The Word According to Me

Tick Tock

2009-01-10T00:18:00.006-07:00

We're on the final count down to shutting down this blog.

I will set it to private on Wednesday, Jan. 14. If you want to be included in the new "code name" blog, please make sure you have given me your email address!!

n n n n n n n

Giggle Fit

2009-01-06T21:42:00.004-07:00

My wonderful sister took this video and let me lift it from her blog. The video was taken at her house while we were there for Thanksgiving. We aren't laughing for any reason other than the joy of the moment.

A Giggle Fit on Vimeo.

(I believe my own irritating laugh was to help encourage Adam in his own laughing fit.)

(The whole snort while laughing thing was a phase he was in during that time. Thank heavens he's not doing that much anymore.)

(Don't ya just love my dad? I know you can't see him, but you can sure tell he's there! Sorry if his "explosiveness" offends you!!)

Ski-daddle

2009-01-03T17:40:00.014-07:00

Our first cross-country ski trip of the year. We usually go on New Year's Day, but it was too warm (huh?) and the wind was gale force, so after checking the forcast we opted to postpone until today. It was great. We called and asked my dad to come along, which was a fun adventure.

It started out with two grumpy kids: Aly doesn't like to go and we made her. She didn't complain or grumble too much, but she wasn't exactly chirping happy songs either. Adam was grumpy because, initally, he wasn't in the front of the line which is where he wants to be. But things worked out and it ended up being a great day.

http://picasaweb.google.com/adoptdreams/Winter09#

By the end of our trip, everyone was tired but happy. When we turned our skis toward the car Aly kicked it into high gear and arrived there 15 minutes before us... kind of like a horse on the trail home. Adam, when we would go down hills, would raise his hands high in the air and while gliding downward yelled, "I COME IN PEACE!" Half the time he'd land on his rear. It was great.

Can't wait to go again! (We'll probably let Aly stay home. Poor girl has been tortured enough.)

*************

Thanks for all those who asked for my new blog address. I will send you an email in about a week with that information. If your name isn't on there, there's still time!!

Time to Make a Change

2008-12-31T00:59:00.006-07:00

Hello my bloggy friends,

After thinking and pondering and listening to my stake president, I've decided to make some blogging changes.

No, I'm not going private. I thought about it for about two seconds and decided that's not for me.

What I have decided is to go incognito. On this blog and my previous blog (on MSN) I used my own name and friend's and family's names. Also I haven't been exactly secret about the town where we live. Oh, I thought I was tricky enough about not fully disclosing my location, but it wasn't too difficult to figure out...

And that's not safe.

What I decided to do is create a new blog. This new blog has nicknames for all of us. I won't tell you here, what those names are. I'll save that little surprise for when you clicky over there. Also, I won't put the link to that new blog here. That would be counterproductive to my little plan to become "faces in the crowd." Eventually (soon), I will close down this blog and make it private, with only myself having access so I can print what I've written as a family journal.

Here's my plan to let you know the new address: Please leave me a comment here with an email address and I will email you the link. I will also ask, if you have a link to me on your own blog, please remove my last name. (All my former YW, please feel free to call me by my new nickname on the new blog. It's okay if you don't call me Sister ______ .)

I'm sure there is an easier way to do this, but my brain doesn't function on "easy". And I know that the only way to be perfectly safe is to go private. But let's give this a try.... it just might work!!!

With love,
Chelli

P.S. I will make the change and close this site down in about two weeks.

Saturday Shenanigans

2008-12-27T23:05:00.001-07:00

If it's going to snow non-stop, we might as well have fun!

Thanks to our videographer, Aly!

Again I Have To Ask....

2008-12-26T21:38:00.002-07:00

WHOSE KID IS HE.....?

Here's the story:
Christmas morning, Aly actually waited until after 7 am to get us up (we always try to get her to wait until 8:30 or 9, but she persists until we find a 7:30 compromise). Adam was pretty tired due to the lateness of the night before and we had to go into his room to wake him up (no sneaking out to peek this year!)

Aly and I walked into his bedroom and I gently whisper, "Adam, let's go see what Santa brought you."

No response from him but the heavy breathing of a child deep in sleep.

I lean in a little closer and say, "Come on Adam! I think Santa came. Do you want to go see?"

This time he wiggles a little.

"Adam, darling, it's time to get up! Let's go downstairs!"

And this time a little boy's voice sternly says, "You're annoying me!"

Aly and I had to bust up laughing. What 6 year old yells at his mom for trying to wake up and tell him that Santa came?!?! It would have to be the same boy that doesn't like M -n- M's, or Oreos and prefers carrots and celery... THAT boy!

It doesn't end there. It gets better.

Through our snickers and giggles, I say, "Adam, don't you want to get up and go look at presents?"

He is still completely irritated and he says, "I AM SLEEPING!!! LOOK AT MY EYES! CAN YOU SEE THAT THEY ARE CLOSED?"

It was too much. We were just dying with laughter. Obviously we had to try a different tactic, so we used that reverse psychology stuff and walked out of his room saying, "That's okay. Just come down when you're ready. We'll go ahead without you."

One point two seconds is all it took... he jumped out of bed and was running down the hall, his eyes only half open. I had to grab him and reign him in before he fell down the stairs and hurt himself.

This kid is a nut!!!

12 Days of Christmas, eh.

2008-12-24T12:39:00.003-07:00

Merry Christmas!!

I leave you tonight with one of my favorite Christmas songs.... ever.

(Don't think I'm a heathen, this just makes me laugh, eh?)

Holy Cow Look At The Snow!!

2008-12-22T10:34:00.006-07:00

I just posted these pictures on my private family blog and decided I'd post them here too. This is what I woke up to this morning, and what I had to clear out. It took me almost two full hours to finish my small driveway, do the sidewalk and 1/2 of my neighbor's driveway. I was wring-out wet by the time I got back inside because it is still snowing.

Oh yeah, it will be a white Christmas.

I blew out the driveway twice yesterday, the last time right before bed. This is the accumulation from last night.

We love the snow plows, but I wish they wouldn't bury my driveway! My little snow blower couldn't cut through this. I had to do it with brute strength and a shovel (and some help from my cutie-patootie neighbor boy).

Wanna Be

2008-12-16T11:17:00.004-07:00

Clark Griswold is my hero. Especially in the movie Christmas Vacation. It is my dream to one day decorate the outside of my house in the same manner as "Sparky."

It didn't happen this year. Our house is boring. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful that Calvin took the time to hang all those C-7's around the roof line, but there's no flash, no zing. I put some lights around the kid's windows, but that's not enough. I hung some extra lights around the garage, but that's still not enough. I'm going to get some lights for the living room window, and that will help, but it's not the full effect I'm looking for.

While we were in Utah this weekend we drove through some fancy schmancy neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights. I found two houses that made me drool with envy. This first house is located right next door to Chrissy's good friend. (Funny story: This girl is living in a basement apartment and has only lived there a few months. She went out of town for Thanksgiving and on her return trip, saw this house from the airplane. She knew it was in her neighborhood. She prayed all the way home that it wasn't her house.)

This house is just tacky enough that I found it appealing. There is even a big sign on the roof that pays homage to Clark (maybe if you click on the photo it will enlarge).

The second house was in a neighborhood where an Osmond lives.

The biggest thrill of the evening was driving to the hills and seeing the house that is programmed to music. Watching the trees and decorations light up to the pulsing beat of music was dang cool.

Clark would have been proud.

It's a Marshmallow World...

2008-12-15T13:42:00.004-07:00

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas....

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas....

Think of any Christmas song that mentions the weather outside and how it should be at Christmas time (except the Hawaiian Christmas songs).

Have you thought of any that I haven't listed? I'm sure you have. Did you think of "a picture print by Curier and Ives?" Did you think of "in the lane, snow is glistenin?" I could go on and on, but I won't. Let's just say that when I look out my window, that's what I see.

Finally,

FINALLY

I can get into the Christmas spirit? Why does it take snow for that to happen? I guess I'm an Idaho girl at heart. (Just looked out my window and there is more coming down!! Yipee!!)

******************

Had a great weekend in Utah. Aly's choir got to sing at Temple Square in Salt Lake. It was very cool seeing my daughter on the stage in the Assembly Hall (and Joseph Smith Bldg.). They sounded great. What a great choir and director.

********************

The weather turned bad while we were down there, so we opted to drive home a day later than anticipated. Chrissy was so nice to accomodate us. My original plan was to come home Saturday morning and get my Christmas baking done, so Chris suggested we just get it done at her house. Her kitchen is pretty cool and big (as opposed to my crappy one) so I agreed. We busted our rears and got 2/3 of our baking done (sugar cookies, festive cookies, Ohio Buckeyes and chocolate dipped pretzels). I only have two or three things left to make. YAY!!! Thanks Chris!!

*********************

Adam has a loose tooth. It's just about ready to come out. His goal is to keep it in his mouth until Christmas Eve. That way Santa and the Tooth Fairy have to come on the same night. "Wouldn't that be cool mom? Do you think they know each other?"

*********************

I learned how to use the snow blower yesterday. Calvin has kept that fun all to himself in the 3 or 4 years we've had it.

Shoveling snow = YUCK!!! Too much work and sore shoulders.

Blowing snow = FUN!!!! Too much fun than one person should have.

I got carried away this morning and ended up doing our driveway, the next door neighbor's driveway and several sections of sidewalk. I was mad when I saw another neighbor had done my other neighbor's driveway. I'll have to get up earlier next time.

***************************

Speaking of snow and neighbors, I have to end this by saying how lucky I am to live in such a great neighborhood. There are three or four of us that have the mechanical means to remove snow, i.e. snowblowers or 4-wheelers with a plow. When I went out this morning I saw that every one of us was helping out the other neighbors. None of the elderly people have to do their own driveway and all the sidewalks and mail boxes are dug out. People are pushing their snow blower up and down the street looking for a driveway that needs cleared. No one asked them to do it, it's just done.

I thought it was very cool. (It's another secret that Calvin has been keeping to himself.)

Grinch Is Loose

2008-12-10T09:55:00.006-07:00

Is it just my house...

my kids...

or is there a big

whiny

GRUMPY

Cantankerous

bug biting children as

Christmas draws nearer?

. . . . . . . . . . .

I'm thisclose to calling

Santa Clause and

telling him to skip our

house this year.

Christmas Playlist

2008-12-09T10:06:00.005-07:00

I have never done a post about a "playlist" before because I don't usually have one. I'm a music idiot. I love listening, but I never know who is singing and I rarely know the name of the song. I focus on enjoying the music of the moment and then it goes away, until I hear the song again and I say, "Hey! I remember that I like this song."

Like I said, I'm a music idiot.

However, I bought some new Christmas CD's this year and I'm really excited about them. My first and favorite CD is Kristin Chenoweth. You know, she plays Olive Snook on Pushing Daisies (stupid network that cancelled it), and Mrs. Gornicke on RV as well as a gazillion other wonderful parts. (I'm a fan.) I listen to this CD 20 times a day and it hasn't gotten old yet. L.O.V.E it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKjDPl1x98I

I finally broke down and bought Josh Groban's Noel this year. I've wanted it for a couple years and I thought with the economy in the tank, I might as well do my part to give it a boost. After all, my favorite Christmas song of all time is his version of O Holy Night. Sure, that song isn't on this CD, but there are many songs on this CD I enjoy and he sings with MoTab. Can't beat that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIFH0TUWcBA

The third new CD I got this year is Christmas Number Ones. I got it as the music selection from BMG. It's just a collection of popular Christmas songs by popular artists -- both new and old. Gene Autry is the best....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFtOQfuNZLA

And that's what I'm listening to this Christmas.

I Believe...

2008-12-07T20:08:00.008-07:00

Dude, You're Soooo Grounded!

2008-12-03T19:20:00.004-07:00

I read this story in my local newspaper today and found it amusing: (I have deleted local names)

**************************

Juvenile Fakes Kidnapping To See Movie
Published: Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Police say a reported kidnapping of a young man Monday evening, which turned out to be fabricated by him, interfered with responders' duties.

Because the person who made the false report is a juvenile, the information about it has been referred to the county prosecutor.

The incident occurred around 9 p.m. when police and ambulance crews responded to a 911 cell phone call from a young man who said he had been kidnapped and then locked in the trunk of his car.

(Police) said the teenager said he had been hit on the head before he was put into the trunk.

The boy told police that he initially didn't know where he was, but after officers told him how to manipulate the trunk latch from the inside, the boy was able to get out and let them know his location behind the (local) Kmart store.

When police arrived at the car, they found him sitting on its bumper.

(Police officer) said ambulance personnel who checked him over could not find anything wrong with the boy.

And under further investigation, the police determined that the story didn't appear credible and the "victim" then admitted the story was untrue.

(Police officer) said after police interviewed the boy, they concluded that he had fabricated the story as an explanation for not being at a family event at his home, when he was actually at a movie with a friend.

"What we found was that he had left a family home evening and went to a vampire movie without permission," (police officer) said, "This fabrication of being kidnapped tied up six officers, the dispatcher and a number of medical personnel who had other duties to fulfill."

**************************
Only in this town (and possibly Provo/Orem) can the newspaper print "Family Home Evening" and not have to explain what it is.

O Tannenbaum

2008-12-02T09:51:00.006-07:00

Christmas time is a time of family traditions. I'm sure your family has many, as does ours. Yesterday we partook in the merry tradition of tree decorating. This is how it played out:

**We are one of five families in the whole world who still purchase a fresh tree. There is nothing pre-fab or synthetic in our tree stand!! We like to drive 1/2 hour to the big city south of us to purchase from the YMCA lot at the mall. No, we don't have a membership there, we just like their trees. (the only place here to buy a fresh tree is at the grocery store, along with some canned beans.) This year, we switched up the tradition. Aly was in school when we left, so we didn't bring her. The usual tradition is that she comes along and sits in the car complaining about how cold it is, constantly repeating, "Can we go home now?" Even though we were in jackets (Calvin was just in shirt sleeves) we knew she wouldn't miss the adventure.

**After living in Oregon for a few years, I grew quite fond of Noble Firs. They are the most gorgeous Christmas tree you can have. Also, in Oregon, you can go to a farm and cut your own Noble for $5-$10. Not here. Nobles cost around $100, which makes them slightly out of my price range. I have switched my allegiance to Fraser Firs. They are almost as beautiful and quite aromatic. The three of us (Calvin, Adam and myself) sequestered ourselves in the Fraser section of the lot and had a healthy debate over which tree was best. I wanted the 7 foot, Calvin wanted the 6 foot (it's cheaper) and Adam just wanted to pick it. We started a new tradition: Rock/Paper/Scissors determined who got to pick the tree. Lucky for the men, I won. Yet, suspiciously enough, when I pointed to the tree I wanted, Calvin kept pointing at another saying, "I think you want that one." Suspiciously enough, we ended up taking home the tree Calvin kept pointing at (the 6 footer).

