Christmas Re-cap

The days leading up to Christmas were so enjoyable. Last Sunday AH’s family had their big extended family annual Christmas dinner, program and white elephant gift exchange. I especially liked seeing cousins who we haven’t seen in a while and admiring their families and how they’ve grown.

Tuesday evening we went ice skating with the kids (see earlier post) which proved to be a very fun activity for us all.

On Wednesday evening I went to a production of Anne of Green Gables at our local playhouse. It was a musical and as delightful as could be. The music, actors, singing and set design were just spectacular and of course I adore the story. It was a really wonderful way to spend an evening.

On Thursday I took the kids to my mom’s for the day while AH stayed home to wrap up the installation of our entertainment built-ins (which never goes as smoothly as you hope). We enjoyed time with my brother, sister and one of my nieces. My mom made a wonderful lunch for us all and both the kids enjoyed playing/tormenting her little dog all day. Regretfully it was a short trip – I much prefer the longer ones that give more time for visiting and playing games.

Friday evening we went to AH’s parents for a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Following dinner each family provided a little entertainment by way of a skit, reading or activity. AH read the nativity while the children all dressed up accordingly and acting out their parts, and this was followed by the annual lighting of the Christmas tree (real candles) as we sang carols in English and German. This is always such a beautiful way to bring on the true Christmas spirit, singing beautiful hymns by candlelight.

Christmas came very early this morning. Mr. B was warned repeatedly last night that he was not to get up before 7am AND that he had to have his bed made and room cleaned before any presents were opened. At precisely 7am the squeals of delight poured into our bedroom as Mr. B saw what Santa had left for him. Beeb was much more restrained and I think still half asleep since Mr. B woke her up. The madness had officially begun and I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed and onto the couch.

The kids delighted in their gifts and AH’s parents and sister stopped by with more gifts for us and stayed through lunch. I was able to remove some of my most wanted items off my “materialistic list -->” – I am so happy for that list.

As the day went on AH went to work on our family room (new custom entertainment system went in a few days ago) and its long list of “must be done” before the carpet can be installed next month. I had woken up with a sore throat so I went back to bed after gifts were open but before the parents arrived. The kiddo’s played with their new gifts and in the afternoon I played with them. Beeb got a couple of beginning sewing kits so she decided to try sewing a “build-a-bear” that Grandma gave her. It took a little coaxing but she caught on and did a really good job. I followed up behind her and did another stitching over hers just to reinforce the seams.








Mr. B and AH worked for a bit building new Lego creations. Mr. B loves to get Lego’s and then have Dad put them together.




It’s always fun to see what gifts come from our Japanese relations each year. I rather like their “lego” variation that Beeb and I put together.



Beeb asked me to photograph her in her new PJ's and robe tonight just before bed:




At the end of the day I am thankful for those who’ve enriched our lives; our family and friends, acts of kindness from strangers, teachers and volunteers and all others who touch us so dearly. I am especially thankful for our health, as I’ve lost several friends recently, and appreciate the gift of life and being here to see my children grow. I am always thankful for our savior, Jesus Christ, and the significance of His life – the real reason we celebrate at this time of year and give honor to Him. Sometimes I sit and ponder what that means to “give honor to Him” – do you? It is a motivator for me to do a little better, try a little harder.

Merry Christmas to you all – may you invite His love into your hearts and know peace and comfort throughout the entire year.

Pre-Christmas Activities

A few days ago AH and I took the kids to our local upscale mall for their winter snowflake parade. I was a little reluctant since it started at 7pm and my kiddo's are usually in bed by 7:30pm but after seeing pictures that friends have posted of this event I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate the season and worth the late night.

I must have been at the wrong location despite following the directions posted on the mall website. The event we attended, with people lining both sides of the street, had no actual "parade" but instead some drummers on stands located throughout the crowd. They drummed while some music played - that was it. No princesses, no one marching down the street waiving to us, no candy being thrown to the kids - nothing. I felt stupid for dragging my very tired husband out of his warm house to stand shoulder to shoulder with strangers for a drummer and a few bubbles sprinkling down on us from the tops of the buildings.

The kids were crushed and I was irritated as we walked back to our car. It was on the way that I proposed to AH that we take the kids ice skating in the park. Thankfully AH agreed not to waste the trip and so we headed to the ice rink.









We had a lot of fun! The kiddo's struggled initially but got the hang of it and were able to skate for short distances without holding on to one of us or taking out all the other skaters. Beeb even announced that having mastered ice skating she is ready to take on snow skiing.

In a Moment Everything Can Change

Tonight started out rather rough. After struggling with Mr. B through part of his homework and then having both kids playing very loudly together, obviously hyper, and being too rough with each other (Beeb got hurt twice) I thought that the rest of the evening would have to be endured.

So I did what any mother of continuously squabbling kids would do - I snuck upstairs to work on cleaning out my craft room. Shortly after I started working Beeb came up to complain about her brother and his latest offense toward her. I had just found an ornament kit that we did for an Enrichment activity the previous week (there were extras so I took one home) and I asked Beeb if she wanted to make it. Together we worked on creating the ornament and it was fun. When we finished Beeb proudly hung it on the tree.



After hanging the ornament Beeb asked if we could make snowflakes. I can honestly say this is not a craft skill of mine, which I told Beeb, so she taught me how to make snowflakes. We each did our first one and then Mr. B came to see what we were up to and wanted to join in as well. The room was filled with the quietness of my two kids concentrating - folding and cutting paper and then excitedly showing me their creations. This quiet winter activity invited a sweet peaceful spirit into our home that only shortly before was filled with loud voices and the makings for a stressful evening.




As went to help get Mr. B ready for bed I entered his room and noticed a beautiful scene that served as a wonderful reminder of whom I am to be thankful to for the change in atmosphere in my home tonight.



