The itsy bitsy larvae hatched in the cereal...

Warning: This post is not for the weak in stomach, like myself.

Yeah, isn't that lovely? We have a pest problem. A rather terrible one. The worst is knowing that we've ingested this and my kids have ingested this and all that comes with it... Mull that around for awhile and let your stomach settle back down. I HATE bugs. More than any rodent or other non human creature in the world. (including spiders).

We started seeing these moths flying out of our cupboard where we keep our food, (since we don't have an actual pantry). At first I thought moths, they are usually infesters of clothing and wool, right? WRONG. These are called "Indian Meal Moths" and are a common pantry moth. Perhaps you've had them. Apparently it's a common nuisance. It's more than a nuisance. It's a plague! We cannot get rid of them! We thought we did, but we keep seeing the moths around, which means, they can still lay eggs... which means, there must be more that we are missing somewhere. So tonight BJ opened up a new box of cereal. It was in a clean cupboard, no problem. I went back to that box a couple of hours later and saw a moth just above the box on the ceiling of the cupboard. So I thought, "Probably not, but I'll just check and see" (eeeeuuuuckkk, just thinking about it gives me chills.) I pulled the bag out of the box and looked in the bottom where the crumbs accumulate and saw this (Eggs-pictured left) not only in the corners, but throughout the bag of cereal. How did that happen so fast! So, I got a little grossed out and called my husband with the bad news, and demanded that we get an exterminator. He wholeheartedly agreed after hearing the news that his favorite brand new box of cereal was already infested (we just got done throwing EVERYTHING out, so he was stoked to have a new box). He was so mad he didn't even say goodbye to me on the phone just, "Yeah. Okay." click.

Wait, that's not all!

I've also been noticing these tiny little black bugs in Livi's bathroom, in the kitchen, and then yesterday I made a giant batch of dough for my famous bread, rolls, and cinnamon rolls that BJ has been begging me for for a very long time.

I pulled my dough out of the bosch and see this little black spot. So I pull it out of the dough to inspect it... Weevil Larvae. I had to throw the whole thing out. I HATE HATE HATE bugs!

To top it off, we also have fruit flies. Is this because I always have fresh fruit? Any and all tips are helpful. I'm excited to call the exterminator tomorrow. I can't live like this!

More pics from Wedding Week 2010

These are here strictly for your viewing pleasure. I'm going to keep my mouth shut for the most part. I know! How crazy is that!?

We've arrived! Ethan loves Elmo these days. I don't know where he gets it. Cute Chloe-ca (short for Chloe Camille), making sure baby Jonah is safe with mommy. Ethan having a great time swimming with the twins, Peter and Joseph. Seriously, this place was awesome. We have one like it here in Bountiful, but the air is cold in ours. This place was nice and warm and the kids played for hours. Video of the boys jumping in the water. Peter is the blonde cutie, Joseph is the brunette (a little camera shy), and of course Ethan in the red trunks.


Becky lives on a slight hill and BJ took him for a little walk. Here's a super cute and funny video of that.


Livi found Aunt Bex shoe closet and decided to reorganize it. I think the red "glass slippers" were her favorite. Don't ask me why she stripped. I'm just as baffled as you are. I just hope Becky found all of her shoes after we left! Well, that's the hanging out portion of our "Bright Family Reunion thanks to Marianne's wedding" from BJ's point of view. There is much much more to come!

Grief therapy (AKA-vent post)

This guy just came to my door to bring the church keys by to clean it this week. He reminded me of my dad somehow. He probably thought I was so weird because of the way I was looking at him or something, but as soon as I shut the door I started to cry. I wish I could stop, but I just miss him so so much. I wish I could tell you. I miss his chuckle, his sweet nature, the way he was always doing something for somebody else. How seriously he took his callings and his priesthood authority. He didn't want people to feel bad for him or pity him. He was always on top of his game, always doing something. Never lazy. He was not a perfect man, but his heart was always in the right place.