**It's an interesting tradition getting the tree home: It is tied to the roof of our car and I spend the half hour on the highway looking at it through the rear-view mirror, making sure it isn't moving too much, or that it will unexpectedly flip off the car and impale the driver of the car behind us. I end up with a crick in my neck by the time we get home. (I never trust that the guys get it tied on securely.)

**Once we're home comes the fun part. Debating whether we need to cut the end off again (has it been longer than 1/2 hour since the guy at the lot cut it off?), getting the tree in the stand and getting the lights on. I'm very lucky that Calvin takes care of all this dirty work. (Give it a year or two and Adam will be out there with him!) This year was fun. No matter how he tried, the tree is crooked in the stand. But, if you hold your head at an angle, it's okay.

**This year Calvin worked for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes making sure all the lights work and getting them on the tree. After it was finished and with sweat streaming down his face and dripping in his eyes, he plugged them in. Half didn't work. Of course, it was the half in the middle. I was quickly dispatched to Walgreens to purchase new lights.

**600 brand new lights on the tree. Who needs a lamp in the living room?

**This year brought Aly into the living room with us as we decorated! This, again, is new and much enjoyed. When she was a finicky 14 year old, she sat on the stairs, frowning and not helping. (She still insists that she won't carve pumpkins with us.)

** For as many years as I can remember, Santa has given me a new ornament from Hallmark on Christmas morning. I'm kind of old, so I have a lot of ornaments. Santa started bringing them to Calvin when he married me, that has been almost 21 years, so he has a lot of ornaments. Santa brings ornaments to my children, which adds to the numbers. I have two Rubbermaid boxes filled to the brim with Hallmark ornaments. My job is to go through the boxes, pull out the ornaments, remember whose they are and give them to that person to hang on the tree. I love that job. Adam wants to take it from me. I won't give it up willingly. Aly, actually hung her ornaments on the tree. That is 17 ornaments!! YOU GO GIRL!!!

**Finally, the lights are on, the ornaments are hung and we read our scripture and story from the 24 Days of Christmas. Family prayer and everyone heads to bed. Everyone but me. Now I get to move that huge mass of ornaments that is eye level to Adam and in one place in the front of the tree to create a more aesthetically pleasing balance. I pour two more pitchers of water in the tree stand, remind the dog and cat that the water is for the tree NOT them, turn off the lamps and bask in the glow of fresh pine scent and multi-colored lights twinkling at me.

It's soooo worth it!!

(Hold your head crooked and the tree looks straight)

Who Me?

2008-11-30T00:12:00.002-07:00

When did I get so old?

It's 12:17 in the morning and I'm sitting up waiting for my daughter to come home from her date. She's not late... I forgot to give her a curfew. My bad!!! But then again, I probably would have said "Be home by 10:30," even though he picked her up a little after 9:00. It freaks me out to have her out with some boy...

Okay, he's not even "some boy." She's with the boy that drove 5 hours from Utah to our town to take her to the Homecoming dance. I've met him a few times. He's nice. His dad even drove him to Orem from Payson so he can take Aly out (we're in Orem for the Thanksgiving weekend). Man, that is a dedicated Dad!! (He really likes Aly and likes his son to take her out.)

I just wonder... how in the heck am I old enough to be sitting up waiting for my daughter to come home? Didn't I just go out on my first date a month ago?

No?

Well, it seems like it.

And I'm still sitting here, getting older while my daughter still isn't home. (It's 12:23 now!)

I need Father Time's phone number. Maybe he can go on a vacation for a while so my kids will stop getting older.

(I just got a text from her. She's finally on her way home.)

**Heavy Sigh**

Happy

2008-11-25T22:56:00.007-07:00

Thanksgiving!!

(If you don't hear from me for a couple days

it's because I'm busy stuffing myself,

shopping and painting ceramics at Color Me Mine.

Look out, Orem!! Here I come!!!)

Team Charlie

2008-11-22T10:34:00.005-07:00

To begin, let me say....

I really love my daughter.

It may appear that I am a crazed Twilight fan.... you know the whole Edward and Bella background on my blog and all....

I did it all for Aly.

She is the crazed Twilight fan. I enjoyed the books. I thought they were entertaining and fun to read and I have read them a couple times. But I don't live for Edward, or Jacob, Esme or Carlisle. But my daughter does, so I ride the Twilight wagon with her.

On this wagon I went with her to buy the tickets to the movie two weeks in advance and kept them in a special place in my wallet. With her I went to the mall and helped her pick out the perfect Twilight shirt from Hot Topics. With her I got to the movie theater more than an hour and 15 minutes early to stand in line.

And it wasn't bad. I enjoyed the time with my daughter and I enjoyed the camaraderie we enjoyed while the anticipation was building.

The movie wasn't bad. They had a lot of book to cover in two hours and I think they did okay with what they had. I didn't walk out of the movie hating it, and was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it was a little choppy and I'm not sure there was much character/relationship development, but what can you do?

I have to say, however, that I am now a fan of Charlie, Bella's father. In the book, Charlie doesn't have much to say and that stayed true in the movie. Without dialogue, it's hard to build a character, and I think the guy who played Charlie did great. I was rooting for him from the minute I saw him on screen. Facial expressions, body language.... he had it all.

Aly thinks I'm Team Charlie because he's old and so am I. grrrrrrrrrr......

I do have a couple gripes about the film: I'm still not certain Robert Pattinson is the right guy to play Edward. He's just not cute. There were a couple times that I thought, okay, now he looks cute, but for most of the movie I wasn't feeling the Edward love.
The first time I saw Carlisle (and Aly agreed) we thought, WOW!! They really over did the white face make-up. It seemed more toned down as the movie moved on, but that first time it was INYOURFACEWHITE!!!
And the part that bugged me the worst was: What's with the tree climbing? "Spider Monkey?"
HUH?!?!

It was a fun night. I'd do it again. And I probably will when New Moon opens.

I heart Hugh

2008-11-20T00:17:00.003-07:00

Well it's about time!!

(Nothing against Brad Pitt or George Clooney, but

People needed to bring some new

blood to their Sexiest Man cover. I give

all my support to this year's pick.)

**sigh**

Confessions

2008-11-19T12:37:00.004-07:00

Today I have a couple confessions to make. You may be shocked at what I'm saying, but I feel I need to clear the air and get them off my chest:

** I am done eating pizza. I never want it to cross my lips again. It's not because it's not a healthy food. That doesn't stop me from eating anything (obviously). To me, pizza is as disgusting and foul a food as.... fish!! And we all know that if it swam, or breathed air through water, it won't cross these lips. Uh Uh. No way. And now, pizza has gotten to be that disgusting to me. Sad isn't it?

**Until two weeks ago, I had never seen a full episode of The Office. I realize that there will be members of my extended family who might disassociate themselves from me because I said that. HOWEVER, before you go crazy, please let me say that I regret that I hadn't seen it and I hope to get back in your good graces by saying, I AM A FAN!! I watched three episodes (on DVR) last night and laughed my butt off. I can't wait to crawl in bed tonight, pick up my crocheting and watch more. I have many seasons to catch up on, and I look forward to each and every moment.

**My son shocked me last night when he announced, "Mom! I don't like M-n-M's!" (He was mad that it was the treat in his kid's meal from Arctic Circle.) If I hadn't given birth to the boy I would seriously question his parentage. Well, that and the fact that he is the spitting image of his father. BUT HIS DAD LOVES them!! As do Aly and I.
Here's my theory: Six months ago, Adam was abducted by aliens and they injected him with a serum that alters his genetic make-up. He's mutated into a child that likes carrots and celery more than chocolate. Soon, he'll be in the forest hugging trees and doing nature dances.
Totally weird.

**I do not watch Oprah. Yes, I'm an American woman who does not worship the ground she walks on. I've said it and I mean it. 'Nuff said.

There. I feel better, like a big load has been taken off my shoulders. Thanks for letting me vent.

No Laughing Matter

2008-11-16T23:39:00.002-07:00

For my Thankful Post today, I'm going to copy Yvonne and say I'm grateful for my sense of humor.

I'm the kind of person that laughs easily and often. I love to tease people and be teased by people. I like helping people laugh. If situations get too serious, I try to find humor to lighten the mood. Granted, there are times to be more restrained and/or reverent and I have to work hard to restrain the goofiness that wants to burst out of me. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't.

Today, I realized what a blessing it is to be able to laugh at one's self:

I was at choir practice. We were in the middle of a song and a choir member who came late was looking for music. I saw a folder on the bench next to me and, thinking it was extra, picked it up to hand to him. (There are usually several folders of music just sitting on the choir benches when we get to the chapel. No one's names are on them.) The lady sitting next to me literally yanked that music out of my hand, held it up and away from my reach and then hid it on the side of her where I couldn't see it or reach it.... like a two year old claiming her favorite dolly. And no, she isn't young.

Me, being me, smiled and in my light voice said, "Oh I'm sorry!"

She wouldn't look at me.

I touched her lightly and in a serious voice said, "I'm sorry. I thought it was extra music."

She ignored me still.

WHAT?!?!

She was so completely unforgiving of me touching her choir music that I actually went home in tears. At first, and for a long time afterward, I was M.A.D. Why doesn't she grow up? It was an honest mistake!!

Then I realized that not every one has the ability to laugh at stupid situations. Obviously this woman has some issues in her life or in her past that makes this sort of thing serious for her. Maybe she didn't hear my apology... I doubt it, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt.

Then I thought of myself. If someone accidentally grabbed my music folder to hand to someone else, I would have laughed. The choir director would probably stop practice to bring me back in line. I certainly wouldn't have let that person go home feeling horrible and awful, crying their eyes out.

Life is short. Life is good. Laugh once in a while. You'll feel better and the people around you will like you better. (And you can bet I will sit by someone else next week!)

Hieeee YAH!!

2008-11-13T23:14:00.012-07:00

My little Kung Fu Panda graduated from his Tae Kwan Do class tonight. The graduation ceremony included the breaking of a board.

(The first attempt)

Second and final try!!!

Aly and I discussed this experience on the way home: You can't see it on the video, but Adam was pretty danged proud of himself after he finally broke that board. It wasn't vain pride, it was "WOW!! I did it!!"

We decided that if every person in the world could have a confidence booster like this once a week, the world would be a better place. This is our analogy: If we could all take a task that seems almost impossible (these were 1" boards and Adam is six years old) we might try to succeed but will probably fail a few times. Then, like Adam, if we sit down and think about it -- instead of giving up (Adam was thisclose to tears when he sat down after his first attempt) -- and face it again, we will probably be like Adam and succeed! Sometimes we have to change our approach to the task (Adam had planned for several weeks to break the board with his foot). Oftentimes we need a cheering section.

But most of all, we need determination and a drive to accomplish our goal.

(Look at his face in this picture!)

And sometimes, we're just as stunned as Adam was when we finally reach our goal.

**Note: This class was offered by the city and was held in the lunch room of the middle school. They often overbook the room, so another group was moving in on top of us as we finished breaking boards. That's what all the background noise is.

**Another note: Aly was the videographer and I was the photographer. She did a pretty good job!

I Heart Jacob

2008-11-12T13:19:00.003-07:00

Have you bought your tickets to Twilight yet?

I have!!

You'll Thank Me. Your Family Will Thank You.

2008-11-12T09:52:00.004-07:00

I know I just posted a yummy recipe, but I have found another new cookie recipe. I thought the first recipe was easy, but, this is possibly the easiest cookie recipe I have ever found.... EVER. And believe me, I've made a few cookies in my life. (Melanee, I think this would be wonderful for your and your roommies.)

This is a perfect recipe for autumn.

(Are you ready for this?)

One spice cake mix
One small can pumpkin
chocolate chips

Drop by spoonfuls on to a greased cookie sheet.
Bake 350 for 12-15 minutes.

Yup. That's it.

I baked a pan of them last night and they turned out pretty good! They taste just like you think a pumpkin cookie should taste! My only disappointment was that they didn't spread much. They pretty much stayed in the same shape they were in when I put them on the cookie sheet.

Again, I don't have pictures... sorry. I still have to finish baking the batch I made up last night, so maybe I'll add it later. I must stop baking cookies on Tuesday nights. I get busy trying to get to mutual and always run out of time.

****************************
Speaking of mutual, my slide show was last night. I was a basket case right before. Calvin (Mr. Technology) wasn't able to be there to help me set up. My technological experience includes; the ability to blog, to download pictures and create slide shows. I can also email. But that's about it. So attaching a laptop to a projector gave me cold sweats, shallow breathing and a rapidly increasing heart rate. I followed his instructions to the "T" and when I hit play.... you guessed it.... nuthin' showed up on the screen. This produced more rapid shallow breathing, heavier sweating and buckets of tears surfacing, threatening to pour out of my eyes. I had to break down and see if Calvin had a break in his interviewing to see if he could pop over to the church and help. He had an exactly 5 minute break. (Good thing we live here where everything is close, huh?)

He arrived at the church approximately 1.5 minutes after I called. He walked into the R.S. room, walked up to the laptop, pushed one button and it worked. He walked out after spending a total of about 3 minutes with us.

Isn't that always the case? I spent about 20 minutes trying to get that darned projector and laptop to connect and work together. Calvin walks in, clicks on one little thing and it works. Honestly, I think it worked just because he walked in the room. We play this game at home too. I try to print something, the printer doesn't work. I hate asking for help, so I work and work, trying to fix things. I can't. I finally call for help. Calvin walks down the stairs, looks at the computer and without pushing a single button the printer initializes and starts printing.

I feel like a dork.

But I'm used to it by now, and I'm comfortable with it.

Oh yeah. I was talking about the slide show. (I get distracted easily.) It was a HUGE hit. The girls really look forward to it and I think they enjoyed seeing themselves in their different activities. I'm glad it's finished. Now I get to start preparing for next year's!

Stomp, Stomp, AAUGH!!!

2008-11-11T09:24:00.005-07:00

My house is full of little boys.

I love it!!

My friend went on a two week trip to Europe and I have the opportunity to have her children for a few of those days. The boys are 6 and 4, which is perfect for Adam. He is loving having built in friends... 24/4 (cuz I only have them for four days.)

(Okay, I guess three boys in one house doesn't really constitute a "house full of boys," but for me... it certainly does.)

We also had their big sister (age 8), but she is extremely homesick and became inconsolable last night. The poor girl. She was practicing the piano while I was in the kitchen making dinner, and bawling while she was playing. I couldn't hear her over the music, my dinner cooking, etc. It broke my heart when I found out. I talked with her, held her and hugged her, but she misses her mom and dad just too much. Luckily, she has a very close extended family that lives in town, so I called her aunt who said, "BRING HER OVER!!" It made me sad to take her over to Stephanie's but it was for the best. The minute she walked in the door she was over run with cousins and she ran away smiling... not a trace of a tear in her eye.

