How Time Doth Fly

After we got done informing Village Inn that the Boss would be accepting their offer, we decided to do something fun with the kids to celebrate two good things in one day. So we got everyone dressed and loaded up the van.

We first took a rare visit to the dollar movies to see "Diary of a Wimpy Kid". Um...I guess we got what we paid for. Not my favorite movie but the kids seemed to enjoy it. If I had done the screenplay, I'd have spent more time exploring the relationship between the kid and his dad, who seemed to be at about the same maturity level. They had a shot to make a really good movie but missed it in favor of cheap jokes.

After the movie, we headed downtown to see all the construction that is going on and to take a tour of the Conference Center and Temple Square. I had never been on a tour of the conference center even though I've been there several times, so I had no idea there was a huge garden on the roof.




From the pictures, you'd never guess all that grass and wildflowers and even fully grown pines are on top of the building that the kids are sitting in front of in the other picture. Inside is just as amazing; it seats more people than Energy Solutions Arena down the street where the Jazz play.

There is also a large collection of religious art, including the Arnold Freiberg paintings of scenes from the Book of Mormon. I could have spent all day looking at the one of Abinidai. What a stud. The Lord commanded him to call a wicked King to repentance. The King rejected him and sent him into exile. Then the Lord told Abinidai to return and again preach to the King. Abinidai obeyed, even though he knew it was a death sentence. He stood and testified of the coming of Jesus Christ and even while he was burned at the stake, he obeyed the Lord and taught.

I have to admire a man who does what he knows is right, even if he doesn't understand why. Without Abinidai, Alma doesn't repent; without Alma, the Book of Mormon is a lot shorter read. Abinidai had no idea of the effect he had on the world when he died. Bet you he's glad he was obedient now, huh?

After the Conference Center tour, we went across the street to Temple Square. The Boss and I thought it would be fun to tell the kids about our wedding day and how things have changed over the years. We took some pictures, and I spent some time harassing the Mandarin speaking sister missionaries. Temple Square is about the only place I get to practice anymore. At least I can still carry on a conversation, even if some of the vocabulary is gone.


Finally, we went to the store to try a new activity we call "2 dollar dinner". You go into the grocery store and each member of the family is given two dollars to pick an ingredient. Then you have to go home and plan a menu and everyone helps cook something that hopefully turns out edible.

We let the kids choose without interference, starting with Peff. The Boss and I picked last so we could make sure we could finish something edible, and we decided that Squizzle's two bucks would go to double any ingredient that was key to the menu.

Peff picked a head of lettuce and two cans of chili. Puzey went next and got three kiwi fruit and a can of mandarin oranges. Then Moe, who selected three plums and a zucchini (getting scary, ain't it?). Haggis decided that with all the fruit, she had the makings of dessert pizza so she got two containers of yogurt and a package of cream cheese. Squizzle got more lettuce and some tomato, while the Boss picked a bag of store brand Frito's and a package of sugar cookie mix. I got kool-aid and cheese (OK, so I went over the two buck mark a little, sue me).

We got home and Moe sauteed her zucchini, the Boss made sugar cookies and mixed the lettuce and corn chips. Haggis cut up the tomato and grated the cheese while Peff and Haggis opened all the cans. The boss heated the chili for Frito pie with cheese, tomato, and lettuce. For dessert, we mixed the yogurt and cream cheese and spread that on the sugar cookies which were then topped with plum, kiwi, and mandarin oranges for mini fruit pizza.

Not a bad anniversary, considering that from movies to tours to dinner, we spent less than twenty five bucks.

Well, enough for now, I've got to get ready to go to the eye doctors. By the next time I post, I may not need to magnify the screen by 200% to see it.

Wish us luck and hope we haven't emptied our quota of good things this week!