I have been praying to find more meaningful activities to do with my children and while my prayer was answered tonight I forgot to give thanks until I saw that gentle reminder.



It softened my heart even more to see how my son had reverently arranged his dresser with deep honor and respect to those things which we hold dearest to our hearts. Mr. B (and Beeb) is working faithfully to finish the Book of Mormon before his 8th birthday. It is really hard right now but he has demonstrated a spirituality that I did not expect when we started. Just tonight as I read to him he would stop me to ask the meaning of a word he was not familiar with. This is tough stuff as 2nd Nephi references Isaiah and the language is very difficult to understand even for most adults. My heart is touched to see his love for the words of our Heavenly Father and an eagerness to choose the right.

The true spirit of Christmas filled my heart the evening and my gratitude to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is immense, even over powering - in the very best way.

When I Grow Up . . .

I have decided, 20 years after leaving high school, that I finally know what I want to be – I want to be Terry Gross. More specifically I want to interview all the diverse people that she does on her NPR radio show Fresh Air.

Yep, that’s it – that’s my dream job. I told AH tonight about my dream. He encouraged me to go back to school and study journalism (sarcasm) but that’s not really what is standing in my way. What I really need is for Terry Gross to quit so I can have her job and yet, somehow, I don’t think that is going to happen. Oh, and her cool voice – that would definitely help too.

Tonight Terry interviewed Dan Charnas about his new book “The Big Payback – A History of the Business of Hip Hop”, a completely fascinating interview.

About a week ago she interviewed New York Times Supreme Court correspondent Adam Liptak. It was a so captivating, informative and yet her style is easy to follow and her connection with her guests feels so relaxed - as if you are in the room with them overhearing a private conversation.

New Hobbies

The kiddos have each recently taken up a new hobby. Mr. B decided he needed to learn the board game Settlers of Catan and now pesters us non-stop to play. I will admit that he doesn’t do too bad and actually plays much faster than his Uncle’s (on AH’s side) which makes the game tolerable for me.

On Monday it was Mr. B’s turn to pick out the game for our Family Home Evening activity. Of course he chose Settlers of Catan which had us wondering what Beeb would do. I didn’t think the game would hold her attention, which was true, but in the process of keeping her entertained I introduced her to her newest hobby; styling my hair. She had fun, Mr. B had fun and I still won the game – fun for me (not so much for AH).

Fast forward to this morning when Mr. B presented our game Settlers of Zarahemla and requested we play it this evening. I was surprised that when this evening rolled around AH was a willing participant so we made Mr. B happy by playing. Shortly after the game started Beeb asked if she could style my hair again, explaining that she had quite the skills for styling. I relented and my poor scalp is still suffering – ouch! I hope she continues to hone those skills lest all my hair gets pulled out.

Beeb's pose for me:


The culprit:


The goofy bunch:


I continue to dominate the Settler's games but Mr. B did manage to tie with AH tonight. Not too shabby for a 7 year old.

TRON

When I was a little girl in elementary school my brother would sometimes take me to our neighborhood corner market, aptly named The Pink Store with it's pink exterior, to play video games. I remember watching him play Tron and wishing I could play it was well as he could.



When the original movie came out I thought it was amazing and watched it repeatedly. Bruce Boxlietner was at the height of his popularity with his role in Tron (1982) and then Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983). (My mom thought he and Gil Gerard (Buck Rogers) were quite the hotties so we had to watch these shows each week.)

Today I got an invitation to the premiere of the new Tron. I invited AH to come along but now am wondering if that was the right decision. AH has not shown that he has the love of Tron necessary to appreciate or pick apart the new Tron since he hasn't seen the original movie (seriously neglected childhood). He has a week to brush up on his Tron trivia or suffer the wrath of his wife.

A Greater Love

This week my good friend had her much anticipated baby placed with her after the baby's birth a few days ago. The experience has brought back adoption memories of my own son and has me recognizing how each story is unique and special.

In my friends case I have been able to appreciate the adoption from a different perspective than my own experience. The birth mother selected my friend (and her family) very early on in her pregnancy. She also lives locally and the entire process has been very "open", meaning they have had regular contact with each other, know full names, and developed a friendship. Our adoption process was closed - no last names or other personal information was divulged, though we did exchange letters and pictures after placement through our caseworker.

During the months of her pregnancy birth mom (BM) and my friend got to know each other. My friend would invite BM to participate in their family activities and she grew to love this special BM. I know my friend has had the utmost concern for BM and has done everything she could to help ease the weight of this decision for her. Her love for this young woman is strong and sincere.

A few weeks ago I attended a baby shower for my friend. It was a beautiful evening and I was so thankful to have the opportunity to meet the BM and her mother who both attended. I'll admit it was a bit awkward at times. Not wanting to say anything inappropriate was at the forefront of my mind and yet there was a strong Spirit present there that evening.

That night I realized how I missed out on the experience of really getting to know our own birth parents. Our adoption happened so quickly that our only meeting with them lasted about an hour, during placement, and then they were gone. We never really got to know them at all. I'll admit I am a bit envious that my friend has had the opportunity to develop a loving relationship with her BM.

I also realized that though you can imagine how hard such a selfless sacrifice it is (making the best choice for your child and not an emotional choice for yourself), you can't fully comprehend it. Of course I tried to understand this sacrifice during our own adoption but sitting across from my friend's BM, with her protruding belly and that uncomfortable 8 months pregnant look on her face, I realized I had no comprehension at all. I cannot even begin to fathom the strength it takes, though a new understanding of it certainly hit me quite forcefully. My heart implored for her and I prayed that she would stay strong and know peace with her decision.