Most of you probably have no idea what this is like, but one of the hardest things I had to do in my short life so far is watch my dad get old. He stumbled when he walked, every step was a chore. I wanted to help him, but he didn't like to make a big deal out of it. I proudly held his hand in public. That helped him more than anything could. I watched him go from go get'em super dad to 80+ yr old man with a go get'em attitude in the space of about 12 years (give or take). He didn't grumble about this. He did quite the opposite. He thanked the Lord everyday for his blessings and he shared his testimony with me and told me he loved me every single day. He was a true man of faith. I wish so badly everyone on this planet could have had the chance to know him. I know a lot of people tend to glorify people after they are gone, but this is not the case here. He was honest and truly 100% genuine and loved everyone else in a way I hope I can achieve at some point.

The hurt never fully leaves. It comes and goes and I am starting to realize that the loss and the void I feel will continue until I see him again. How grateful I am to know that that will happen! I don't think I could bear it if I didn't. I just wish so much that my kids could have had him in their lives. I wish BJ had known him better. I feel envious sometimes knowing he can call his dad for fatherly advice. I could get it from him, too, but it's just not the same. Really. My dad knew me inside and out. He knew what kind of person I am, he knew my spirit he knew my testimony. He never said hasty things, he always thought out his answers and responses. He never ever judged me. He never wanted to hurt me. Everything he said or did was because he loved me. A true example of what I think our relationship to Heavenly Father must be like. My Father in-law is much the same. I see it with his kids. He reaches out to me, too. How did I get so lucky to have such good in-laws?

The second hardest thing I've had to do is watch my mom become a widow. It is so sweet to hear her talk about him. How much she loves him. The dreams she has about him. I've always been close to her, but this has brought us so much closer. Right after he died I went up once a month and ended up staying for about 10 days each time. She wisely told me that my place was with my husband. That we needed to be together. I was so afraid to leave her alone with her thoughts. I didn't want her to be hurting as much as I was and I knew that she was hurting even more. I think it wears on her every day. She is also just as giving and sweet and kind to everyone around her. She is genuine and true as well. Everything she does is with the sincerest of intentions. Who knew there were such wonderful people in this world as my parents? I love them both beyond words. She says she's okay, and I know she is, but I know she aches for him. I know because I do, too.

In some ways things as far as moving on have gotten better, but I still have to remind myself that he's gone. Really and truly gone.

Okay (deep breath). Now that's out of the way, my eyes are swollen and I'm ready to get my mind off of it.

The Fourth Bright Wedding

(More pictures coming to this post--really. My computer was meltinin inside, so that's probably why it was such a pain to get these four pics up. It's in the shop, but i'm working on it i promise!) Marianne's wedding was wonderful and beautiful and nothing short coming. She's been planning this day ever since I've known her. Add that to my other sister's mad wedding coordiating and decorating skills and connections, yeah, it was pretty awesome. She was a fabulous bride and I'm so happy for her and her awesome new Husband Kris. He's definitely a keeper. For those of you who don't know, Kris got baptized into the LDS church the day after he proposed to my sister. They are already set to be sealed in the Salt Lake Temple next July. I'm so excited for them.

This was my family's first wedding without my dad. Marianne decided to get married on his birthday, and it made it all the more special. It really hit me that he wasn't there when my cute brothers walked her down the isle beaming as they walked. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing as I thought of how much I missed him and wished he was there. But he was there. And he was proud and pleased. I know he was. It was interesting to hear others who knew him talk to Kris about what he would have said, what he would have done. Not always accurately, but they had some good guesses. I'm so grateful every day for the knowledge that I have of eternal families. I don't know how I'd cope if I didn't know that we'll all be together forever. He's still my dad. He's still my mom's husband. It just makes everything better.

The little girls were so pretty in their dresses, the little boys all matched and they all looked adorable. Olivia cried at the end of walking down the isle because everyone was looking at her. She ran right to me and jumped on my lap. So cute.
(At the family dinner laughing at Livi who was blowing out all the candles in every centerpiece) Kris got a limo for the day, There were Italian Sodas, delicious italian food, they did their best to make it a safe environment for Ethan, we danced we laughed we had a great dinner, a good little video for Marianne and Kris that got the water works going again. At least for me. Who knew I'd be such and emotional woman?

All in all a great day for a fabulous occasion!