"How often misused words generate misleading thoughts." -Herbert Spencer

I came down with a weird infection this last week. It mainly attacked my sinuses and throat, but kind of dripped into my lungs a bit. I'll spare you the icky details.

The worst thing about this is that I have lost my voice. I've never experienced this before. I can whisper, but when I try to talk, the pitch of my voice jumps all over and cracks, and at times stops altogether. This presents a problem when answering the phone. It has added 70 years to my phone voice, and I really creeped out my sister-in-law when she called earlier. I could tell she was somewhat mortified. I managed to creek out "this is Kathryn" and the trauma ended.

There are some benefits:

1. I can do a great mischievous laugh.
2. I have more empathy for pubescent boys (the whole voice cracking thing).
3. I have to choose my words wisely. It's a great life lesson.
4. I'm sure there are more benefits, but I can't think of them at the moment.

I just read some information about laryngitis from the Mayo clinic's website. It says don't whisper and don't clear your throat. Of course, upon learning this, I had an incredible urge to do both. And it can apparently last for weeks. It should be an interesting next few weeks. I just hope they don't call on me to read in church tomorrow.

Moab

MOAB!
Thanks to Jessica and Ron for providing the pictures. We had camera issues.

After church a few weeks ago Matt stopped to pick up a packet about our Ward Campout Trip to Moab. Afterwards, he casually mentioned that "they asked me if I had any talents, and I said 'Kathryn plays the ukulele!'" :-O

I was quite surprised to hear this considering I could only play 3 songs:

Aloha Oe

Happy Birthday to You

A song I made up for Matt

So I decided I had better hurry up and learn how to play the ukulele.

I looked up some campfire songs and tried them all out on my 95 year old Gram, who was very encouraging. Gramps served an LDS mission to Hawaii back in the 20s and even learned Hawaiian, so I figured she'd be a good target audience.

"Ooh, learn 'On The Beach at Waikiki'. Honikaua wikiwiki means 'kiss me quickly!' you know."

Anytime I started playing 'Aloha Oe' Amelia would come running in singing and dancing.

So the day came and we met up with some of our best friends, Jessica and Ron, and headed down to Moab! Moab is beautiful in May, and we had a really fun time sneaking around downtown looking for a few letterboxes.

Then it was time for 'campfire hyjinx' (as stated in the flier from church) and I was first. I hoped everyone would be too busy roasting marshmallows to really pay any attention.

I played:

Oh I Wish I were a Little Bar of Soap (with added verses that I made up)

Ghost Chickens in the Sky

and someone requested Oh Susanna

A few fun talents went after me, and then a storm rolled in! Matt and I dashed the kids off to the tent, where moments later a gust of wind broke our tent pole. Amelia, Ellie and I ended up sleeping in the Tahoe while Matt roughed it out in the tent.

Post Storm.

The next day we went to Arches National Park.

Hiking in the Desert. I'm carrying Amelia on my back, and Matt is carrying Ellie in the snugli on his tummy.

God's creations are so amazing. I looked around in wonder and awe at all that was around us. Our favorite hike was Sand Dunes Arch.

Amelia on the trail at Sand Dune Arch.

We started at around 2:45, and thanks to the rock formations around us, the hike was shady and cool. (It was a hot day!) There was fine sand all along the trail, and we took off our shoes and Oh! did it feel good.

Sand Dune Arch. Pre-barefoot.

Amelia squeeled with delight and ran all over. Ron would pop up on a rock or behind a bush and say in a high voice, "Amelia!" and she would giggle and laugh.

We really had a good time. We love Jessica and Ron. We are so blessed to know them. You should check out their web site and get to know them, too.Jessica and Ron. They're trying to adopt, and they will be fabulous parents.

Delicate Arch.

Ho hum

I haven't been in the blogging mood lately.

Maybe it's because the weather has suddenly turned so nice, I want to be outside!

Plus, our camera has decided it doesn't want to let the computer download pictures anymore.

>:-(

So, I can't show you a picture of my whacked hair do.

I got tired of long hair, so I went to a spa and had them cut it all off! And I'm not kidding. They took over a foot.

The last time I did something drastic with my hair was on my mission. I got out of the shower, my hair was down almost to my bum, and the thought of brushing it even just once more made me grab the scissors and snip! it was gone. I had accidentally angled the scissors up, and as a result I ended up with shoulder length hair. It's shorter now.

So I guess this counts as an entry. I'll tell you about MOAB in our next installment.

The food allergy saga continues!

So we had some good
and some bad
news today.

Ellie and Amelia had an appointment with their allergist today. (Jan Broadbent- she is the best there is. We love her).

After all was said and done, it appears as if Ellie has no food allergies! (Maybe to eggs, but right now it doesn't appear so). When we got home I gave her some cheese. She was so cute, she kept saying, "MMM!" She can't have nuts, eggs or fish yet, but that's typical anyway for most kids her age.

Equally exciting for me, now I can eat anything I want! HA HAH! I had to avoid eating dairy, eggs, nuts, for a while fish, and soy while I was nursing Ellie until we found out for sure about her allergies.

We were hoping that Amelia had outgrown her peanut and milk allergies. She got a prick test, and the site where the peanuts was just swelled right up in itchy hives. :-( Bummer. The milk allergy looked clinically negative, but we followed up with a blood test- so we'll see. Keep your fingers crossed.