My friend's baby was born after a hard delivery for BM. There were a few extra days needed in the hospital for recovery. Each day there was an immense anticipation of placement only to have it delayed repeatedly as medical issues were addressed. When placement finally arrived my friend was very excited over being able to take the baby home and yet her heart yearned to comfort BM whom she could see was struggling.

I think it feels a bit odd – suddenly having a new baby without all the physical labor of it. In my experience once the birth parents left it was very quiet, very strange to have this baby that I did not carry or deliver suddenly in my arms . . . forever. AH and I were a bit dumbstruck as to what to do. I had so many questions: Is he really mine? Can I really take him home and I don’t have to give him back? Can I really love him without worry that he’ll be taken away? How is birth mom coping? Is she at peace with her decision? How come it feels a little like I’ve stolen someone’s baby and when will that feeling go away?

For me the adoption process focused so much on the birth parents (specifically BM) that nobody ever really explained how it would feel for the adoptive parents. I was completely unprepared for the emotional turmoil of it. I didn’t actually find complete solace until we received a letter from the birthparents some 5 months later. The letter gushed of the sweet pictures we’d sent, the cute outfits he wore, and the joy that they knew he was bringing us. It was only after this letter that I was fully able to, in my heart, mind and soul, know that he was mine. I didn’t realize until then that I had been holding back a bit emotionally until I got her approval and knew that she was truly okay with her decision and I didn’t have to worry about her anymore.

Adoption is a case of greater love and for that my family and that of my friend are truly blessed.

A Thanksgiving Tangle

Our Thanksgiving feast for 12 turned into a feast for 4 due to the inclement weather (snow) making it impossible for my family to travel. I decided to continue with the planned menu and set out snack foods mid-morning, served a full Thanksgiving meal (we have days and days of leftovers) at 3:30pm, and promptly went to sleep following dinner for three hours. Needless to say I was not going to go to bed early and took this as a sign that I should go out at 11:30pm and hit the "Black Friday" sales in our area.

I returned home at 6:30am pleased with my purchases, the deals offered and have nearly all our Christmas shopping completed. AH and I decided not to do gifts to each other since we are getting a new built-in entertainment system this month as well as carpeting (finally!) for the family room, stairs and misc other rooms that need it. I am so delighted to be completing this final big project that I may glow for months once it is done.

After being snowed in at home for days (cabin fever) I took the kids to see Tangled on Friday afternoon (after sleeping-in until 12pm) leaving AH in a quiet house for a few hours. As we arrived at the theater the line was very long. A little worried I talked with the kids about our alternative plan should the show be sold out. While waiting in line Mr. B was getting very anxious that we might not get in and so he turned away, folded his arms and said a prayer (so cute!). When he was done he turned back to me and said, "Mom, I said a prayer asking that we'll be able to get in." After paying for our tickets (and yes it was almost sold out) Mr. B delighted that his prayer was answered even though we had to sit one row back from the very front of the screen.

Frugality

AH is frugal, I am not. Merging our finances was quite the adjustment when we got married. One thing that I always love and appreciate about AH is his willingness to compromise. In a financial sense this meant that I tightened the belt and he let his out, I’ve watched my spending and he has been more willing to part with funds so long as we achieve our financial goals. These adjustments did not happen overnight.

Are we the most frugal family? Not even close. I still battle the urge to splurge and at times make purchases of non-essentials (way way non-essential) only later to have feelings of remorse when I get home and the occasional return of item(s). AH has usually been the rock of reason and, to the annoyance of the marketing industry, does not fall into the lavishly fancy marketing print, radio or TV ploys. A few years ago one luxury car manufacturer had a TV ad with the tag line of “Don’t you deserve it?” – AH’s reply was, “Yeah right, I deserve to have $60,000 in debt.”

However, we all have our Achilles heel; an area of weakness when it comes to needs vs. wants or desires. For AH that weakness has been the dream of owning a nice 4x4 truck. For 9 years he drove an older model Mazda pick-up that was gifted to him by his dad. It was a good little truck that met our needs without depleting our wallet. When the Mazda reach 19 years old and needed some repairs we decided it was time for AH to have a new vehicle. At the time gas was exceptionally high, trucks were not moving off dealer’s lots and amazing deals were to be had. AH made one of those amazing deals and his dream was realized. . . sort of.

As time went on AH had to leave his vanpool and I could hear the ache in his wallet every time he had to put gas into the truck. He would often come home lamenting about the cost of owning such a vehicle and yet loving it at the same time – the inner turmoil was fierce. Last weekend AH came out of his truck coma for good. He called me with the news of wanting to buy a Ford Fiesta – I was not pleased but I was open to the discussion. Unlike AH I don’t look at my vehicle as just a means of transportation, I actually do care about what I drive though I keep it within reason for AH’s sake (see there’s that compromise thing that we do).

AH worked up an elaborate two page spreadsheet comparing different vehicles to the truck. We were definitely looking for a more fuel efficient car, yet it had to roomy enough for our family and groceries, and it had to be relatively inexpensive. I had planned to make my next purchase a VW Jetta TDI. They get exceptional gas mileage (40+ mpg), are very roomy and are priced reasonably – but when we looked at the numbers the cost of the Jetta didn’t measure up. This resulted in more discussion, more spreadsheet comparisons and more stress for AH.

The other day I decided to be exceptionally mean to AH and I threw out the idea of a foreign Hybrid. I was teasing him because I know that AH would never buy an expensive Honda or Toyota (he likes to buy American “ad” cars). Never say “never”. AH did his research, compared costs and came back to me with the idea of buying a Toyota Prius. I fell out of my chair – okay, not literally but figuratively in my brain. This is so not typical of AH. He found a few used ones in our area and in our price and today after dropping the kiddo’s off at school we high tailed it to the dealership.

We went home with a new to us 2008 Prius.