The boys, however, are doing GREAT! Our toys are still just new enough for them that they aren't bored. It's just a fun sleep-over. I let all the boys sleep in Adam's room last night, which was AWESOME for them!! I don't actually let my kids have slumber parties, so it's a nice treat for Adam.

As I sit here writing, I'm listening to the boys running upstairs. There's a scream and BIG LAUGHTER. They're on a quest to find the hiding cat, who is great at hiding from over enthusiastic boys. It will keep them occupied for about half an hour.

We're having a good time.

Carson & Adam: Best buddies

Harry

Today I'm grateful for...

2008-11-09T22:19:00.003-07:00

... the fact that in about 5 minutes I get to hit "finish" on this year's Young Women slide show.

And none too soon, either!!

Our YW in Excellence is Tuesday and it will be shown then. I've worked on it -- off and on -- for approximately two months. I don't begrudge this opportunity. It's something I volunteer for each year. I take oodles and gobs of pictures of the girls (no exaggeration) and compile them into a sort of digitally scrapbooked "masterpiece." (Masterpiece is used loosely.) Add some music and a little video of each girl and VOILA!!!... we've got 25 minutes of memories packed into a sweet little DVD for each of them to take home.

However, every year when the deadline approaches, I start to sweat.

Will I finish it?

Is the music okay? Should I use a Jon Schmidt song or a Kurt Bestor song?

Did I use the correct the grammar? (Very important because of the many university English teachers there are in the ward.)

Will I finish it?

As I said, in about 5 minutes I'm saving it and preparing it to burn. There's no looking back...

I'm grateful that another one is finished.

Giving Thanks

2008-11-08T10:44:00.004-07:00

A lot of my friends in bloggy land are participating in "The Giving Thanks Challenge."

I have resisted doing this... not because I don't have a lot to be thankful for, but because I'm not the most articulate person in the world and I'm not the best at expressing my feelings using the written word. Actually, I kind of stink at it. Also, some things are just too personal for me to share with the general public.

But last night, as I was enjoying a nice, scortching hot shower, I realized that I am thankful for simple things as well as profound items. So here it is:

I'm thankful that I have HOT water in my house and that it's readily available.

I'm also thankful when I can shower at night when there is no one

waiting for for their own hot shower so I can stand there, enjoying the heat

and the steam... warmth sinking to my bones.

I stood in the shower for about 30 minutes last night.

Ahhh.... it was heaven.

You MUST Make These

2008-11-05T21:39:00.003-07:00

Whether you're in mourning over the election results or whether you're celebrating (wink to my favorite Uncle K2) I have just the item to help you with your emotions. This new recipe I have found is just what we need to mend the partisanship that has been raging through our wonderful country for far too long. I implore you, make these bars... Savor the peanutty goodness... Take a plate to your neighbor and deliver it with a smile and a handshake of peace. (Also because this makes a HUGE pan full and it's too much for just one family to eat. Believe me.)

On a more serious note, I am determined to be optimistic about the election. Yes, I had a moment of despair last night when I finally turned the results on (around 10 pm), but a new day has given me hope. I will give Mr. Obama a chance. America is too great a nation to let this tear us down. I remembered that a few years ago, when my town elected a new mayor, I did not want that person leading our town. I was so disappointed that he won. To my amazement, he has done a terrific job. You should know that when election time rolled around again, I voted for him. I like to think that I vote for the person rather than the party. (I have voted for the other party more than once in my life.... yes, it's true.)

So without further adieu and no more moaning and groaning about politics, I give you:

American Peanut Butter Bars

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup softened butter
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 cups oats
2 cups flour

Mix together (wet ingredients first) and spread into LARGE cookie sheet (I used the silver jelly-roll pan). Bake 10-12 minutes at 350*. Let it cool and frost with chocolate icing.
-0r-
to be fancy, instead of using plain 'ole chocolate icing from a can, why don't you: put a bunch of chocolate chips on the top of the bars, right after you pull them out of the oven. Wait for about 10 minutes and then spread them all around. Then take some peanut butter icing that you made up while the choc. chips are melting and swirl that into the chocolate. I tell you, after about two bites of this, EVERYONE can be friends!!!

(Sorry no pictures. After I made them I took them to my YW activity and they were eaten up.)

Yay Me

2008-11-04T22:09:00.003-07:00

Now that we have a new president, I'm so excited!!

Calvin's going to quit his job.

We're thrilled that we don't have to pay our mortgage or gas bill ever again. We'll let all the rich folk take care of that for us. There certainly is no incentive for us to keep working and trying to get ahead when there are others out there who are going to foot the bills.

Yay for us.

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T23:07:00.013-06:00

First of all: I finally replaced the camera lens that got broken at Disneyland and I'm so happy to be able to use my Nikon again!! Yippee!!

Second of all: Adam felt like his shirt was getting gooey from pulling the pumpkin guts out so he took it off. He always takes his shirt off. We can't keep it on him. Even when he was a baby he ran around naked or mostly naked. That's who he is.

I have tried not to post shirtless Adam pictures here. Now you can really see exactly how skinny this kid is... just skin stretched over bones is all there is to him.

I will answer your questions before you ask them: Yes. I do feed the boy. Yes. He does eat the food I give him. No. He doesn't get his skinnyness from me. Yes. He is the spitting image of his father (who's stomach was concave when we got married).

Adam designed his pumpkin himself. He told me what he wanted and I helped him draw it out and get it on the pumpkin. We worked together in getting it carved.

Just Adam and Calvin carved pumpkins this year. Aly never does. She can't stand the smell. And there just wasn't time for me to do one on my own. (Calvin free-handed his. He carved with no pattern on the pumpkin.)

Introducing the New Indiana Jones. (He's definitely cuter than an old Harrison Ford, isn't he?)

Adam and Devyn have gone trick-or-treating together every year since they moved to the area. Devyn's mother created an amazing costume for her this year. She's "Tigress" from Kung Fu Panda. Jackie is so amazingly talented. She made the costume with no pattern!! (I have to brag on my friend because she never would.)

In this picture Adam poses for me and Devyn poses for Jackie.

Oh yeah! We'll be on a sugar high for weeks!!

I Love Yellowstone!

2008-11-01T22:10:00.021-06:00

Another amazing trip to Yellowstone today!

We found a hike we hadn't been on before. It's called Monument Trail. It was grueling hike straight up the mountain. The views, however, were stunning.

You can see the road next to the river. That's where we started.

It only took one mile to get this high up.

Yes, this is the man that had a terrible case of vertigo less than a week ago.

This is where we were climbing.

There were plenty of elk (with glowing eyes) at Mammoth.

We only saw a few bison, which seemed weird to me. Usually we see a gazillion herds of them!

The one, lonely buffalo that we saw on the road was in the dark. It was in a narrow canyon and luckily I saw its eyes glowing in my headlights before there was an accident. It was a little threatened by our vehicle, however, and charged us. Maybe because my lights were on bright and it didn't like that... I don't know.

(Note to self: next time you almost hit a buffalo in the road, dim the lights!!!)

Before the buffalo could make contact with the car, I swerved out of the way and it backed down. I guess you could say I blinked first. I'm sure the buffalo was uninsured, so I was happy to be the wimp in that situation!

Yellowstone closes for the season tomorrow, Nov. 2, and we were very happy to be there before that happened! Thanks Dave, Jackie and Devyn for a great day!

**(Aly is 16 and sick of all the fabulous drives through Yellowstone we make, so she stayed home and cleaned her room. That's why you don't see her in any of the photos.)

Yup, Another Video

2008-10-30T22:29:00.004-06:00

Aly's first choir concert of this school year. She is in the front row, third from the end on the left.

I recorded two of her songs and if you're interested you can see the second one here.

(Sorry the quality isn't great. I used my digital point and shoot camera to record this because I've been having problems with my digital video camera. This is the best I could get.)

A Moment to Reflect

2008-10-30T09:50:00.005-06:00

I found this on Annie's blog. I don't know how many of my readers check out her blog (although I know a few do), so I thought I'd post it here. I think the message is important and it is powerful. We have less than a week left until Nov. 4. I'm not telling you who to vote for and I'm not saying who I'm voting for. That's personal. What's important is that I/you/we vote our conscience.

Witchie Poo

2008-10-29T21:53:00.005-06:00

Calvin and I don't have a "song" like most couples. We have a "movie." (That's a long story that I won't delve into tonight.) Our movie is Princess Bride and we've seen it so many times that we can quote a lot of it. One of my favorite-est lines in the movie (and any other movie) is when the

witch, Valerie, is chasing Miracle Max around their cabin AND yelling at him.

In many conversations with Calvin, I have said this to him (always jokingly of course):

"Hey Calvin! I'm not a witch!! I'M YOUR WIFE!!"

(To hear Valerie say it click here and fast forward to 3:09 on the clock. You'll love it!)

In the spirit of Calvin (Miracle Max) feeling better and to celebrate witches and Halloween I give you these funnies:

Random Pictures

2008-10-28T22:48:00.009-06:00

This is my "I'm-riding-for-14-hours-straight-in-a-car-and-I-need-something-to-do" project.

A grandma of a girl that is in Adam's dance class taught me this pattern and I did almost the whole blanket on the drive to and from California this month. I had intended to make it into a lap-size blanket for Aly for Christmas, but I ran out of the pink and couldn't buy any more, so I finished off the edges and sent it (today) to an orphanage in Ecuador. I'm hoping a sweet little baby will enjoy the softness and warmth and will gain some comfort from it.

Last week Adam and I thought we'd make some Carmel Apples. He thought it would be fun to help make the carmel. I let him stir until the mixture came to boiling temperatures and then I took over (for obvious reasons.) Pay no attention to the mess in the laundry room. (Thorkgal, can you see your witches hat back there? Hint hint!!)

This is how the apples looked. We rolled them in mini M-n-M's and chopped up Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Wow! They look tasy, don't they?

Nope! They were hard as rocks, probably harder. I think my candy thermometer was a little off. I've never had carmel turn out like that before. We had to throw the whole batch away. I'm trying to find time to make more... (But I still haven't made Halloween sugar cookies and we still haven't bought pumpkins, let alone carved them!! AUGH!! Can someone throw two extra days into this week?)

This weekend I had some help cutting Calvin's hair. Thank heavens Calvin has a hair-do that's hard to mess up.

********************************

UPDATE: Calvin is feeling slightly better today. No barfing, so Adam's signs must have worked. We can't get into the Ear Nose Throat doctor until Monday, so we went to an internal medicine doctor. He's a great guy, we love him, but he wasn't much help. He said Calvin doesn't have an inner ear infection. He gave Calvin some print-outs of exercises to do that should help bring his equalibrium back into wack. So far there hasn't been any big "WOW" moment that says he's getting better. It will have to come in small steps I think. However, taking massive amounts of time off when you're self-employed isn't easy. It's driving him crazy that he can't sit up and work for longer than 5 or 10 minutes at a time.

4:4:4

2008-10-28T15:12:00.004-06:00

I found this meme on April's blog and thought I'd play along.

The rules are:

1. Go to your pictures.
2. Upload 4th picture from 4th folder.
3. Post.
4. Tag 4 friends.

For me (and probably most of you as well) this folder is quite old. I got my first digital camera for Christmas 2004, which is about the time this picture was taken. (Jan 1, 2005) Adam was two years old.

I can tag four of my friends, but I'd rather just say,

TAG, YOU'RE IT!!
(If you've read it, you're tagged!)

Greetings

2008-10-27T23:44:00.002-06:00

Hi Devani!!
Thanks for coming and leaving me a comment. I LOVE THAT!!!

It was fun getting reaquainted with you the other night. You should come join our combined choir and we can see each other every week!! (Or are you already in choir? There are a ton of people there and I don't know most that are in your ward.)

Let me know when you start your own blog.

Mish Mash & Hodge Podge

2008-10-27T22:25:00.005-06:00

So lots of little things happening right now. There's really nothing that can be its own blog posting, but there are enough smaller things that if compiled together can make one random messy post.

Probably the most important in our life today is the fact that Calvin is having some serious, and I mean SERIOUS inner ear issues (say that 5 times fast...)
inner ear issues
inner ear issues
inner ear issues
(heck! try typing it 5 times fast...)

He woke me up early this morning (5:45) vomiting. That, in and of itself is amazing. We've been married for pert near 21 years and I think that he has only vomited maybe 3 times out of sickness that entire time. He emptied his stomach every 15 minutes until about 7:30. It turns out that, for him, the room was spinning. He was motion sick and nauseous from that. Yes, it sounds like vertigo, doesn't it?

Vertigo Overview
Vertigo is the feeling that you or your environment is moving when no movement occurs. Imprecisely called dizziness, the term vertigo is the specific term used to describe an illusion of movement. Unlike nonspecific lightheadedness or dizziness, vertigo has relatively few causes.

Poor Calvin, can't move without throwing up. Seriously. Something as simple as rolling over makes him nauseous and he throws up. Our neighbor suffered with this same condition a couple months ago,(and continues to get episodes) so we called to get advice. He offered to come over and show us the funky treatment that cured him. It was a real chore to get Calvin downstairs from our bedroom to the living room. He was completely off balance by the time he got to the bottom of the stairs and I had to grab him and keep him from falling over. By the time he sat down on the couch, I had to have a bag ready because he had gotten so sick from the movement that he began vomiting again.

Ron was very helpful and it was nice for Calvin to have someone that has suffered in the same way to talk to. I have sympathy for him, but Ron understands how terrible this condition is. It was also very nice that Ron's son is a fairly new elder and together they gave Calvin a healing blessing.

We got Calvin upstairs, Ron brought over some anti-nausea and motion sickness medicine and I think Calvin is ready for the night. Tomorrow we'll take him to the Ear, Nose, Throat doc and get the official diagnosis.

Pray for him, will ya?

Funny thing: Adam is tired of the vomit drama. I always shoo Adam away when Calvin begins to throw up and I think Adam is beginning to feel disgruntled about it. He made a sign while Ron & Jill were over and it made us all laugh. (I took a picture of it, but you can't read it.) It says,
"Stop Borrfeeng."
(He's 6. He spell phonetically.)
The sign is hanging up in our bedroom.

****************************************

Life hasn't been all dry heaves and belching. Saturday was WONDERFUL!!! Calvin and I left the children at home and we drove 30 minutes to the shopping mecca of our area and started Christmas shopping! Yippee!! I am so thrilled to have a large chunk of Christmas bought, paid for and, yes, I will admit it...

WRAPPED!!!

But the best part was that it was just the two of us. My love language is "Quality Time" and Calvin knows this. He's always so good to put aside the papers he's grading (he's a faculty member at University of Phoenix online) and spend time with me. We had a blast.

