving Day

Our dear friend the Duffins moved into our ward 2 years ago, and immediately took our ward by storm. They have given us 4 wonderful youth, and 3 cutest little kids. Kyle, the oldest (on the very left), received his mission call before he left us. This is their last hurrah, an all-you-can-eat-youth-ice cream-social, just hours before their departure. The Duffins arrived in style, and they depart in the same fashion.

From Left, Mary, Kayla, Nicole, Maggie and Jade

Kayla belongs to the Duffins, and is one of our Beehive, a chatter box, and someone who always have a smart comment. There is never a dull moment when Kayla is around.

From Left: Kim, Katie Duffin and Megan Duffin

Megan is one of our Mia Maids, someone who is always looking out for the underdog, cool, stubborn and does things on her time. Katie, my amazing Laurel, is an example to everyone around her. She is constantly being a missionary, and has a sparkling personality. Katie and Megan both received their personal progress medallion just a week prior to their moving day.

I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of me and my friend Lorriane Duffin, who loves Maryland cold weather, she wears a t-shirt when it's 30 degrees outside. She prays for snow all winter long. She will definitely melt in Arizona where they are moving to.

Mary and Jade, none of them are Duffins

Both are wearing girls camp shirts from last year.

Billy Goat Gruff - Fisher kids' favorite hike

Summer 2011

The following pictures are posted intended for my kids to enjoy. Now you have been fore-warned about the excessive picture posting.

Kirin is the Troll under the bridge

"Don't eat me, there are others that are fatter..."

Aspen and Jade, the billy goats, waiting their turn to the bridge

Zucchinis

My friend Michelle lives in Utah, she grows a respectable garden. It seems to be sprouting with edible things all the time. You'd find peas and beans ready for pickin' in late springs and early summer. Then tomatoes, lots and lots of tomatoes. If you want to make Cafe Rio's famous tomatillos salsa, she has that also. (tomatillos, not salsa). There are zucchinis, cucumbers, peppers of different varieties, and strawberries. In the fall, when everything else dies, big orange pumpkins spreading their vines.

She once told me this: If you see someone in the groceries stores buying zuccines, you'll know she doesn't have a friend.

She then explained that zucchinis grow like weed, you get so much from one single plant, people who grow them usually beg their friends to take them away.

I never had to buy zucchinis while I was living in Utah.

Today, I bought some.

Sage means Wise

Me to Sage: "Let's go and get some lunch!"

She replies: "It had BETTER be candy!!"

I had finished making dinner already and so I obviously KNEW what was for dinner. I don't know why I asked, but I did:

"Sage, what ya want for dinner?"

"I dunno, what ya got?"

Kirin was being super energetic one night and basically acting crazy, which Jade and Aspen looked on with much amusement.

Sage was drawing a picture, unaffected, completely in the zone.

After this had been going on for a while, Sage turned to her brother and, pronouncing each word clearly and solemnly: "Brother, is it... FUN... to be stupid?"

I found some Fun Dip candy in the store, and I thought how much Sage would enjoy it. So I bought it and introduced it to her one day when she was watching her princess movie. Because I am a good mom like that. I showed her to suck on the dipping stick to get it wet so she can dip it into the colored sugar. She thought the whole process was pure heaven.

After a while I asked if she had finished it. She showed me the much smaller dipping stick in her hand and announced: "I finished the Fun, but not the Dip."

I got a card from Sage for Mother's Day. She made it in preschool.

The bolded part is what she filled in. I really like her imagination.

My Mom is 159 years old.

My mom looks beautiful when it's my birthday.

All day, my mom goes shopping, takes me to my friend's house, and makes cookies.

In her defense, all my kids wish they had a mom that would make homemade cookies, served to them warm with a glass of cold milk. I did start making some pretty-looking cupcakes, if that makes any difference.

ONCE UPON A TIME Mormon Prom 2011

With a month left to Mormon Prom, I got demoted from a Stake YW's calling to a ward YW's calling. (I was kidding about being demoted, though it did mean that on the ward level I have to work harder.)

Emotions were high for me when the bishop extended this call to me, with one standing out above them all - "overwhelmed." Andrew had been out of town in the meantime, and wouldn't be back until after prom is over. The month felt like a whirlwind; even now, after the Prom has been over for a week, I am still recovering from mental exhaustion and physical fatigue. My children played a big part in making it successful - Jade has been pulling some heavy duty baby sitting for me in the last little while, and they have been so very patient with my schedule. I don't know how they survived really, I attribute that entirely to the tender mercies of the Lord.

Last year, I was handed the theme "A Night in Venice". This year, shortly after it was decided that I would take on Mormon Prom again, the theme "Once Upon a Time" came to mind. The youth liked it, and so it was. The invitation to participate with us was extended to 20 other stakes.

Mormon Prom was a success, I am happy to say, but even happier and greatly relieved that it is over. Thank you to Jenni Hale, the Stake YW's secretary, my old comrade who worked tirelessly on the smoke breathing dragon and worked herself into kidney stones.

Here is Once Upon a Time, Mormon Prom 2011 hosted by Seneca Stake. Also, look here for pictures from last year's prom.

Click here to view these pictures larger

Catching Up

Above is Henry, the pre-school dog. Sage got to take him home for a week and record their adventures in a journal. So this is Henry and Sage, sharing some mango.

Sage's birthday also happens to be on St. Patrick's day. After she was born, when the nurse handed her to me, they had placed both a pink bow and a green bow on her head. This is Henry and Sage, watching the parade.

Who doesn't love a guy riding on a toilet in the parade!!

The balloon man was definitely a crowd pleaser!

Sage was a great audience, she applauded when appropriate.

Here is another shot of the "Pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow"

Happy Day

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Winter Storm

This winter, Maryland was hit with yet another snow storm. This shot was taken prior to the snow storm, when there was almost nothing on the ground. Aspen, my creative girl made this snow man by exhausting all the available snow around her.