We also went home with the knowledge that we will be saving $2000 per year in gas alone, as well as some additional savings as a result of this vehicle exchange.

AH is happy and his frugal soul is at peace once again. . .



I did catch him looking at used Ford Rangers on Craig’s list this evening.

Don't Mess With A 7 Year Old

Mr. B's behavior has been struggling this week due to the time change (less sleep - going to bed later and still getting up at usual time), a bad cold, and all the Halloween sugar in his system. During dinner he was repeatedly asked stop making a specific gross sound and when he failed to comply he received the consequence of losing computer play time for the evening. It wasn't well received. . . he had a complete meltdown that was a magnitude 9.0 (did you feel it?). The shear level of it told me he was due for an early bedtime to help him recuperate from the above listed items.

After getting him calmed down and settled into bed he and I enjoyed a long snuggle wherein he professed his love for his mother repeatedly (of course) and then rolled over and promptly went to sleep (poor guy!).

As usually AH checked in on the kiddo's just before he went off to bed. He reported to me that while he was adjusting Mr. B's covers he stirred a bit, looked at AH and called out "Liar!" before rolling back over and to sleep again.

I am glad to know who Mr. B associates his consequences with even when I am the one who issues them.

Oh Halloween, Oh Halloween . . . How I Hate All The Candy!

Well our neighborhood lived up (actually exceeded) our candy expectations for the year. As usual people who live in our small neighborhood stocked up on all the best goodies with the hope that a flood of kids would come through, and yet if things went like they did at our house they only had to get out of the recliner twice the entire evening.

Due to the low numbers each neighbor is thrilled when that door knock finally does come, and as they stare at the giant bowl of full sized candy bars and all the possible left overs they don't want to have they ultimately drown the poor kids in sugary sweetness solidified.

At one point in the 45 minute walk around the block Beeb begged to be done. Her candy bucket was too heavy and over flowing, causing her to stop repeatedly to pick up the candy that was falling out. I don't know why but I encouraged her to endure until we completed the loop and now I have to deal with the aftermath of not actually allowing her (or her brother) even a fraction of it and the temptation all that chocolate in the house presents to me (me = no willpower). Looking back now I see that I must have done it for the neighbors, they have come to rely upon our annual visit (obviously, why else would they buy 30 jumbo sized candy bars!).

Yep you're seeing correctly, we have a neighbor who actually gives out 8 packs of candy bars to each trick-or-treater. The kids insist on visiting their house every year above all other houses!








In the end AH (always the math geek when it comes to candy collecting economy) figured out that based on the number of full size candy bars alone, as compared to our friends who live in planned communities where mini sized candy is doled out sparingly and to ensure there is enough for the swarms who really do come to their doors, that it was the equivalent of going to 26 additional homes. Nice - all the fat with half the work!

Playing The Guilt Card

Tonight Beeb talked AH into letter her sleep in the guess bedroom. An hour after tucking her in it was very quiet - too quiet. Beeb is our little night owl and often stays up playing for an hour or more after we tuck her in. The lack of sound tonight had me hoping I would find her sleeping but instead I found her watching TV with the sound muted! Smart Beeb. :-)

As I turned off the TV and tucked her in again she said to me, "Are you sleeping in here tonight?"

I laughed and replied, "No. Do I need to?"

"I might turn the TV back on," she informed me.

Ah the perfect moment for a dramatic pause as I looked into her eyes.

"Can't I trust you?" I asked innocently.

"Ooohhh!" she said in defeat.



UPDATE: With the TV option removed this is how I found Beeb after she finally fell asleep. She had snuck out into the hall, grabbed the library book basket and read to her hearts delight.

Oh I Know. . .

One of those great parenting pleasure is knowing how to snap your child out of a "mood" when nothing else and no one else can. For Mr. B it means that I become "Kissy Mom" and chase him around the house, grabbing him and smothering him with kisses.

It works every time!

Inspiring Quote

"Life is too short to be frustrated for having to live it." - Emily H. 9.19.10

Play List

I am rocking out to my "editing" play list today. I love it so much I wanted to document it in case I lose it. Be warned I like a wide variety of music and this doesn't even begin scratch the surface. Of course if it may inspire you as much as it does me (or you could hate it completely - just don't ride in my car because guess what we are going to listen to... )

Why Don't We Just Dance - Josh Turner
We Belong - Pat Benatar
Tell Me You Love Me - Leela James
Supermassive Black Hole - Muse
Short Skirt/Long Jacket - Cake
Shadows of the Night - Pat Benatar
Runaway - Bon Jovi
Only the Young - Journey
No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand
Me and Mrs. Jones - Michael Buble
Le Jazz Hot - Glee Cast Version (though Julie Andrews is still the best version)
King of the Beach - Wavves
Just Dance - Lady Gaga & Colby O'Donis
Invincible - Pat Benatar
I Do Not Hook Up - Kelly Clarkson
Human - The Killers
Honey, Honey - Mama Mia Soundtrack
Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Buble
Don't Stop Believin - Journey
Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine
The Distance - Cake
Cooler Than Me - Mike Posner
Change - John Waite
Breakeven (Falling to Pieces) The Script
Better Together - Jack Johnson
Animal - Neon Trees
American Honey - Lady Antebellum

Hmmm, something is missing from this list. I think I had better scrounge up some Phoebe Snow to keep the groove going.

Political Angst

Dear Politicians Who Currently Control Everything,

As we head into mid-terms elects please note that my usually liberal self has been forced to the more conservative side due to your stupidity in voting in a Healthcare Reform that nobody bothered to read or analyze in order to understand how it would affect those of us who already pay the majority of the taxes in our country.