***********************************

I got to teach the Young Women lesson on Sunday. We're on lesson #40 which is titled, "Loving Ourselves and Others." I was excited to make a handout with this poem on it:

You
Today you are you, that is truer than true.
There is one one alive that is youer than you.
Shout aloud,
I am what I am!
Thank goodness I am not a clam or a ham
Or a dusty ole' jar of gooseberry jam.
I am what I am,
What a great thing to be.
If I say so myself,
Happy everyday to me.
--Dr. Seuss

Don't you think everyone should have this poem memorized?

******************************

A funny/embarrassing thing happened to me Friday night. It was the Halloween Carnival at Adam's school. I signed up to sell the tickets for the activities. While I was sitting there, a guy walked up to me and started talking to me like I knew him.

I didn't.

I mentioned that fact, "Dude, I don't know you!"

And he said, "Oh yes you do. We are intimately acquainted.... "

(a slight pause as I looked at him, my face red, my eyes wide....)

"Well, you're intimately acquainted with my teeth anyway," he continued.

I just laughed then. He thought I was the hygienist that worked in his dentist's office. He laughed too when I told him that he had me confused with someone else.

I was glad Calvin wasn't there, though. That could have been awkward.

Aly and PTC

2008-10-23T23:31:00.003-06:00

I was just writing a lengthy email to Thorny Tree Lady (I can't link you to her blog anymore because she went private!) and in that email I was telling her about Aly. It made me realize that I need to tell Aly how proud I am of her on how hard she has been working in school.

But first a little background: When Aly was in 6th grade she was diagnosed with Non-Verbal Learning Disability. (Click on the link and read the home page. You'll understand almost exactly what her early childhood was like...) We got her into speech therapy immediately and also got her a 504 Plan at the school. (Idaho doesn't recognize NLD as a real learning disability, so she didn't qualify for an IEP. A 504 Plan just gives her certain allowances for her classes like extra time on tests, the opportunity to redo failed home work, etc.) We also pulled her out of public school for her 7th grade year and did an online home school in an effort to bring her up to grade level. She started 8th grade back in public school and on par with the other 8th graders. It was a great move for her!

She did okay in Jr. High but when High School started, she really took off. Of course, she had the extra incentive of a cell phone to motivate her... if she doesn't maintain a 3.0 GPA, she loses the phone. She has worked very hard and has kept her GPA above a 3.3.

Here's my "Happy Mommy Moment:" Today was Parent Teacher Conference. We went to her math teacher and told her who we were (yes, Calvin is one of the rare dads that likes to go to PTC!! Cool, eh?) When we said we were Aly's parents, the teacher got so excited and said, "OH!! I LOVE HAVING ALY IN MY CLASS!! SHE IS SO MUCH FUN AND SUCH A GREAT KID!!" (We have always thought that, but it's kind of nice having someone outside of the home reaffirm that.)

The teacher started to rant and rave about Aly and what great work she does in class. I had to look at the class schedule I had in my hand. I thought surely we weren't talking to the math teacher. Math (and art) have always, I mean always been Aly's worst subject. But we really were talking to her math teacher. It made me wonder if we were talking about the same Aly.... we were!!

I cleared my throat and said to the teacher, "Do you understand what this means to me? Aly doesn't do math. She struggles and has to exert a huge amount of effort to understand the concepts." The teacher truly looked surprised. She was unaware of the 504 (LONG story... I'll just say the school administration messed up) and didn't know about the learning disability. She went on to elaborate that Aly is unafraid to speak up in class and to do work on the board in front of the class and that she ALWAYS GETS THE ANSWERS RIGHT. That brought me to tears. We always knew that Aly was smart enough to do it, but it just came differently to her.

And now look at her shine!! The fact that she is willing to do the work in front of her peers is simply amazing to me.

I felt stupid for crying in front of the math teacher. But, if I had the opportunity to spend more time with her, I'm sure it wouldn't be the last time I cried in front of her. Cuz I just cry... all the time. (No, I'm no depressed!)

Anyway.... I just want to tell Aly that I'm very proud of you, Sweetie. You have risen above a trial that Heavenly Father gave you and you didn't let it drag you down. Your hard work and dedication has inspired me. You are a wonderful example to your brother. And this proves what we have told you all along -- YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT!!

(Now turn off my blog and start reading a book.)

2008-10-21T17:14:00.001-06:00

Obviously, as you can see by the next three posts, that Adam and I have a little too much time on our hands. We'll be back to serious posts again soon!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

My 100th Post!!!

2008-10-20T21:29:00.006-06:00

Wow!! Today I've reached a milestone....

*
100 POSTS

Woot!!

A lot of people make their 100th post a big celebration. I'm drawing a blank. I can't think of anything particularly fun or special to do. So I decided that I would "Yearbook Myself." I've seen it on a gazillion blogs and I've wanted to do it, but haven't. Then my great sis, Wees, sent me the link in an email and I decided I'd "git 'er dun."

So, Happy 100 Posts to me and enjoy looking at me through the years (and a different gender):

1954

1966
1978

Of course I had to see how macho a boy I would have been...

(not very)

1956 Boy

Accountability

2008-10-20T10:08:00.004-06:00

Waaay back -- seven months ago -- when I had a different blog I wrote about how I had joined Curves. I announced my membership publicly so that I could be held accountable for my workouts and the progress or lack of progress I was making.

But then I chickened out. (on the public part)

I hate scales and measuring tapes and body fat measurers (I don't own any of them). I think they should be outlawed and anyone found in possession of them should be sent to Siberia or some other obscure place. Once a month I would get a gentle reminder that it is "Measuring Day" from the computer when I checked in. Once a month I would look furtively at the workers to make sure they didn't see the reminder and I would jump on the machines pretending that the room with the scales didn't exist.

You can hide, but eventually someone finds you.

In my case my conscience found me. I got the reminder again last Friday and that little nagging voice in the back of my head said, "You know, Michelle, what's the point of coming, sweating and working horrendous callouses into your hands if you don't know what's happening with your body?" (That's a long sentence to say to myself, but I think I needed a stern talking to.)

I got up this morning with a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. I almost didn't go. (I have changed my workout schedule from afternoons to mornings.) But I knew I had to. Thankfully, when I got there, only one person was there and she was finishing up her workout. (I hate being weighed and measured when there's a slight possibility that someone could walk by. It's never happened, but you never know when it could!) I swallowed my fear and said to the worker/owner (really fast), "Ineedtoweighandmeasure."

A blank look was returned.

(Talking to myself again: "Michelle, GET OVER IT!!!) Big breath, "Good morning Nancy, I need to weigh and measure today."

A very chipper Nancy: "WELL COME ON BACK!!"

And, I DID IT!! The news is good. Since May (the last time I had a measuring tape near me) I have lost a total of 10 3/4 inches. Since March I have lost a total of 9.5 pounds.

I am now back to the weight/size I was when I first moved back to Idaho 10 years ago. (All these long winters have been hard.)

I know I still have a long way to go. It would be nice to lose 30 or 40 more pounds and several more inches, but I'll take it in small steps. I still love going to Curves and don't regret giving up my gym membership. I started their Curves Smart program and that has been WONDERFUL!! I have my own personal trainer that I can swear at and it doesn't care!!!

I just thought I should let you know. Accountability is a good thing.

Old Friends Who Are Not Old

2008-10-19T19:06:00.012-06:00

I have served in the Young Women organization for approximately forever. I have worked under 5 or 6 presidents in various capacities: I have been 1st & 2nd counselor; Beehive advisor and "music specialist."

I was first called into YW when I lived on the Oregon Coast. My very good friend Laura B was the president, "Ole Crazy" was my advisor and Jackie was the Mia Maid advisor in that presidency. (We had more fun than should be allowed for a church calling.) I can't tell you who was in the Beehive class when I was put in, but I can tell you just about everyone else who came in during my tenure.

My very first Beehive was Kristi.... sweet little Kristi who couldn't burp if her life depended on it. (She can now!) Kristi who was innocent and kind without an evil bone in her body. A little more than a year later, Laura's daughter Kirsten came in. Kirsten who is independent, and crazy and fun and kind. We had so much fun!!

This weekend we had a small reunion. Kristi who is an old married lady of 25 (yes, a quarter of a century.... 1/2 way to 50) came to visit from Southern Utah. Fortunately for me, Kirsten lives here, (kind of) attending school and working. A dinner party at my house was arranged with Jackie and her family, Kristi, Kirsten and the local cutie Jake T. coming as well. (We didn't have the usual "Newport Dinner" this time.) After Jake and Dave left and Calvin went to sleep (8 pm) we Newport YW alumni sat around yakking, laughing, and playing Mad Gab. I grabbed my point and shoot Kodak camera (cuz I still haven't gotten a new lense for my Nikon) and started taking silly photos.

You'll love these!!

(I wasn't sure if I should take out Kirsten's "red eye" and decided it has a much better effect so I left it in!!)

This is my silly photo. The one and only. Jackie
Kristi a.k.a. Penelope

I was once their leader and now I feel fortunate to have them as friends. (I might get a bit sappy here) It's gratifying that I still have connections with them and get to see who they have become. They are both wonderful women that I admire and love.

I didn't take any photos of Jake T (he was hanging with the guys) so I lifted this off his Facebook page. I hope he doesn't mind!!

Fave & Not-So-Fave

2008-10-15T11:15:00.004-06:00

In a comment on this blog Uncle Karl asked:

"Okay now that you are back home, tell us what you and the kids liked best at Disneyland and Sea World. What were your favorites?

Uncle K2"

I can answer this fairly quickly and easily.

Without a doubt (and I think I can speak for 3/4 of my family) "Soaring Over California" in California Adventures Park was far and above the best ride there. We only did it twice: once was early in the morning and we only had to wait about 10 minutes to get on and once we had a FastPass to get on. The first time we were on the second tier of seats and it was AMAZING!! The music, the scenery, the pine scent and the orange blossom scent.... it actually brought tears to my eyes. The second time we were in the top tier and I have to admit my fear of heights did bother me a little bit. But I gripped the seat handles and trusted my seat belt and enjoyed it almost as much as the first time. If I didn't have to fight the lines, I would have gone back and back and back.... well, you get the picture.

My personal second favorite ride was Splash Mountain. There's a story behind us riding this ride: Eight years ago when we took Aly to Disney World in Florida we had every intention of riding Splash Mountain. Aly was 8 years old and totally into her "Princess Phase" (okay, we are only just leaving that phase...) She got a bunch of new clothes for that trip and DID NOT want to get them wet. Every time we'd approach the ride, she would start crying and being stubborn and absolutely refused to ride. Each time we'd be just as stubborn and we'd get her (reluctantly) in line. And, believe it or not, each time we'd get close to the ride it would get closed, either due to mechanical problems or electric storms (there was a lot of lightning on our trip!) This happened at least three times. The fates didn't want Aly to ride and didn't want her to get wet.

Flash forward: Aly was finally excited to ride Splash Mtn. We got in line and started getting nervous. Just how wet would we get? With butterflies fluttering in our tummies, we got through the line and were just about ready to be put in the que to get on the ride. And.... yup! You guessed it!! There were mechanical difficulties and THE RIDE WAS CLOSED!!! We just laughed and blamed the fates again.

Finally, on the last day we were there, we got our FastPass and got back in line. We actually got to be seated in the log and looked at the ride operator. All of a sudden everything stopped and she was on the phone... it didn't look good!! Could we actually be denied the ride a 5th time?

Soon, the operator was smiling and we slowly began to move forward. We were going!! We shouted out a thank you to her as we rode by.

It was a blast. We were smart/lucky and rode in the back of the log and didn't get too wet. Just enough to cool us off but not enough to ruin our hair. We were actually able to do the ride twice that day. The fates liked us again.

too bad you can't see Adam in this picture! He's just right behind Calvin.

Of course we liked the rides like Peter Pan, Mr. Toad and Snow White. There is nothing to make one scared or motion sick in those rides. They're just a fun flashback to childhood.

For fun and a slight competitive moment, we really enjoy the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. It's fun zooming through and shooting all the Zurgs. We also loved the Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Carribean.

I know you didn't ask, Uncle Karl, but I'm going to tell you the two rides I cannot go on... ever again:

Star Wars: Star Tours was sickening. Even after taking Dramamine and closing my eyes during the entire ride I walked off completely motion sick. I remember that happening at Disney World too and I kicked myself for getting back on the ride. Like it would be different in California? NOT!! Don't even say "Star Wars" to me right now and I still get a bit dizzy. It was horrid.

I also can't ride Space Mountain again, for the same reasons. If I take Dramamine I can usually ride Roller Coasters, but with this one, it's almost totally in the dark. I can't see where we are going and that's a problem. I got off this ride quite nauseated (and apparently someone else was too because we had to step over vomit on the way out.... ick!)

However, there are plenty of other rides to go on and plenty of other things to see and do. I'm serious when I say I want to go back next year. (And I will get my picture taken with Mary Poppins!)

Unfortunately It's a Small World was closed... maybe it's a good thing so we didn't walk around singing the song incessantly.

Big Read

2008-10-14T23:35:00.005-06:00

I got this off my sister's friend's blog (now she knows I read it!) Like NY Ang and my sister, I love to read. I loved this list because there are times I sit around thinking about what book I should read next. This will be a big help to me...

The Big Read
"The Big Read reckons that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they’ve printed."1) Look at the list and bold those you have read--I bolded and changed the font color so you could actually see what I've read. 2) Italicize those you intend to read. 3) Underline the books you love. 4) Strike out the books you have no intention of ever reading, or were forced to read at school and hated. 5) Reprint this list in your own blog.

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien

3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

4 The Harry Potter Series - JK Rowling

5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

6 The Bible

7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell

9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott

12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy

13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

14 Complete Works of Shakespeare

15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks

18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger

19 The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

20 Middlemarch - George Eliot

21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell

22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens

24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll

30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens

33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis

34 Emma - Jane Austen

35 Persuasion - Jane Austen

36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis

37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres

39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne

41 Animal Farm - George Orwell

42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving

45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins

46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery

47 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

48 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding

50 Atonement - Ian McEwan

51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel

52 Dune - Frank Herbert

53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons

54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt

64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas

66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac

67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding

69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie

70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville

71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

72 Dracula - Bram Stoker

73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson

75 Ulysses - James Joyce

76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome

78 Germinal - Emile Zola

79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray

80 Possession - AS Byatt

81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker

84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White

88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom

89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton

91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery

93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks

94 Watership Down - Richard Adams

95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute

97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas

98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare

99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Our local library signed up to participate in the Big Read this year. Last year was My Antonia and this year is A Farewell to Arms. I'm glad to have this great list to choose from!!

2008-10-13T12:45:00.005-06:00

Here are some pictures of our trip to Disneyland. Click on the collage for a larger view, or you can see a lot more here.

We had such a great time!! We were sad to come home, especially since we left 97* weather and came hom to 38* and snow, yes SNOW!!! Obviously we are freezing!

