Summer Happenings That Happened

Many fun happenings have happened this summer! We Simons think of ourselves as tourists in our own city and we try to take advantage of everything our community has to offer. Earlier this season, we took a day and went to the Pioneer museum and temple square. Afterwards, we topped off the day with lunch at the Lion House. Here are a few photos of our adventure!

There is a ravishing rose garden just outside the Pioneer Museum.

There's nothing like inhaling a heady, sweet, rich rose, dotted with water droplets, and warmed by the sun.

We luxuriated in the glory of the fountain by the Church Office Building. Cute Summer called it "the ocean"!

Jerald could raise the powerful shoots of frothy water with the mere raising of his commanding arms! :)

It was a mighty HOT day, and Summer and I relished and reveled in the icy water of the flowing fountains.

Well, you can't NOT pose on the platform with the majestic Salt Lake temple behind you. The photo op presents itself every time. Look at Summer, my little rose of a poser!



We saw many lovely brides that day and Summer wanted to meet each one. She was just sure they were princesses. Of course, each bride was happy to be adored by our little Summer. Their photographers saw the Kodak moment and went crazy snapping photos. And so did we! I wonder just how many bridal photo albums there are, now, in which Summer graces the pages!

We've had such a wonderful summer and I'm excited to write more posts with lots of pictures about our happy times.

Childlike Faith

Isn't it wondrous when in our "What on earth am I supposed to do?" moments, a comforting feeling enters our hearts with the knowledge we didn't know we were looking for? I recall a day when my sweet little Summer, while having been thrust into the throws of potty training, looked up at me through teary blue eyes. That particularly sad morning, she needed to use the bathroom so much, but she refused to sit on the toilet. I looked from Summer to Jerald in desperation. Suddenly a sweet feeling washed over me with the knowledge that she needed some Heavenly help. "Summer", I said, "I think you need a Priesthood blessing from Daddy. He'll put his hands on your head and use his Priesthood to say a special prayer for you. Would you like that?" She slowly got up from her crouched position, walked over to Jerald and meekly asked, "Daddy, will you put your hands on my head?" Jerald and I then shared an "isn't she sweet?" moment as we witnessed her humble faith. Jerald, fighting tears, did place his hands on Summer's head and gave her a blessing of comfort and reassurance. We knew Heavenly Father would bless her with the ability to learn this skill. And learn it she did. She almost immediately transformed into a walking pee pee pro :) No worry of ours is too small for the Lord, who is so ready to help to teach us anything--whether it be humility, understanding, patience, or even how to use the big girl toilet. But what SUMMER taught me that morning was a lesson of faith. Childlike faith is what we call it.

Beauty Tip - Peeping Tommy Girl

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then the eyelashes should be a lovely set of shutters. Thanks to the invention of modern mascara in 1913 (the first was coal dust mixed with Vaseline!), the ability to cause minor windstorms with the very blinks of our sweeping lashes is possible. Unfortunately, many mascaras disappoint. Some look great at the time of application, but perform a magical disappearing act a mere hour later. Others make our lashes look clumped and heavy, as though tarantula legs have been surgically attached to our eyelids. Don't forget the brands that dry out on our lashes and flake off, generating the "mascara dandruff" that litters our cheekbones. And, of course, there are the mascaras that when we pull out the wand, we marvel at the goop, gook, and gunk enveloping the brush, so when we apply, it creates the "W". Translation? Three gobbed lashes - one in the middle and one on each side. My "favorite", though, are the ones that cause those black smudgy spots under our eyes by mid-day, transforming us into a High Noon Raccoon. Are there mascaras out there that won't make us weep in frustration? There had better be. Those black streaks from tears are so unbecoming. In my quest, I have found two mascaras that have found their rightful spot in my makeup bag. The first is "Professional" by Cover girl. This formula magnifies the lashes for a classic, ladylike look. The other is XXL Extensions by Maybellene. After using it, I actually had a checker at the dollar store ask if my lashes were real. She thought they were fakes! What a moment. Of course, that's really the only part of a woman about which people can comfortably and appropriately ask if it's all their own. Ha ha! XXL Extensions has one end that's a white base coat/primer, if you will (and I know you will), and the other end is the real mascara, as it were (and it always was). You'll achieve long, full, exaggerated lashes with the one/two punch. Let the windstorms begin! Start by using a metal eyelash curler. It really opens up your eyes to make THEM look bigger and YOU more awake. If you desire to feel like a real makeup artist, blast the curler with a hair dryer for a few seconds to heat it. It makes your lashes truly point heavenward. Curl your lashes at the base, holding it for a full ten seconds. Then, apply your mascara beginning right at the roots, wiggling it slightly, and then sweep the wand up and out. Linger at the tips of your lashes and slowly extend the wand beyond the edge. You can create several millimeters of extra length by adding that additional bit of mascara beyond the tips. Let the first coat dry. At this point, I personally curl my lashes again because they are rebelliously prone to straightness. They don't stick to the eyelash curler and break as long as I wait until they are all the way dry. Then add another coat or two of mascara and comb through them. You can maneuver those eyelash combs on the market, but I prefer to use a fine toothed comb for hair. It separates my lashes without removing the mascara. Hey, those windows to your soul will open and welcoming, and your lashes will be ready for batting. Get ready for the masses and mortals to peer (and gaze) into those windows!

Hey, It's OK! (Volume 2)

Hey, It's OK...

... to enjoy a little bit of Christmas in August! Some of the loveliest music ever written is of the Christmas variety, so why enjoy it only in December? Jerald doesn't bat an eye when our dinner music provides a little extra yuletide cheer from the Carpenters, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and the Tabernacle Choir.

... to say that I always yearn to cook, I have a crush on baking, and I loooove to eat and everything INVOLVED with cooking, baking, and eating, as well as all foodstuffs of the past, present, and future, so if you inquire if I ever eat, then believe you me...I'll be smiling at you brightly, but INWARDLY be plotting your murder! Peace and blessings, y'all!!

... that I can sit, feeling perfectly content and endlessly stare at my little daughter, Summer. I have never found any flame, flower, or power that can mesmorize me the way she can.

... that I consider good books to be like dear friends. There's nothing in the world like reading the afternoon away, feeling completely absorbed in a story and climbing inside the characters' minds and hearts. I always feel a sad loss when I complete a book. I close it, stare at its cover, and miss it already. But there are always new "friends" to be found at my nearest library.

... that I feel shocked, saddened, and betrayed when a bowl of bland, tasteless, and unseasoned mashed potatoes are placed before me. Take it away, man, take it away. Now, how they REALLY need to prepared is outlined for you here. Take notes, for this is profound: Boil the potatoes in chicken broth along with some chopped onion, garlic, and extra salt. Drain out the broth. Then, before mashing, add lots of butter, some milk, a scoop of sour cream or cream cheese, a bit of shredded cheese (anything from sharp cheddar to Parmesan), salt, pepper, and if you're REALLY feeling wild and adventurous, a small handful of finely diced green onions. Beat it all until it's mashed and creamy. Before serving the fluffy confection, add a pat of butter which will melt and trickle down the sides, a sprinkle of paprika for a garnish, and then serve it to grateful, weeping individuals. Now, THESE. are. mashed. potatoes. Thank you. Goodnight.

(For more quacks and quirks, click here to read my volume 1 of Hey, It's OK!)