This week alone my family has been told by our employer that our insurance coverage will be changing and that we will be responsible for up to $6,800 per year increase for our insurance coverage due to the insurance industry dramatically raising rates as a result of “Heathcare Reform”. My neighbor, who is a self-employed insurance salesman, had his families catastrophic only coverage increase by $140 per month (starting this month) and another friend was just told by his employer that his monthly contribution toward for his families insurance is increasing from $154 per month to $366 per month starting in January.

Please tell me Politicians Who Currently Control Everything how Healthcare Reform has benefited my middle class family?

The only thing that has change for me is how I am voting this year.

The Evolution of a Bubble

Beeb has reached a new milestone. No she hasn't lost her first tooth yet (nor are any loose to her disappointment) but she has mastered how to blow a bubble.

I knew she was coming along when I caught her blowing bubbles in the bath:



And sure enough it was only a couple of days later when from the backseat of the car she started squealing with delight over her newest accomplishment.



She must have blown a few hundred bubbles that afternoon.

Ghosts & Bad Attitudes

I was inspired to make some Halloween decorations after getting my Country Living magazine last month. There were so many cute and easy projects to do and I thought it would be a fun way to craft with the kiddo's and some of their friends.

Indeed we had a great time making these ghosts to put around the house (and send home with friends) and bring on the Halloween spirit. However, Beeb needed an attitude adjustment when it came time for pictures and she didn't get the spot she wanted on the bench - thus her sour face.



We are going to leave her out there until after Halloween to scare all the trick-or-treaters.

Verminophobia = AH

AH loves the toilet bowl tabs that drop into the tank and then slowly release a massive chemical mixture into the water that is powerful enough to keep your toilet bowl clean while at the same time destroys the plastic in the tank causing leaks and that oh so fun "running" toilet sound.

Tired of having to replace parts in the tank AH came home with a new product to try:



The application of it was simple and it really does stick to the bowl (nice that it is not in the tank) HOWEVER the chemical odor the gel admits is nauseating and strong. I mentioned to AH how our bathroom now smells like a doctors office and he shrugged me off though the battle is far from over.

The next morning Beeb walked into her bathroom after waking up, turned to me and said, "How come the bathrooms smells like doctor _______'s office?" - My point exactly.

The Question

I love you too Beeb!

No Yolk!

I have a friend, neighbor and official new YW President for our ward (I have been released and she was called to serve). My friend approached me one day and said that her chickens are now laying eggs and producing more than what she can use and so she would like to give her excess to me. Giddy up! I use a lot of eggs, it is one of my favorite proteins, and so any way to cut my egg bill makes me happy.

What is even more cool about this gift is that she delivers! Let me tell you, I've gone to egg heaven. Once or twice a week she drops off the cutest little basket filled with eggs. I love it - so Laura Engles Wilder.

The Nap

This morning Beeb came up to me and said, "Momma, will you put me down for a nap?" A very unusual request from her and I immediately wondered if she were sick though there were no signs indicating that might be the case. "Sure." I said, "After lunch."

So after lunch Beeb and I made our way to my bed (because it is the biggest) and she brought a soft blanket and 7 books she wanted me to read to her. We snuggled in and proceeded to make our way through book upon book of Halloween stories. About half way through Mr. B came in search of us and always up for a good story he climbed in for a snuggle and story too.

When all the stories had been read Mr. B requested a bath and I told him to wait until Beeb was asleep and so he snuggled up to me even more. I knew this would be problematic as it was so warm and so cozy in that bed and it made it very hard to fight off the drowsiness that follows such comfort. Sure enough a few minutes later Beeb slipped out of bed and I followed shortly after leaving Mr. B to enjoy a wonderful autumn afternoon nap. That boy is so predictable - so easy to get to sleep so long as he is warm and cozy!

I Am Not Gone. . . I Promise

I'll be back soon. . . I hope. If you really know me then you know I am in the throws of senior picture season and family holiday portraits too. I am so swamped I don't even have time to read other people's blogs let alone post on my own.

Two things I'll share about today (since I am here I might as well be productive). First, Beeb dressed herself this morning in a blue and white flower print summer dress. Since it wasn't especially warm out she partnered her dress with a long sleeve shirt underneath (it was brown) and blue tights. She looked a bit silly but hey, let the creativity flow. So later in the morning she came to talk to me and felt that her outfit needed an explanation. She told me, "There are blue flowers on my dress but I couldn't find a blue long sleeve shirt so I chose brown because flowers grow in dirt." She is so cute!

AH is out of town this weekend and so today it was just the kids and I. For the most part the day was very mellow while I tried to spend as much time as I could listening to General Conference and the inspiring messages. I'll be honest, it was a supremely lazy day for all of us and It must have been needed because I had the kiddo's in bed by 7:23pm and they were BOTH asleep by 7:50pm! Beeb rarely does this, she is my night owl!

So while I had the evening to myself I thought I would put on a movie and fold my mountain of laundry (because I've been swamped with pictures I'm a bit behind in my chores and mainly because I am out of clean underwear). I think I washed nearly every piece of clothing in our house because it took me over 2 HOURS to fold all that laundry! I watched an entire movie and then moved on to another one before I finished. I've left half of it on the family room floor (the kid's items) to put away tomorrow but it took some serious arm strength to carry my basked of clean close up to my room. I might actually be sore tomorrow!

One last thing, AH (I love him so much - 100X more than when we were first married) left me a little message this week and a gift. I woke up to find a t-shirt draped over my monitor and a message that said, "I know you CATAN finish editing. Love, Turk" and it goes along with the t-shirt that says "Yes We Catan"! He is so sweet! I felt a weight lifted knowing that he understood my work pressure right now. It is so nice to have that verbal/written support and that he can make fun of my Settlers of Catan addiction in such a fun way.

I'll be back soon. . . I promise!