We made the trip home in one day... a very long 15+ hour day. It wasn't fun, but we found we can do it and it was okay. Some things we learned on our way home...

* watch out for construction in Vegas. It's crazy!

* there weren't many Idaho drivers on the road, but they bugged me. (So did Utah drivers, but that's nothing new.)

* DON'T EAT AT THE FAZOLLI'S IN PROVO!!! It was disgusting!!

* Stop and get out every 4 hours or so, even to just go potty or walk around the car. Your legs and back and bum will thank you.

* Take your neighbor in the car with you. It makes us all be nicer to each other and keeps Calvin from stinking the car up.

We had so much fun we decided we'd like to save our money to go back next year.

WE CAN'T WAIT!!!

Free Purse!

2008-10-11T22:46:00.001-06:00

Click here to enter to win a free handbag. I checked it out and it seems genuine. Just enter your name and email address. No strings attached. Give it a go!

Wednesday Is A Special Day...

2008-10-09T00:33:00.004-06:00

... it's the day we use to rest.

We were so exhausted and sore from our previous days in the Parks that we changed our schedule. Originally, we were going to spend Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the Parks and Thursday would be spent at points beyond, seeing different parts of So. Cal. Unfortunately, there was no way we could put in another HUGE day sprinting from Indiana Jones to Space Mtn., to Haunted Mansion, so we opted for a calmer more relaxing day.

We drove to San Diego and spent a calm, relaxing (mostly) afternoon in Sea World. The atmosphere there was completely different from Disney -- in a lot of ways. Firstly, their employees haven't had the "happiness training" Disney employees have to have. Most of them were very grumpy and didn't even greet us.

Oh well. We survived because the other difference was pure bliss: The crowds were minimal. We didn't have to fight for any openings in windows to see the Beluga Whales or Polar Bears. We were able to get great seats for the Dolphin show and Shamu's Show (we got drenched by the dolphins. I'm talking ring-us-out we're sloshing in our shoes wet!! It was great!!)

There were memory making highlights of the day and one horrible low point of the day. I'll tell about the horrible moment first:

We were walking in to see the Manatee and there was a woman and her family by the entrance. The woman was big and mean and MAD!!! Her little boy had done something that put her over the top. As we walked by, she was screaming and she pushed him toward a bench and told him he needed to go sit down. We were shocked, but unsure if we needed to step in because he went to the bench by himself and she stayed behind.... or so we thought.

As we were walking into the attraction, Calvin heard her yell, "Assume the position!!" He stopped dead in his tracks, turned around and walked back out the door to see what was going to happen. I knew the woman was large and she scared me. I tried to pull him back. Thankfully, my husband is a better person than me and he's not afraid of doing what's right. Also, he could see what I couldn't....

The woman had come back to her son carrying a large belt. (Yes, all this happened in a public area!!!) When she yelled, "assume the position" it was because she was going to beat him. Calvin walked up to her and told her not to do it. She became even more angry and started screaming at my husband.

I was very scared.

Calvin, is a very calm person and he wouldn't back down. Even though she was yelling at him to leave her alone and that she could whip her own boy if she wanted, he kept talking, telling her not to do it. He even said these words to her, "You're better than this."

This woman got one whack at the boy before she felt compelled to leave. Calvin's presence had created more of a scene than she wanted, so she packed up and left. We tried to find security to see if someone could help that poor child more, but, the laid back atmosphere of the park meant there was none that we could find. We had an employee call and gave them a description, but we know nothing was done about it.

I just hope that poor child remembers that there was a man (a very good man) that stepped in on his behalf. I hope that woman remembers Calvin's words that she's better than that. I hope that I remember that doing the right thing isn't always easy, but it can save a child.

Okay, so I wanted the bad stuff done first so I can end this post (#92... I'm approaching the 100 mark!!) on a happy note:

Today I conquered a HUGE fear and pet a (drum roll please.......) STINGRAY!!! I was terrified -- scared out of my mind to touch a slimy thing in the water. But I knew that I would regret it if I didn't so I sucked up every ounce of courage I could find and stuck my hand in the water.

The first touch was (and I won't lie) DISGUSTING!! Totally and utterly slimy, squishy and horrendous. I squealed and pulled my hand out, but wanted to try it again. I was a little more brave the second time and I found out that it wasn't as slimy and squishy as I originally thought it was. No, it actually felt more like I thought it would feel. Pretty soon, you couldn't keep my hand out of the water!! One cool moment that happened was when I found an especially friendly stingray that swam right up to me and pressed against the retaining wall and poked his surprisingly cute face out of the water and looked at me. He hung out with me for what seemed like a long time before he took off. I wanted to take him home with me.

It was simply AWESOME!!!

On the way back to Anaheim, we stopped for a few minutes at the San Diego Temple and walked the grounds. I took a few pictures (with my point and shoot), talked to a patron and headed back. Calvin was pretty tired on the drive back, so I took the wheel for the first time since entering California (another proud moment. I've been pretty scared to drive here because the traffic is a lot heavier than the streets I drive).

So that's where we're at. Tomorrow is Day 3 (final day) in Disneyland. We'll head home soon.

P.S. I'm using my point and shoot camera because (and I'm soo mad!!!) the lense on my good Nikon got broken yesterday. I'm not sure how or where. It stayed in its case all day (except when in use) but it must have gotten crushed in a ride somewhere. I am so thankful that I brought both cameras along! The point and shoot isn't fabulous, but it's quite adequate and will still record the memories.

P.S.S. I almost ruined my point and shoot today. I thought I had it put somewhere safe for the Dolphin Show, but it got drenched too. The salt water made it nearly impossible to move the dial to turn the camera on and off. I worked it hard though and think I broke through the salt seal that was created.

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I'd like to give a shout out my friend, Sarah M who's new to blogging! Welcome aboard!! I can't wait to see you and the boys in a couple weeks!!

Vacation Thoughts

2008-10-08T10:06:00.003-06:00

I couldn't post yesterday. I tried, but I couldn't connect to the internet and Calvin was too asleep to help me. Oh well. This is what I was going to say:

"Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked."

You remember that Primary song, don't you?

I thought of that all day as we walked miles through California Adventure and Disneyland.

I'm pretty sure if I was a pioneer, they would have shot me and left me on the prairie.

Bloody stumps and all.

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(That's all I'm saying about that.)

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We're having a blast. It's hot and I mean HOT!! The weather guy said it was one degree short of the record high. It was 97 degrees yesterday. We came here in October for two reasons: the weather would be cooler and smaller crowds. Both reasons have been shot to heck. The heat has been horrendous!! Thank heavens for backpacks and water bottles so we could stay hydrated.
And.... the crowds have been huge as well. We're not the only school district that is having a vacation. The Arizona schools are on break right now and the crowds are summer-like. We could have come in July and had the same experience. Oh well. Thank heavens for RideMax and FastPass. The only lines we've had to wait a long time in were the rides that didn't have FastPass (and when we ditched our RideMax schedule.)

The kids are having fun anyway and haven't complained at all. The miles we've walked has to be astounding and they keep going and going. Energizer Bunny going. I'm proud of them.

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I just checked weather.com and we'll be going home to 39 degree weather with a chance of snow. There may be a slight chance we won't be going home.

I'm....

2008-10-06T23:40:00.002-06:00

too....

tired.....

to.....

blog......

Maybe tomorrow.......

(No, Devyn, we didn't lose Adam! He was a good boy and stayed right by our side all day!!!)

Alive!!

2008-10-05T22:36:00.002-06:00

Greetings from the Happiest Place on Earth!!

It's been a couple long days and more than one wrong turn, but we've made it to Anaheim and our hotel. It was an adventure getting here:

The first day of driving was the long day. We drove from our home to Mesquite, Nevada (which is longer than 4 hours). The hard part about that was the rain. It rained the entire day!!! It was irritating, annoying and down right obnoxious. I was driving when we went through Salt Lake and it was so hard to see the road in front and behind us. Add to that the large amounts of traffic (much larger amounts than what I'm used to driving in) and I was "white knuckle driving." Add to that the fact that we put Mr. Jabber-box in the far back seat of the Tahoe and I couldn't hear a word he was trying to say to me because of the amount of water hitting the top of the car and running beneath the car. Aly wanted music on, and Adam wanted to talk and I couldn't hear a darn thing. That made my knuckles a bit more white and I'm sure I gained more than a few more white hairs on my head

*Note to self: Call hair dresser when we get back for a touch-up of my highlights.

The highlight of the day was being able to talk to my friend, Kristi, for about 20 minutes as we were driving through Arm-Pit, Utah (which is about an hour north of St. George). I was amazed that we had coverage the entire time and we had a nice conversation. I'm looking forward to her visit in two weeks.

It was also nice bringing our next-door neighbor and friend, Maddie along on the trip. Her sister, lives 20 minutes from Disneyland and we decided it would be fun to bring Maddie along as a surprise. Maddie is naturally cheerful and happy and things were quite positive while she was in the car.... it's hard to fight when she's around.

(The surprise was perfect!! A. had no idea that Maddie was coming! A's hubby, B, was so good at keeping her in the dark. He had A. cook us dinner (which was delicious) but told her she was cooking for some of their friends. Unfortunately, those friends "cancelled" and they couldn't find someone else to come eat the copious amounts of food she had prepared. When we knocked on the door (with Maddie staying behind to come in a couple minutes after us), she was so excited because she had the right amount of food to feed us. She was so gracious because after greeting us, she said, "Have you had dinner? Do you want to eat with us?" The surprise was made even better when Maddie knocked on the door and came in. I will treasure the memories of that for a LONG time!)

We gave Maddie her first experience at a casino. I didn't fully realize that the hotel I booked in Mesquite was a full-on casino (it said resort, and that made me think of swimming pools and spas. I never dreamed that the resort was a casino. Oh well.) It was quite disgusting. My non-smoking room was -- of course -- full of stinky walls, bedding and ashtrays. Of course, there was no where we could be moved to! "It's Expedia's fault!" was the line Calvin got when he called to complain.

Traffic between Vegas and LA was intense. I've heard that it gets worse later on Sunday and that boggles my mind. Calvin handled it perfectly, though. I'm grateful that he is so cool under vehicular pressure. (I probably would have had a vehicular aneurysm.)

The two times we got lost was coming into Anaheim. We made our map with Google and they weren't as thorough as we expected them to be. Thankfully, there was a very nice lady in a gas station in Ontario (two things: yes, Calvin stopped and asked for directions and who knew there was an Ontario California?)
The second time we got lost was after leaving A & B's apartment. We thought we'd go on an adventure and try to find the Newport Beach Temple (I didn't know there was one!). We didn't find it, but missed our turn coming back. We ended too far east than where we were supposed to be, but thanks to a beautiful map Calvin bought at the first gas station, we figured it out.

We've seen a lot more of Southern California than we ever thought we would. It's great!! And now we're looking forward to our first day in Disneyland tomorrow.

Our goals:
to not lose Adam
to have fun
to keep Adam with us
experience as much as Disneyland as possible
whatever we do, try not to lose Adam

This is it!

2008-10-03T11:23:00.003-06:00

I really don't have time, but I'm gonna write anyway. I still have plenty to do to get ready for our trip, but I feel good in that I have a lot done.

Yesterday was high stress day. It was one of those where you wake up too early with your mind racing, going over lists, trying to organize the day. I stumbled out of bed, bleary eyed because I am not a morning person and don't like getting up. I fell into a chair at the kitchen table, a pen in hand, a piece of paper in front of me on the table. I drew an utter and complete blank. Remember all those lists that woke me up? Well, they faded to the sleepy abyss that is my brain. After a NutraGrain Bar and a glass of milk, my poor brain was able to start chugging up enough memory to create a small list of the tasks I needed to accomplish. (As the day went on, the list got longer, not shorter!)

I realized, half way through the day, that I was operating in the same high stress I did at Girl's Camp. (I cried every day while I was there, over silly things people said to me: "Adam is going to kindergarten this year?" BAWL !! "Aly is graduating in two years?" BAWL!! "Your husband almost cut his finger off!" BAWL!! It went on like that all week!) Yesterday I was on the verge of tears all day... anything set me off!! For instance, as I was folding laundry, I watched an episode of The Bonny Hunt Show which I DVR'ed earlier this week(I just love her!) Yup, I bawled over a silly segment. I bawled while watching the Today Show. I bawled over the commercial that offered free scooters for the movement impaired (can you believe these poor people that have trouble walking can get them for free?)

I re-evaluated my list and realized that I didn't have to do everything. I saved the dirty dishes for Aly. I let Calvin put his own laundry away. I had one of Adam's friends come over so I didn't have to entertain him. Those little things helped tremendously.

Today I'm going to finish it all: scoop the cat box, finish ironing so I can finish packing, vacuum, mop, make some more goodies to eat in the car, among other things.

The best part of the day will be going to watch Adam's best friend and my best friend's daughter get baptized!! We are so excited for Devyn!! I think it will be a great day for her. It's a great way to end this day and the best way to begin our vacation.

I Invaded and I Laughed

2008-09-30T23:06:00.007-06:00

At our house every Tuesday night is "Guy's Night." Aly and I usually go to Young Women which leaves the boys home alone. Calvin is a great dad and tries to build a solid relationship with the kids, individually, so Tuesday is the night he takes Adam to get ice cream. (He takes Aly to breakfast every Saturday morning.)

Tonight was a stake activity and I didn't feel like going. (The YW Pres is my next door neighbor. I yelled out the door that I felt like staying home and she gave me permission.) Since I was here, hangin with the guys, they invited me to go out with them. (Nice, eh?)

(You're guessing that I'm building up to this week's Adamism aren't you?)

So we pull into the parking lot and the car we are next to has a guy and girl in the front seat (not even sitting next to each other). Adam jumps out of our car, looks at their car and jumps back in and in a voice filled with horror and disgust whispers, "MOM!! Be careful! Those people want to suck face!" (Seriously, they were sitting so far away from each other they could have been in separate cars!)

For a moment I felt like Inigo Montoya talking to the Sicilian:

I couldn't get out of the car for about 2 minutes while I laughed.

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I went to the doctor today about my lung pain. It has all but gone away, but I wanted to make sure that I was okay before I drive 900 miles away. Who wants to be sick in the Happiest Place on Earth?!?!
He was quite perplexed and couldn't really make a diagnosis for me. His initial thought was a blood clot (eeeek!!), but due to the fact that I'm still upright and breathing, he crossed that off his list. He thinks I diagnosed myself correctly (pleurisy), but wants me to watch things closely until we leave. There is a slight chance that I "blew a gasket" (not doctor verbiage) when I sneezed last week. What that means is that when I sneezed I could have exploded a little lung sack or something like that. (Due to the fact I never attended medical school, I don't know all the technical terms and I can't remember what he called this condition.) That does have the potential to be dangerous, so I will be very careful over the next few days. If it starts hurting again, I have to have an x-ray, which I don't want to pay for. However, I remain optimistic that all is well and that my pleurisy is on the mend.