The Laziest Runner

I am probably the laziest runner ever. In the past three months I have ran three times. Each time was for a race to which I did no running prior to condition for it. Luckily I've been playing some ultimate Frisbee with AH and friends a few times a month and it has saved my behind as I start and finish each 5K with a reasonably okay time (for someone who doesn't train).

I did it again this past weekend - I ran another 5K race. It hurt (especially that last mile) but I did it and with a better time than the race before. This not convincing my body that I actually need to train in order to do these 5K races. I am in trouble.





Luckily the kids head back to school in a week and then I can have that argument with my body when I am out running.

Beeb Logic: Gutters

Ah yes, another dose of Beeb logic (we're long overdue).

On the drive to church today Beeb said to me, "Mom, you know how your teeth are attached to your gutters. . ."

"You're gutters?" I inquired on the verge of laughter as I look over at AH.

"Yes your gutters." she responded.

"You means your gums?" I reply back to her.

"Oh yeah, your gums. Well you know how your teeth are attached to your gums? My gums are really soft and slimy."

Good to know Beeb. (she says the funniest things, that girl!)

Out Of The Mouth Of Babes

Mr. B's friend was over during lunch today. Before he started eating I reminded Mr. B of what he was supposed to do and he quickly prayed over his meal.

Afterward his friend said to Mr. B, "We don't pray before we eat. I know you do but we don't."

Mr. B responded, "Maybe you could remind your family to do it. They will be blessed if they do."

My heart is very content right now. :-)

The Pressure Washer Shower

Tonight AH returned home after a full day of motorcycling the back country trails with his buddy. As I passed by a window I heard the kids laughing and I looked out to see them all wet (still fully clothed) while AH was pressure washing his bike. The kiddo's are yelling at him and then I see him turn the hose on the kids (I promise, it wasn't too close or powerful enough to do harm). I guess the kids needed a quick spray down too - that's one way of getting them clean.

Why Pornography is Wrong (It's Not Really About Sex)

Often times I read things and have many thoughts about them that I want to share or express but for some such reason or another I am not fully able. Tonight I came across a post on this very sensitive subject that really speaks to my understanding of it in a way that I doubt I could ever put so well. Thanks SilverRain for sharing your insite (and the rest of your blog - I really love reading it!).


The Rains Came Down: Why Pornography is Wrong (It's Not Really About Sex)

I have recently gone through a drastic paradigm shift that has led me to understand several gospel principles in a new way. One of these is pornography.

There is a great deal of discussion about pornography in the LDS blog world. At the risk of oversimplification, essentially the discussions involve three basic views. First, that pornography is evil because it exploits women and plays upon natural man drives. Second, that pornography in moderation is not that bad if it helps husbands and wives have a more fulfilling sex life. Third, that there is really nothing wrong with pornography because the women who are depicted choose their careers, and would do it whether or not any particular person used it.

But there is another, more insidious aspect to pornography that I believe may greatly damage the lives of anyone it touches in ways that ripple out to destroy wives, children and friends.

While I have not ever been involved in pornography, there is a certain level of it which cannot be entirely avoided in today's society, so I am minimally familiar with the concept. Generally speaking, pornography involves showing people in various states of undress, or depicting a sexual encounter through stories, but nakedness and sex are not what defines pornography. In fact, pornography can consist of people entirely modestly dressed, and often does. Sometimes an actual sexual encounter does not even need to be depicted or described. Pornography is not nakedness, it is the depiction of forbidden or unattainable sexual desires in a way that allows the viewer or reader to direct the fulfillment of those desires.

When a person views a pornographic picture or reads a pornographic story, they are in some ways putting themselves into the scene. They are able to fantasize about doing something that they cannot do in real life. Essentially all forms of pornography involve having someone else do what you want them to do.

In short, pornography is a way of finding sexual gratification that circumvents the agency of another person. It is about control, not about sex.

In normal, healthy, husband-and-wife sex, two people have to work together to find mutual pleasure and joy in physical expression. That's why it is such hard work, and why so many people struggle with it. It is not that there is anything wrong with the individuals, it is that divinely-sanctioned sex is not meant to be easy. It is not meant to be about fulfilling one's own needs, it is meant to be about seeking ways to meet a spouse's needs. When two people attempt this, there are bound to be missteps along the way. However, when this is done, husband and wife form strong bonds of love as they seek their spouse's needs before their own (very powerful) ones. Sex should be a form of charity held sacred to be performed only between husband and wife, so there can be a bond between them that no others share.

When a person seeks physical fulfillment in ways that ignore the agency of another person, they objectify and thus can manipulate a person (even if it is only in their own fantasy, and even if it is on a strictly limited basis). That person mocks one of the most important laws of God: the law of agency. They then damage their ability to find pleasure in giving, grinding grooves of habit that make it impossible for them to associate sex with selflessness.

Once a person ties their sexual pleasure to control and manipulation, other aspects of the marital relationship assume the taint of a need to control. Then that person can easily begin to see all relationships as relationships of control. When a relationship is about control, it is no longer of God.

If you look at scripture, about Satanic interaction with mankind as compared to divine interaction, you will see that relationships with God never, never violate the principle of agency: of choice and accountability. Satan almost always tempts in one of three ways: by convincing us there is no choice, by convincing us there is no consequence, or by telling us that we do not have to be accountable for what we choose, that it somehow isn't our fault.

Is pornography wrong because it exploits women? Undoubtedly. But it also exploits the viewer or reader, teaching them that joy comes only from control. In the end, that is far more damaging.

Finding Spiritual Inspiration

A goal I have this year is to grow more spiritually, whether by reading the Scriptures, reading or listening to talks given by church leaders, listening to hymns and reading of there history, through gospel discussions with others, etc. There are so many ways for me to work toward my goal.

This week I decided that I wanted to listen to Music and the Spoken Word as it has been announced that the program will be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame later this year. When I went to the website for it I had missed that day's broadcast by a few hours and couldn't find any way to hear past episodes.

I was disappointed but not discouraged. I perused my way around the Church radio website and came across a wonderful gem. The Church has a radio program called "Conversations" that interviews people of insterest to those of our faith (and by that I mean Christian, not necessarily just LDS).

Deciding to give it a try I listened to an interview of Elder David A. Bednar and Sister Susan Bednar by Sherry Dew. The beginning started out okay as I listened while editing pictures but then about a third of the way through the interview the conversation topic really caught hold of me and from there on I was so enraptured that I actually had to repeat several sections of it so I could take notes. It was, in essence, like having Time Out for Women, EFY, Women's Conference, Youth Conference, etc. right in my own home. When the hour was up I was sad for it to have ended; my heart and soul begged for more.

Tonight I repeated this experience and listed to an interview of Elder Richard G. Scott and his daughter Linda Scott Mickle. Once again I found myself pausing to hear incredibly profound thoughts, laugh at some of their life experiences and felt nourished to my very core, as I am sure was meant to happen. I wanted to pause and call friends who are going through incredibly hard trials and say, "I just heard Elder Scott speak of your trial, a trial he went through as well, and he shared his views on it and I was moved. Please go and listen to it, I think it will uplift you and give you strength." Then I decided I want all my friends and family to have this opportunity because I think we can all be edified by it, thus the blog posting.

The program is called Conversations and can be found HERE. Take an hour to listen, to know more of those who guide us in a way that is as if they are sitting in your own living room talking, relaxed and giving you a side of themselves that is so much more personal.

Conversations features interviews with people of interest to the LDS community—General Authorities, Auxiliary leaders, and faithful Latter-day Saints. Some are joined by their spouses, who contribute an additional dimension. Each has an interesting story and a unique perspective. These discussions are done in a style which allows the listener to become acquainted with those being interviewed in an informal way. This is particularly interesting with the featured general authorities, who are known to most only in formal settings. Conversations offers advice, wisdom and interesting stories that will lift your spirit and inspire your thoughts.

The Seed Finally Did Take Root

My MIL is an amazing woman. Dedicated to her family, she always inspires me with her example of charity, faith, devotion and love.

For AH's birthday this year she included a sweet little gem of an article that she originally cut out of the Seattle Times on October 14, 1973 by Erma Bombeck and was titled "The Seed Finally Did Take Root." (Originally published in 1971 under the title "The Green, Green Grass of Home") This humorous story brought several chuckles from me as I read it and realized how befitting it was for her third child (my husband).

Maybe you have one of these types in your family or perhaps you are married to one like I am; either way enjoy.

The seed finally did take root

When Mike was 3 he wanted a sandbox and his father said, “There goes the yard. We’ll have kids over here day and night and they’ll throw sand into the flower beds and cats will make a mess in it and it’ll kill the grass for sure.”

And Mike’s mother said, “It’ll come back.”

When Mike was 5, he wanted a jungle gym set with swings that would take his breath away and bars to take him to the summit and his father said, “Good grief, I’ve seen those things in back yards and do you know what they look like? Mud holes in a pasture. Kids digging their gym shoes into the ground. It’ll kill the grass.”

And Mike’s mother said, “It’ll come back.”

BETWEEN BREATHES when Daddy was blowing up the plastic swimming pool he warned, “You know that they’re going to do to this place? They’re going to condemn it and use it for a missile site. I hope you know what you’re doing. They’ll track water everywhere and you’ll have a million water fights and you won’t be able to take out the garbage without stepping in mud up to your neck and when we take this down we’ll have the only brown lawn on the block.”

“It’ll come back,” smiled Mike’s mother.

When mike was 12, he volunteered his yard for a camp out.

As they hoisted the tents and drove in the spikes his father stood at the window and observed. “Why don’t I just put the grass seed out in cereal bowls for the birds and save myself the trouble of spreading it around. You know for a fact that those tents and all those big feet are going to trample down every single blade of grass, don’t you? Don’t bother to answer," he said. "I know what you're going to say, “It'll come back?”

THE BASKETBALL hoop on the side of the garage attracted more crowds than the Winter Olympics. And a small patch of lawn that started out. With a barren spot the size of a garbage-can lid soon grew to encompass the entire side yard.

Just when it looked like the new seed might take root, the winter came and the sled runners beat it into ridges and Mike's father shook his head and said, "I never asked for much in this life. . . only a patch of grass.

And his wife smiled and said, "It'll come back."

The lawn this year was beautiful. It was green and alive and rolled out like a sponge carpet along the drive where gym shoes had trod . . . along the garage where bicycles used to fall . . . and around the flower beds where little boys used to dig with iced tea spoons.

But Mike’s father never saw it. He anxiously looked beyond the yard and asked with a catch in his voice, "He will come back, won't he?"

The NEW Encyclopedia of Handguns & Small Arms

Mr. B has always been obsessed with guns. AH has repeatedly assured me that this is perfectly natural for a boy (and yet I still feel uneasy about it). Today I put my foot down. I refused to let Mr. B take his latest library book into church to read:



I mean seriously what kind of mother would I be if I had let him? Of course AH noticed it on the front seat of his truck when we left. I told him it was a better theft deterrent than a car alarm (and cheaper too). Who on Earth would break into a car that is obviously owned by a gun fanatic?

Torchlight Run

Last night turned out to be a perfect night for the Torchlight Run. I joined several friends in this event and we all had a great time.

I was extremely anxious about this race due to the fact that I hadn't run at all since a race in early June. Having the kiddo's home all day has really put a damper on getting in the miles. Of course I could always wake up before the crack of dawn to run (yeah right!) or go in the evening after they go to bed (yeah right!) but my preferred running time of day is mid morning and it just hasn't been happening. I set my goal for this run to just finish without walking.