I Is a Stoodent!

2008-09-28T21:41:00.002-06:00

I usually hate going to the mail box. In fact, I only go once a week or less. There is never anything worthwhile in my mailbox. Pile after pile of credit card apps, a bill or two and a few charities asking for money I don't have.

This week I got something cool. The university I applied to (hint: it's located in my town) sent me a letter of acceptance. I am now a student!! Granted, I'm considered a non-traditional student and I can't take more than 6 credits at a time, but heck, I can't do more than that and still be a mom anyway.

I'm very happy.

And excited.

I plan on taking a photography class. (A real photography class. Not like that one I took through Continuing Education last year.) I will be enrolled in January 2009.

It Stings!!

2008-09-28T21:10:00.008-06:00

Poor Adam.

We went to P. Reservoir yesterday to take some autumn themed family pictures and in one of our adventures, he fell into a thicket of Stinging Nettle.

(Thicket seemed the most appropriate word when referring to the amount of Stinging Nettle there was. The last time I saw it was when we lived in Oregon and there was only a plant or two. This was a field full of the stuff. On the bright side, now we can identify it if we see it again!)

Today, he is fine. He had a slight rash this morning when he woke up, but tonight all evidence of his mishap has disappeared!!

(I took pictures because we weren't sure at first what he had gotten in to. We were concerned that we might have to take him to a clinic or something and we needed to document the injury.)

***********************************************

We got one really great picture (I might be saving it for C'mas cards). Unfortunately, the trees weren't as colorful as I anticipated. We did find a cute little creek and I wanted to try a "water picture."

This was cute of Aly and Calvin, but I couldn't get one of the family together. I'm just not fast enough to push the timer button and run into the middle of a cold, slimy rock creek. You can see how close I got. Oh well, we tried!!

Breathe In.... NOT

2008-09-28T20:58:00.002-06:00

I can't breathe.

Okay, I guess I can a little bit. (Obviously.) But it hurts!!

I have a spot in my left lung that feels like I've got a really sharp stick poking out. As long as I take short little puffs of air in, then that big pokey thing doesn't hurt. But if I have to... say... sneeze, cough or even burp, (all of which requires a large intake of air) then watch out! That pokey stick feels like it's ready to break through my skin! The sneeze is swallowed, the cough sputters and the burp, well, it doesn't live up to my reputation! (It turns more into a Kristi size burp. Not that I knock Kristi's burps. Heavens!! When I first met Kristi, she didn't even know how! I'll take what I can get from her!!)

**sidenote: Happy birthday to Kristi this week!!

I have my suspicions on what I might have but I'll go to the doctor first to make sure. Let's hope I can get in tomorrow. In the meantime, take a LARGE cleansing breath in for me, will you?

I miss breathing!!

Happy Birthday

2008-09-27T08:42:00.005-06:00

I was a child in the 70's. I was a girl in the 70's.

That means I knew and LOVED Shaun Cassidy. I had his records and I had his posters. I watched Hardy Boys religiously. I also watched re-runs of The Patridge Family because that was Shaun's mom and half brother on the show! (DUH!!)

That feathered hair....

Those big brown eyes....

His deep sultry voice.... (well that's what I thought when I was 11)

He was as cute as Andy Gibb and Leif Garrett!!

Today is Shaun Cassidy's 50th birthday!!

Dude!!! He's old enough to join AARP!!!

It's Missing!

2008-09-23T23:03:00.004-06:00

**Editor's Note: Before I get into the heart of this post, I have to say thanks to those who gave me their advice (or just said hi) to my request for Disneyland help. I have taken notes and will use this information when I sign up for Ridemax. I would still love any advice that you think of...
(Hi April! Of course it's okay that you come visit here! Please feel free to leave comments!!)

Moving on ------

I hesitate to even post this Adam-ism. Is it appropriate? Hardly. Is it funny? Hilarious. But since I have plans to eventually print off all my blog postings into a memory book for my kids, I kind of feel like I have to include this. This one is a whopper:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This morning Adam came running to me after a trip to the bathroom. He was in panic mode.

"MOM!!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT? MY BUM HAS A HOLE IN IT!!!!"

(In my 40 years of living, I can say that I don't think I have ever had a conversation like this!)

When Adam is totally serious and dramatic like this, it pays to keep a straight face. I can get so much more information from him when I act like I'm taking him seriously. So, I swallow my laugh, take him on my lap and in a concerned voice say, "Oh really?....." (It's really hard not to laugh. Really hard.)

"Why do you think your bum has a hole?"

Adam is feeling the shock and the horror of his realization. You can tell in the way he answers (which I can't convey in written word. Too bad.) "That's where my poop comes out!"

I can't help it!! A little snicker erupts from my closed lips. I have to close my eyes to compose myself. I've resorted to one syllable grunts.

"Mmmmm....... Hmmmm......."

"And do you know what else, Mom?"

Tears are leaking out of my eyes. He's so serious and I'm a ticking bomb..... Hopefully he thinks I'm crying because of his damaged bum. He doesn't fully understand that people can laugh so hard they cry.

"What else, Adam?"

"The crack in my bum is...... missing!!! The hole took it away!!"

(I can hardly type. Remembering this conversation has wracked me with convulsive laughter!)

My poor boy!!

In spite of my amusement, I grow concerned. HOW DID HE FIND THAT HOLE IN HIS BUM?

I had to ask.

He answered me in a tone of voice that made me feel like the dumbest potato in the sack...."A mirror!" ---Like every person in the world should just put his bum up to a mirror and check it out!

The thing about my boy is that he is a sharing kid. He tells stories to anyone who will give him a kind look. His Primary teacher knows more about our house than I do! When I pass her in the hall at church, she snickers and looks away. He prays about our family in Sharing Time. My visiting teacher (who is the primary pianist) calls frequently and says, "I was calling to see how ____ is," because Adam was praying for it.

I can only imagine what his kindergarten teacher thinks. Did he go to school today and announce his deformity? I'll know tomorrow when I volunteer in class. If the teacher and her aid can't look me in the eye, then I'll know.

The secret is out!!

(Of course, when Calvin got home from work, Adam had to tell him his horror story. When he finished, Calvin looked at me, eyebrows raised, curious look on his face. I don't think he believed that Adam was having a serious conversation. I just shrugged my shoulders and walked away. My stomach muscles couldn't handle suppressing that much laughter again.)

Your Opinion, Please

2008-09-22T11:50:00.003-06:00

I know I have a lot of lurkers here on my blog.

My sitemeter tells me that I have a lot of visitors even though most don't leave comments. While I love getting comments, just the fact that you want to visit is okay. Well, today I'm going to ask you to come out of the shadows for just a moment --

(Believe me, I'm a lurker too!)

Here's what I'm looking for. I want you to tell me what your favorite part of Disneyland is. When you go, what do you have to do every single time?

For example, I have a friend that said I need to get a Mint Julep from the French Quarter. I didn't even know there was a French Quarter!!!

Another friend told us to eat at the Golden Horseshoe and watch the show they put on. Okay. We can do that.

Someone told us to buy a membership to ridemax.com where they make an itinerary for us to maximize our ride time and reduce line waits. I would love to do that, but I'm not sure what rides are a must (Indiana Jones?)

Your expert opinion means a lot to me.

Now, you can go back to lurking.

(I allow anonymous comments here, although it would be fun to see your first name!)

Adam's Moment

2008-09-21T23:30:00.005-06:00

I think Adam is going to be the one kid of mine that likes to cook. Today we had my niece, Sarah's, best friend Caroline over for dinner (she's attending the University here) and Adam wanted to help peel the potatoes.

He climbed on the counter (his favorite spot in the kitchen), grabbed the peeler and got busy. He was so proud of himself! And he did a GREAT job!

(It was HIS idea that I take pictures. He was peeling and said, "Hey mom! I think you need to get your camera and take a picture of me!" And you know me... I never turn down and opportunity to snap a photo. Especially with such a willing subject!)

Calm & Quiet

2008-09-21T22:35:00.006-06:00

I guess when you're faced with a major family vacation, the weekends leading up to it are fairly calm and quiet -- like this weekend was for us.

(Disneyland = 2 weeks from today!!!)

It rained on Saturday (a delightful thunderstorm), and that relieved Aly of mowing the lawn. She was soooo disappointed....

....NOT!!

(But she still had to

do dishes and clean the bathroom.)

The HIGHLIGHT of the weekend was being able to spend an evening with my brother Greg

and his family. They were here visiting from the glorious state of Colorado. Greg is one funny (and gassy) dude! We enjoyed a delightful barbecue (in the rain) and a crazy game of Rummy played with Rook cards.... an old family tradition.

Greg's son, Logan and Adam had a blast reconnecting. Little boys (aged 7 and 6 respectively) are amazing. All you have to do is give them a spoon and a crayon (or a couple brillo blocks) and they can imagine super heroes, villains and whole villages that need saved. The only time they came up for air was when one of the superhero boys, in the act of saving someone important, accidentally knocked a bottle of Famous Dave's BBQ sauce off the shelf in the storage room. A quick clean up and they were back to battling bad guys.

(Both boys, in anticipation of seeing each other said to their parents, "I wonder if Logan/Adam will recognize me because I grew so much and lost some teeth!" It's only been 10 months since they've seen each other!)

Another highlight of the weekend was Calvin and my first ballroom dance class. It was HILARIOUS!!! Calvin has no rhythm... seriously. I love the guy, but after about three claps on the beat, he's lost it.

I, on the other hand, have zero coordination skills. I can keep a beat til the cows come home (as long as I'm not clapping along with Calvin), but I trip over my feet ... standing still.

We make a GREAT dance team!

The teachers, a cute little married couple who LOVE to dance kept watching us and giving us encouraging glances and thumbs up... but you could read in their eyes that there is no hope.

Well, we'll show them!!!

This week we're going to move the coffee table out of the living room and practice the cha-cha til our feet are bloody stubs. AND WE CAN DO IT TOO!!!

Until you turn on the music and we have to find the beat...

and then start dancing.

(Sorry, no pictures of dance class!)

Glimpses

2008-09-18T09:30:00.003-06:00

How many of us are anxiously waiting the 63 days until the release of the Twilight movie? Too many to count, I'm sure.

I was perusing YouTube and found this vid. First of all, I LOVE the re-do of the Bee Gee's song How Deep is Your Love. I don't usually like remakes, but I actually think this one is better! Secondly, I just liked the small clips of the movie. It's fun to watch. (Aly is going to be so jealous that I found this before she did!)

**Editor's Note: I originally thought the song was by Olivia Newton John and was "gently" reminded (coughs into hand) that it was BeeGees that sang it. Please forgive my memory lapse!

I Heart....

2008-09-16T23:35:00.011-06:00

Lately, it's been very difficult to remain positive. I've been watching waaay too much news and all the negativity that is surrounding the election has finally driven me to be very grumpy! To combat this horrible influence in my life I have made the decision to lay off all news reports regarding Obama's pig in lipstick and Palin shooting 460,000 caribou from a moving helicopter. I've also decided to dedicate one of my posts to everything I *heart*. (This list is not inclusive, these are things that come to my tired mind late at night. If I haven't put your picture on here, please don't take it personally. I tried to find you Google Image Search and couldn't.)

Here's my list (in no particular order):

I *heart* Jack in the Box Chocolate Milk Shakes. Yes, with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

When I need some serious salt, I *heart* Gardetto's (but I don't heart the little dark brown pieces).

I *heart* Disneyland. We're going there in 19 days!! (Adam is counting.)

I *heart* the mountains of Montana

I *heart* silly teenage girls who wear big earrings

I *heart* little boys that sleep with their eyes wide open

I *heart* bald guys that want to take me dancing (and sometimes get food stuck in their teeth)

I *heart* good parents who love me even though I don't mop my floors as often as I should

I *heart* sisters. 'Nuff said.

I *heart* brothers who teach me everything I needed to know about hard rock

I don't *heart* fall, but I *heart* that there is plenty of fresh Candy Corn available this time of year!

I *heart* blogging. Cuz it lets me work through my frustrations and helps me remember to be happy.

And I *heart* my camera even though I still don't know how to use it properly (I put my application to the University in the mail today!! I'm going to take a photography class during winter semester.)

Isn't She Lovely?!?

2008-09-13T22:41:00.007-06:00

A warning to all mothers of young daughters:

BE PREPARED!!! This will happen one day to you too!!

(So please don't make fun of the tears that were in my eye as she walked out the door!)

My Friend Helen

2008-09-13T14:39:00.006-06:00

My dear friend, Helen, passed away this week. She bravely fought cancer for a year before it became too much for her.

I met Helen for the first time two years ago when our wards were split and I became a new member of her ward. Changing wards was very difficult for me and my neighbors. We were members of a great ward with a great bishop. Our neighborhood was split in half with some being left in the previous ward and about 20 families sent on to revitalize the new ward. I was able to keep my visiting teaching companion, (we have been together for more than 7 years) and we accepted our new sisters with trepidation -- could we love these new ladies as much as we loved the ones we were leaving behind?

Helen was one of those ladies. And I quickly learned that yes, I can love this new lady as much, if not more.

I still remember the first time we went to her house. The door was flung open, the biggest, sweetest smile greeted us with an enthusiastic, "Come in!! Come in!!" offered. We sat down in her formal living room and began to get acquainted. Helen was cheerful, and it was a cheer that radiated from within. Helen was one of those people that rarely let a frown cross her face.

I loved her immediately.

We enjoyed visiting with her that first year. She loved the lessons and attentively listened, even though she was the education counselor in Relief Society and had read the lesson a gazillion times already. We had many gospel centered conversations and Helen bore her testimony countless times to us. She was one of those who knew and lived the gospel.

Helen loved Adam. There were several times that I had to take him with us to her house. She welcomed him with hugs and always found a chair just the right size for him to sit in. She always had a stash of candy ready for him. Helen had traveled all over the world and collected many antique musical instruments. If Adam was admiring any, she'd get up, take it down from the shelf and let him blow in it or bang on it. This made me very nervous because it was irreplaceable, but she'd tell me to relax and that she wanted him to play it!! Helen loved my boy and my boy loved her.

The second year of our acquaintance, Helen noticed that her hip was in pain. She went to the doctor and was diagnosed with cancer. It was no surprise that she greeted this news with optimism. She wasn't finished living yet and she was going to beat it!! She immediately started treatment. It was hard for her, but she didn't lose the sparkle in her eye or the smile on her face. But we could see that she was getting tired and her hips really hurt. She maintained her calling as RS 1st counselor and did the best she could. Eventually, it became too difficult and painful to attend church. This broke her heart.

All the while we kept visiting her. Our visits became more and more frequent because she needed us. As she became bed ridden (Thanksgiving last year) my companion and I began take dinner to her on a weekly basis. Helen became entrenched in my life. I have visited with her almost every week for the past year. She became my friend and my sister, a grandma figure to me and my son. Every week we would hug, and express our love for each other.

Helen finally slipped away in her sleep on Thursday. She died about 3 hours before I was going to visit her. I have cried a lot. I will miss her, really miss her. She has changed my life and (I hope) made me a better person -- and I don't say that lightly. Helen has written about a hundred million life histories of people she knew and loved (slight exaggeration.... she has written about 20) which has inspired me to make sure I have stories written down from my life and my children's life, so that when it becomes time, I can get it in a book.

I know that she is happy now and without pain. I rejoice that she has been reunited with her dear "mama" who passed away when Helen was 7. I am so happy that she is with her sister and best friend, Maxine. Neither of them were married and they were roommates for most of their adult life. She missed Maxine terribly after she died (from cancer as well).

Here is her obituary:

Helen
1926 - 2008
Helen, 81, of *****, died Sept. 11, 2008, at Assisted Living after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born Oct. 3, 1926, to Egon and Anna in Blackfoot. She attended schools in Blackfoot. She was the first female student body president of Blackfoot High School. She attended Utah State University and served as executive president of Lambda Delta Sigma her senior year. She graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics. She later earned her Master of Science degree from Oregon State University. She started her teaching career in Rigby. She began teaching at Ricks College in 1953 and worked there until she retired 35 years later. In 1996, Ricks College renamed a women's dorm after Helen. She was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served a mission in Denmark. She also held many positions, such as Relief Society President. She loved spending time with her family and friends. She lived most of her life with her sister Maxine. She and her sisters loved to travel. She also enjoyed writing family histories. Helen is survived by her brothers Fred and Egon (Connie) and nephew Jerry (MarLynn), all of Idaho Falls, and niece Connie (Dan) Baker of Orem, Utah. She was preceded in death by her parents, Egon and Anna, stepmother, Gretel, and her sisters Katherine and Maxine. Funeral services will be held at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the North Stake center. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 10 to 11:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Burial will be in the Grove City Cemetery in Blackfoot.

Something's Definitely Wrong...

2008-09-11T11:55:00.002-06:00

... when I get excited to fill my car at $3.85 a gallon.

Something's definitely wrong when I get excited that it cost under $90 to fill the tank of my Tahoe.

Gratitude

2008-09-11T11:49:00.002-06:00

Thanks for the words of advice regarding Adam and school. I now realize that I just need to give it time and let the teacher get into a rhythm. After volunteering in his class yesterday, I saw that there is certainly a wide variety of ability levels in his class. I'm sure there will be a great schedule for him sometime after Potato Harvest Vacation. (This year it's Oct. 6 thru the 15th.)

You're awesome!! Thanks again!

T.B.

2008-09-09T22:01:00.003-06:00

(T.B. = Tired Buns)

The conversation Adam and I had today after school:

"Hey, buddy! I'm glad you're home!! How was school today?"

**heavy sigh**

"It was soooo boring. All you do is sit on your butt ALL DAY!!!!!!!"

A few hours later, here is Adam's nighttime prayer:

"Please bless me to be good....
Please bless Aly to be nice at school....
Please bless that I won't have to sit on my butt all day at school...."

Apparently the newness of kindergarten has worn off.

Apparently Adam forgot that "butt" is not an acceptable word.

Apparently, there's not enough going on in kindergarten to keep his attention. I don't think he's being challenged enough, which can be a problem for an active, creative young boy. Right now his class is just learning the alphabet -- how to recognize and write the letter.

Adam knows all of it. He's reading --not Harry Potter, but he's putting 3 & 4 letter words together! He needs more. He will stay on task and stay sitting in his chair if he's given something difficult to work on. Learning what the letter "B" looks like is not challenging!

I don't write all this to brag. Heavens no!! It's just been 11 years since I had a kid in kindergarten and I don't know what's correct protocol. Do I bug the teacher for harder more stimulating work? I can't believe he's the only kid in class that knows the alphabet, am I the only whiny mom?

I'm hoping that Kristi, my dear 1st grade teacher friend, will weigh in with her opinion on this. Also, Thorkgal is heavily entrenched in an elementary school as the librarian, so I'm hoping she'll have some thoughts. I welcome any other thoughts that might be out there--

I Need A Paper Bag

2008-09-07T22:58:00.002-06:00

cuz I'm in hyperventilation mode!!!!

Okay, Chelli, calm down.

AUGH!!!! GASP!!! ARGH!!!

I'm all wigged out because I just purchased a non-refundable room in a hotel for Disneyland. For most people this is no big deal. For me, it's HUGE!!!

I'm a tightwad when it comes to certain things and I hate putting down a chunk of change for something I've never seen before. Especially money that I have no hope of receiving back if things change and we can't go on this trip.

It's been almost 31 years since I've been to So. CA and Disneyland (for the math challenged, that means I went in December 1977). I was in elementary school. Certainly things have changed since we were there.

Okay, breathe deeply!!

I reserved rooms in the Holiday Inn, which got great reviews in all the websites I checked out. The rates were actually very reasonable. It's just that NON-REFUNDABLE word that is flashing in my brain. It's lingering. I'm sure I'll have nightmares of a dollar sign ($) chasing me through the city streets screaming, "I'M NON-REFUNDABLE!!! I'M NON-REFUNDABLE!!! MUWAAAHAHAHA!!"

(I'm dramatic that way.)

I love going places and I'm very excited (really I am!!) to take the family to the Happiest Place on Earth. The kids are thrilled and Calvin is too. I should have made him make the reservations, but he's so busy and stressed with his job that I needed to bear this burden. I also have to find and purchase the Park Hopper Passes (obviously the cheapest way possible), so I'll be stressing out again soon.

Does anyone else freak out like this? Or am I the only travel-drama-queen?

I promise I'm excited to go!! It's going to be great fun!

2008-09-07T17:40:00.002-06:00

Can you handle one more video of my family?

This one is of Aly. She was invited to Homecoming by a boy in Utah. He sent up a package with some goodies along with the dance invitation. She and I made this video in response:

David Cook? Nah! Not Even Close!

2008-09-06T13:50:00.004-06:00

My boy sings Bohemian Rhapsody on the new American Idol Wii game:

Silly Saturday

2008-09-06T13:18:00.001-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLlGbbeheek

A Hodge Podge of Thoughts

2008-09-05T23:15:00.003-06:00

This week has been kind of a blur. I can't believe the last post I made was on Monday... and here it is Friday! I don't have any one specific thing to write about and I'm not feeling very creative or "fluffy" enough to write about nothing and make it interesting. (Actually, I'm feeling very tired today -- ZERO energy levels!!) I've got a hodge podge of things running (sluggishly) through my brain cells:

My weekly date with Calvin was last night at the East Idaho State Fair. We look forward to the fair each year. It's a big deal here in Eastern Idaho. People from riles amound make the pilgrimage to Blackfoot to eat greasy/unhealthy fair food, go to concerts, muck around in animal barns and ride the unsafe rides in the midway. We (personally) go to eat greasy/unhealthy fair food -- HELLO tiger ears and caramel apples!! We also love to hang out at the back end of the animal stalls... well it's the only end available to hang out in!! It's always a game to see if we can run away fast enough when a tail gets lifted. And believe me, a lot of tails were moving last night as we walked by! We don't usually go to the concerts (Poison was last night) and I have a personal mission to never allow my family to sit on any ride that can be taken down and stored in a truck at the end of the week. So no roller coaster rides for us!! Instead of concerts and the midway, we spend the rest of our time people watching.

THAT'S a treat!!

Holy cow! there is a plethora of "interesting" people in this part of our state! (Do I dare say "redneck?") I live in a very conservative part of the state. Most of the residents here are LDS (90%) and we live in the most republican county in the country, so when we leave our little haven it's always shocking. There were tattoos, and earrings. I saw waaay too much cleavage -- both on top and bottom. **cringe** (I wanted to shout, "pull up your pants and cover your chest you 14 year old!")

To be honest, I would LOVE to take my camera and just sit and take photos of all the interesting faces I see. I could fill a book.

Maybe another year.

Bullies in school
My boy was pushed around in the bathroom at school yesterday. That bugs me. Why do they let kindergartners share a bathroom with 4th graders? I still don't know all the details, but I'm going to keep an eye on things and if they get bad, I'm going to play "Mama Bear" and growl at the principle. He's already on my short list for not okaying a crossing guard at a very busy corner by the school. He thinks there's not enough kids walking to warrant the expense, but I counted 13 kids that crossed that street in the 5 minutes I stood there. I think if there were 5 kids, that's enough to pay someone minimum wage for 1/2 hour a day -- yes it would probably be me. I tend to gravitate toward those kind of jobs.

Homecoming
When you start school the middle of August, Homecoming comes up quickly. It's next week for our school. Aly was invited to the dance today. She's very excited. She's made a friend (a boy) in Utah and his dad is driving him up so he can take her to the dance. Did I mention how excited she is?

American Idol
Yes, we're fans. It's the only show on TV that we watch as a family (don't you miss the days of Happy Days and Little House on the Prairie?) We love it and clear our schedules in the spring so nothing interrupts our viewing of this show. Yesterday on the way to the fair, Calvin and I stopped at Best Buy and while we were browsing, we came upon the American Idol Wii game. We don't usually splurge like this.... but we bought it.

HOLY COW IT'S A FUN GAME!!!

Tonight we played it (as a family) for something like 3 1/2 hours. Yes, even Calvin "chimed" in and he and I competed against each other. It was hilarious as we tried to goof each other up so we'd sing off-key. It was also hilarious listening to Randy, Paula and Simon (real voices) critique us. Even when we stunk (most of the time) the judges were quite complimentary. Simon was even ... (gasp) NICE!! (The game has to be rigged. When Adam sang --quite off key-- there was no criticism. It just led him back to the song list to make a different choice.) This game is like Karaoke on steroids. It was fun!!

Step out of our comfort zone
Today Calvin signed us up for beginner ballroom dance classes. I think it's sweet, but I can tell you right now that we'll be the comedy relief for the class. I used to enjoy this style of dancing. I even took "social dance" when I attended Ricks College and did fairly well. However, more than 20 years have passed since then, with little or no dancing in all that time. My right foot has gradually morphed into a left and now I dance with two left feet!! Calvin's not known for his amazing rhythmic abilities (believe me I'm being kind), and that's why I'm scared. We'll be quite a show!!

The reality is that it's very sweet (maybe even romantic?) of my hubby to want to spend time with me like that. It's a nice break from our normal activities. Thanks Calvin for a great idea!! (Not that he ever reads this.)

How Was Your Weekend?

2008-09-01T19:02:00.027-06:00

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our weekend (I ended up with over 300 on my camera)! It started out nice (weather wise) but ended on a very cold note (as you will see). We enjoyed spending time with Mom & Dad and Chrissy who came up from Utah. Thanks everyone for fun, good food and great laughs!

Sunset over Hebgen Lake

Getting ready for our Sunday afternoon "walk"

Wildflowers picked by Adam for his Mommy

(The temperature reader says 38*!)

In Memoriam

2008-08-28T11:39:00.005-06:00

It's the Labor Day Weekend, which is the "official" end of summer. For my family, it was a crazy, busy and fast summer. I can't believe it's over and I refuse to let it go quietly. As long as the sun is shining and the temps stay reasonably warm, we will still be outside, enjoying each other's company and making good family memories.

In Memoriam of Summer of 2008, I have created a slide show of a few of the things we were able to participate in as a family. We had fun and (dare I say) we lived our family motto of

"Making Memories"

Visual DNA

2008-08-27T17:38:00.002-06:00

Thanks Thorkgal for this! It was fun! (But it was so hard to decide on one particular picture. There were times it seemed there were multiple choices for me. I could probably go back and do it again and have a complete different profile.)

Aunts and Uncles

2008-08-25T12:57:00.006-06:00

We finally got Calvin's Aunt Terry & Uncle Jared out on the boat. They are so extremely busy (Jared is Stake Pres.) that we felt like it was nothing short of a miracle that we got them out with us. It was a great day. I think they enjoyed their time and they enjoyed having a few hours to rest and relax.

While we were out there, we ran into my friend Amber who was hanging with some friends. She ditched them for a while and hung out with us.

Tale As Old As Time:

2008-08-25T12:03:00.005-06:00

Not-so-popular girl (Samantha) has a crush on the unattainable "jock" (Jake Ryan) who happens to be the cutest boy in the school. Jake has a girlfriend who is the most popular/beautiful girl in the school (Caroline).

Not only is this the story line for the movie Sixteen Candles, but it is also the scenario for just about every girl in Jr. High.

Of course, I had the same experience. It was 8th grade. My Jake was the cutest thing I had ever seen since I changed school districts in 6th grade. I fell deeply and madly in love. Jake and I shared our English class together and we were friends. However, there was no way I could compete with Caroline (said with a sneer). She was (obviously) a cheerleader and apparently the only pretty girl in our school. Everyone wanted to be like Caroline!! I only wanted Jake to like me. But.....it wasn't to be. Caroline was the school darling until she moved after our 9th grade year. (There's a big, traumatic, dramatic, jr. high girly story that should go along with this, but I am choosing to keep it to myself today.)

I hoped to never have to compete with or see her again.

Flash forward 4 years.

It's the summer Calvin and I are dating. We'd been together every weekend since our first date in March. I felt committed. I didn't date anyone else. I assumed Calvin felt the same.

HA!!!

Imagine my shock when Calvin told me that he knew Caroline, that she worked with him, and he had gone out on a date with Caroline's best friend, because he wanted to see if he could get a date WITH CAROLINE!!!

AUGH!!!

How could this happen? I thought I was finished with her!! All those old, un-Christlike feelings resurfaced and I was mad.

Calvin, unlike Jake, saw the light. He realized he loved me and we got engaged shortly after. I still held bitter feelings, but tried to bury them because -- after all -- I got my man!

Fast forward 20+ years. We got married, moved away from our college town, moved out of state, and eventually ended up living back in our college town.

20 years have gone by!! 20 years of life, love, kids. Good times and not so good times. 20 years should be long enough to squelch all those bad feelings. Right?

WRONG!!!

I went to work out at Curves this morning and THERE IS CAROLINE!!! She lives here!! In the same town!!! And yes, I still don't like her!! How can this be? Am I out of Jr. High or not?!?!

There is no big moral to this story. I guess it shows how shallow I still am and how much I have to grow as a person. Yes, it looks like I still need to grow up.

Can I please just graduate from Jr. High?

Again!?!?

2008-08-23T09:40:00.002-06:00

Smiley Pants

2008-08-20T16:58:00.002-06:00

After my sad day today, here's a little chuckle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO_BnsrWMnI

A Blithering Idiot

2008-08-20T12:17:00.002-06:00

.... that's what I am.