In the beginning I kept pace with my friend Ms. G. It was a bit frustrating because we started near the end of the pack of participants so we spent a good deal of time having to weave in and out, trying to get around the slower participants. That was really annoying and I think my time would have been significantly better had we not had to do this (I've never run in a race with 5000 participants before - lesson learned: get up near the front at all costs before the race starts).

Just before the halfway mark (my turn around point, Ms. G went on to do the 8K) I broke ahead of my friend and felt surprisingly good. My body felt loose and nicely warmed up and my feet felt fantastic, which was wonderful considering I haven't ran barefoot in over 6 weeks (I am paying for it a bit today, but not nearly as much as I had expected).

At the halfway turn things really got nice as the crowd of runners were significantly dispersed and it was much easier to maneuver around them. I generally stuck to the inside and even enjoyed jumping a few orange lane cones. I could feel the excitement of the run within myself. I really loved being out there and was cruising past everyone. There were a few people who tried to challenge me a bit but I had no problem increasing my tempo and the gap between us.

Toward the very end (last 1/2 mile) the air was semi-stagnant and I could feel a blister on my big toe forming. I looked over to my left and spotted another friend, Ms. S, cruising out of the tunnel that the 8K'ers route took them through. She looked great, we greeted each other and then she quickly passed me (I can't wait to see how she did for her overall time and within her age division - she's a quick one!). It was perfect timing, she inspired me keep it up and finish strong; just what I needed right then. Overall at this point I was still surprised at how good I felt and at how I was easily running several minutes faster than my normal pace despite the mild foot discomfort and no soothing breeze.

Just before the final turn a woman, who I had passed earlier, made a break to go around me. It took me by surprise and as she passed my old sprinting mentality/competitiveness kicked in. At this point I could hear one of the race volunteers encouraging us to take the turn "nice and wide" and I literally though, "Screw you. That is so stupid." I hit the corner hard and on the narrow inside and booked it to the end (easily passing the other woman before the turn). It wasn't my fastest sprint but it was solid and surprised me that I had that much energy left after not having trained in so long.

I don't know my final time, due to my timing chip falling off near the start of the run, but I know it was better than the race in June which really surprised me because I felt that race the entire time (running with a friend at a pace faster than I normally run) and this time I just felt great the whole way. I've emailed the race people to see if they can work a miracle on my behalf and figure out my time based on my bib number but I won't hold my breath.

Upon reflection I realized that my conditioning (what little I had) is all due to ultimate frisbee. AH and I started playing it every Thursday night with friends earlier this summer. I guess that 90 minutes of running even one day a week did pay off for me in the end. Imagine what I could do if I trained seriously?

The Rattlesnake Climb

I have some seriously fun friends and yet quite a few are also a little demented as well. Take my friend Ms. J (I have several by this name but "you" know who you are!) as an example. Ms. J had a baby just 8 weeks ago (that's 8 WEEKS AGO) and this week decided that she wanted to climb a small mountain with her 5 year old and 8 week old in tow. Somehow she persuaded me and another friend to come along with her and include our kids just to make the trip even more enjoyable (because you know how much my kids love to hike up mountains!).

The weather for the day turned out to be stunningly perfect and thanks to my GPS (see how I've already claimed AH's birthday present) the kids were so enthralled with the hunt for treasure at the top of the mountain that they did the climb beautifully and with minimal whining.

Note super cute picture of Ms. J and her kiddos smiling beautifully for the camera:


Note my kiddo's and their faces (and this was the best of 3 shots!):


The descent turned out to be much harder than the climb. Lots of tired, whining kids and lots of falling and getting scraped up, and a scary fly that tormented Beeb and Mr. B. Alas we made it to the bottom intact and exhausted and as a treat to ourselves we had a nice Thai lunch wherein Mr. B quickly ate his food and then proceeded to lay down and fall asleep in the restaurant!

It was a great day and a great hike with great friends.

On a side note my questionably sane friend, Ms. J, is running a 5K race with me tonight (that's 8 WEEKS after having a baby).

Geocaching

Earlier this month while vacationing with AH's family we took part in a couple of Geocache hunts with his brother. This isn't the first time we've done this fun technology treasure hunt but it is the first time it has occurred to us that it would be a fun way to hike with our family (because we are sharp like that, it only took a couple of years to sink in).

So for AH's birthday I bought him a gently used GPS and we've had a wonderful time trying it out (more to come on this subject as I update our July adventures). Today I downloaded the coordinates for some nearby caches and we took our neighbor and her girls with us on the hunt. We found 5 caches in all and my neighbor even found $100 lying on the ground until Mr. B confessed it was some money he took from me and it fell out of his pocket during a tantrum (probably no more on this but serious consequences to be had later today).

All in all I am totally hooked; just what I need another addicting hobby.

Beef Stew

Beeb requested a bath this morning. While washing her hair some mysterious bubbles floated up to the surface. Beeb announced that she had tooted (obviously). "Or sometimes I call it beef stew,", she told me, "because it is funny."

Indeed.

We're Home

Well we are home from a nice vacation. We got to enjoy the lake, sunshine, boating and playing with all of AH's family.

I am still so refreshed that I actually put all our trip gear away today, the day after we got home - not 2 week from now like I normally do, but within 24 hours of returning home! THAT is a sign of a good vacation.

The Beeb Turns 6

Well she made it to her 6th birthday. I think the anticipation nearly drover her batty but she survived (with only a little extra craziness remaining). We surely do love our Beeb.

These Make Me Happy

The sun came out this week and it made me happy. We've had a very raining end of spring but now the sun is out and all is bright and cheery again, a little like my flowers. These are the last two from my plant and they make me happy too. I love their delicate lacy edges and soft pink petals.