I just dropped Adam off for his first day of kindergarten. I had hoped that I wouldn't cry, especially in front of my kid who was so excited to go. But when I walked in, there stood a friend who's boy is in Adam's class. She gave me these sad puppy dog eyes and said, "Adam is in kindergarten already?"

...and I lost it.

I had to walk out of the room to compose myself, which I was able to do in a relatively short amount of time. By the time I got back, Adam was already immersed in his new kindergarten activities. I had to drag him reluctantly back to me, to give him a kiss good-bye and remind him that I'll pick him up when school is over.

"See ya, Mom!" and he was off.

It's as it should be.

I drove home and bawled... still am.

A lot of people relish the beginning of the school year. They can't wait to get the kids back to school and back to routine. I can appreciate that.

However, I get lonely when the kids leave. The house becomes too quiet. Yelling at the cat and talking to the dog just don't leave me with a satisfied feeling. I turn on the radio for noise, and even listening to Cook and Archuletta sing don't fulfill me (although they are like a small band aid). Oh, I'll get over it soon enough. I'm sure it's worse today because this summer has been so incredibly busy, with so much to do and not enough time. In about a week I will appreciate the 2 1/2 hours I have to get on top of the housework. I will enjoy having that time to work on getting our adoption folder updated (yes, we're still working on finding a child). I might sign up for some classes at the university here in town or the vocational college in IF.

I'll fill my time with worthwhile activities, but for today, I just miss my kids.

Smooth Kindergarten Face

2008-08-19T10:12:00.002-06:00

As we were driving home from the cabin Sunday evening, Adam announced from the back seat, "Mom and Dad, I think I need a shaving kit."

Knowing this was going to be a serious conversation for my six year old, I didn't laugh and asked him why.

"Because sometimes I get those tickley things on my face, like Daddy gets."

Okaaaayyy....?

I told him, in as serious a voice as I could muster, that the next time he grows some tickely wiskers, to alert me and we'll see what kind of razor he needs.

The alert came last night. We were driving home from his friend Devyn's house and he announced from the back seat, "MOM!! I have some wiskers on my cheek and I'll need to shave them when I get home!" I shushed Aly who was giggling madly in the seat next to me and told him that we'd have a look when we got home (we were driving through construction on the hiway, so I couldn't pull over to feel them.) That pacified him for about two minutes and then he said...

"Mom, I don't need to shave yet. I was able to brush the wiskers off my cheek!"

(He was eating popcorn.)

My Kids

2008-08-17T22:09:00.005-06:00

Aly's best friend, Kristi, is moving to Israel for a year. Her dad got an appointment to work at the BYU Jersualem Center. We'll certainly miss Kristi and hope they have a safe adventure! (This is Kristi's second chance to live there. She was lucky enough to be baptized in the Jordan River the first time they were there.)

**********************************

Adam recently had his 6th birthday and I haven't had the opportunity yet to take his birthday picture. We went to Montana this weekend and while we were playing in a lake, I said to him, "Hey Adam! I haven't taken your birthday picture yet. Let's see if we can get one now!" This is the result:

Which one should I frame and put on my wall?!?

What's a Chukar?

2008-08-16T00:29:00.004-06:00

According to Wikipedia, it's an "upland gamebird in the pheasant family." (Do you know how many people don't know what a pheasant is? I happen to know what they are because when I was 5 my dad hunted them. I have a picture of myself and my seester holding the dead bird upside down by it's feet. Obviously I was too young to appreciate the gross factor of that moment.)

It's also the name of our local semi-pro baseball team.

This week we finally went to a game. Chrissy has been encouraging us for some time to go. She goes to Orem Owlz games frequently and loves it and knew that we would have fun if we went to a local game. So when Jackie called and said, "Do you want to go?" we immediately said "OF COURSE!"

Chrissy, of course, was right. We had a great time. The weather was perfect -- not too hot or cold. We bought hot dogs, and ate them under the stadium lights. The kids goofed off and yelled at the chukar mascot. They made friends with the other kids sitting close by. After the game ended, they opened up the field to the little kids, so A & D ran, and ran and ran around the bases!! Even Aly came and had fun (she had to put down Breaking Dawn to come, but I think she survived.)

I have to say the highlight of the evening was when a foul ball was hit straight at us, and we ducked just in time. It ended up belting Dave right in his hip! The poor guy (I'm sure) has a HUGE bruise and he didn't even get the ball! It bounced so hard it ended up at the end of the row behind us.

After the game, as we were walking out of the stadium, some guy (who I believe worked for the team) walked up to Adam and said something to the effect of, "No boy should go home from a baseball game without a ball," and handed him a ball from the game. Adam was thrilled to say the least.

HEY SMELLY CHELLI....

2008-08-16T00:13:00.008-06:00

...WHATCHYA BEEN DOING WITH ALL THAT SPARE TIME NOW THAT GIRL'S CAMP IS OVER!?!?

Well, let me tell ya, I've been honing a new craft...

...a new skill, if you will.

While at camp I learned how to crochet and recycle.

You may say,

"HUH?!? Wuddya mean?"

Well, you just sit yerself back and let me show ya!

This here is a bag I crochet'd (how do you spell crochet in past tense??) using plastic grocery bags!! Yup, the Walmart and Associated Food Stores kind.

Adam loves it, cuz he uses it for a scripture bag. He thinks it's the coolest thing since Spiderman got webs... and that's pretty durned cool! (Poor Adam doesn't realize that this is my first bag, so it's not a very good job. But I'm not going to tell him!) :-)

Waterlot of Fun

2008-08-12T22:25:00.005-06:00

For YW tonight we had a "We're Not Ready To Give Up Summer" water party. (ONE WEEK TIL SCHOOL STARTS! UGH!) We went to my friend Jana's. She has an amazingly HUGE back yard with a great hill. They have connected a tall slide to to huge sheet of plastic, turned on hoses and made a really fun water slide.

My fear of heights wouldn't allow me to go from the top of the slide (even though the girls gave me huge amounts of encouragement and support --so much support that I finally told them to SHUT UP!!). I started at the bottom of the slide and went down. Apparently I went really slow, even though I felt like I was zooming out of control (it's all about perspective) and they teased me for being a wimp, but I had fun.

(Thanks, Jana, for your help!)

Ahhh...

2008-08-11T11:19:00.012-06:00

We had a great week with Keara. It seems like we were constantly on the move. There was something to be done, every day of the week. Who knew that we lived in such an exciting area? Well, to be truthful, we didn't do anything here in town. There's nothing here but Walmart and it's not even Super! (Keara, however, doesn't have Walmart close to her, so she was excited to go there -- once.) But there is, I found out, plenty to do within a couple hour's drive of home.

My poor skin was assaulted by the sun on almost every occasion and I fear I'm thisclose to more wrinkles, more freckles and the ever dreaded "sun damage" -- whatever that is. But it was worth it. Keara is a fun girl, so polite and incredibly patient with an almost 6 year old cousin that constantly assaulted her with, "Keara, guess what.....?"

Her mom arrived last night (after spending a WONDERFUL week with her sisters in Wyoming) and they left this morning. We're a sad house today. We miss her.

THANKS KEARA FOR A FANTASTIC WEEK!!

Lagoon, here we come!!

We found some cool Hannah Montana stuff at the mall.
Swimming @ Heise with our friend Maddie

Floating @ Mack's Inn (we saw a bull moose!!)

We spent a day in Jackson Hole and had a blast!! We rode the Alpine Slide, spent some time in town (w/ Sasquatch) and drove the Gros Ventre road which allowed us to see two more bull moose and a herd of buffalo jumping fences. Who knew buffalo could jump a fence?

Pointing out the "sleeping Indian" in the mountain

And now, today, we're bored. Guess that means we'll have to clean the house that has been neglected for too long. Bummer.

Update: I made the Sugarfree Chocolate Mousse last night and it turned out great! I will probably play with the recipe a bit (I added 1/2 tsp of vanilla, some choc. chips and marshmallows), but it was met with raves from the fam. It's definitely a "repeat recipe".

Woot!!!

2008-08-09T09:59:00.008-06:00

I don't usually win contests.

Oh, I try. I always put my name into drawings, but all I win from those contests is a "free" carpet cleaning from the Kirby vacuum people or an offer for "discounted" vinyl windows and new siding for my house.

Big deal.

I have won two pretty cool prizes in my life: At my high school reunion, I sent in old photos of my classmates and won an Ipod Nano, which I took to Best Buy and traded in for a bigger better version. And I won a pretty cool digital photo frame from an online photo contest.

I can add one more cool prize to my winning list: An expired (July '08) Hershey Candy Bar with Almonds from my local grocery store.

Oh yeah....

I feel soooo cool

and....

so smart.

The store was asking pop trivia questions over the PA system and I happened to know half the correct answer.

"What is Nicolas Cage's real name?"

Don't ask me how, but I knew that he is related to Francis Ford Coppola, so when I was paying at the check stand I mentioned it. The guy in charge was very impressed and even though I didn't know the first name, he gave me a candy bar for having USELESS POP TRIVIA KNOWLEDGE.

Is it cool to be me?

Probably not, but I enjoyed the expired candy bar anyway.

FYI: the correct answer is Nicolas Coppola.

2008-08-08T21:30:00.008-06:00

I was checking out Thorny's blog and saw this new meme. I loved it because it's different from any other meme we've done. I also loved it because I loved trying to find the right photo for each word I typed in. It was a fun way to spend a quiet Friday evening watching the (amazing) Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. Here's how you do it:

Mosaic Meme:
FIRST: Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
NEXT: Using only the first page, pick an image.
THEN:Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into mosaic maker.

Hint: I had a hard time uploading my mosiac to Blogger. I saved it to my Flickr acct., but the URL wouldn't work on Blogger (don't know why). I did a right click on the creation, clicked on "properties" and then used the URL that popped up there (it was different). I'm not computer savvy, so I'm not sure why this was different, but it worked! I was glad!!

The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name. (kid version: favorite animal?)

Like Thorny, I'll be very interested to know if you do this. If you are reading this and you have a blog, you can do it!! Please leave me a comment so I can check out your creation!!

I want to be honest, so I'll tell you where I got the pics!
http://flickr.com/photos/mormegil/852655340/
http://flickr.com/photos/kasiawska/491444216
http://flickr.com/photos/hombredesteele/1198699709/
http://flickr.com/photos/heatherb/65385512/
http://flickr.com/photos/nanitas2727/719558565/
http://flickr.com/photos/compmouse/68245903/
http://flickr.com/photos/blackdiamondimages/2541046436/
http://flickr.com/photos/12861589@N03/2540234500/
http://flickr.com/photos/wazari/2379936146/
http://flickr.com/photos/daiharuki/360064291/
http://flickr.com/photos/prettypony/2515744288/
http://flickr.com/photos/me_echo/308595350/

HAVE FUN!!!

You Gotta Try This!!!

2008-08-08T11:25:00.003-06:00

My friend, Jennifer, who hosts Where the Heart Is sent me this recipe. I first became aware of it when she made some and brought it to Enrichment Night. When she announced that she brought a sugar-free chocolate mousse made with tofu, I wrinkled my nose and though, "Auck, gack, aaargh!! Why in the world would someone ruin chocolate mousse by not using sugar and put in tofu?" To be polite, I took a spoonful and put it on my plate.

I looked at it the entire time I at my meal. It looked like normal chocolate mousse. Actually, it looked kind of yummy. Her daughter, Celeste, was sitting next to me and I knew that she'd notice if I didn't at least try it, so I gingerly dipped my spoon into the chocolate mound and tapped it on my tongue.

HUH!?!

Could it actually taste good?

Well, I couldn't tell because I'd had such a small taste, so I got brave and scooped up 1/2 a spoonful and ate it.

HOLY COW!!!

It was DELISH!!!

I ate what had, picked up the plate and licked it off and then sat in my seat, looking longingly at the bowl up at the serving table, wishing I was brave enough to act like a pig and get myself more. I never did, but to this day, I wish I had.

I have thought longingly about that bowl of chocolate mousse ever since and I was finally able to procure the recipe. I want to share it with you. I want you to try it. You'll thank me (and Jennifer) for it!!
*************************************************

SUGAR FREE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
1 pkg (4 serving size) chocolate sugar-free instant pudding mix
1 pkg soft tofu
1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 to 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, chilled

Use an electric mixer to beat the pudding mix, tofu, and cocoa powder until very smooth. In a separate bowl, whip the cream until just about stiff. Turn the mixer to its lowest setting, blend in the pudding mixture til just mixed. Do not over beat or you'll end up with chocolate butter. Dish up into serving bowls and chill til ready to serve.

Vanilla pudding mix can be used; just omit the cocoa powder and add a teaspoon vanilla extract. In fact, any flavor may be adapted.

Boo!

2008-08-07T22:47:00.002-06:00

You know what's funny?

When you have three teenage girls -- age 15 & 16 -- in your house watching a scary movie and you burst into the family room, slapping the door with your hand and yell "BOO!!"

Three girls scream at the top of their voice and jump about 12 inches out of their chair.

Oh yeah,

I got 'em good!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-08-07T00:06:00.009-06:00

Summer started late for me and my family and I am cramming as many activities I can into a short time frame. After all, SCHOOL STARTS IN A MERE 13 DAYS!!!

Augh!!!

(I won't even go into the sadness I feel as I contemplate the fact that my boy starts kindergarten... **sniff**)

We have been hanging out at the International Dance Festival (annual event); boating with two girls (staying w/ Dave & Jackie) from Israel whose team came for the dance festival ; hanging out with Calvin's sister Carlene and her two daughters; and now hanging out with Keara, Carlene's 15 year old daughter that stayed this week while Car visits other family in Wyoming. (We got the house cleaned for Car's visit, but now it looks like it threw up on itself. I just tell myself that I'll have plenty of time to clean up after Aug. 20.)

We've been having a blast!

Dancing Hava Nagila with the Israel dance team

Two from team Israel wait to ride the tube.

Dana & Caramel

Calvin & Dave compare due dates.

Keara & Aly

And this is just the beginning of the pictures I have downloaded!! I still have pictures from our day at Lagoon; swimming at Heise as well as floating the river by Macks Inn (that's tomorrow). That's about as far as I have planned, but I know there is more in the works.

It's a good thing I still haven't received Breaking Dawn in the mail. (That's the LAST time I pre-order on Amazon!!) I don't have time to read it anyway!

It Made Me Giggle

2008-08-06T01:00:00.002-06:00

I hope to have some time in the next day or two to write about all the fun things we've been doing. We've been crazy busy and have had some great times!! But for now, I'd just like to post a little clip from the movie Mama Mia. Calvin took me to see it last weekend and I have to admit I really enjoyed myself. Yes, there were some wholly inappropriate moments during the movie and... was it me... or did it seem that a 10 year old did the editing? But still I thoroughly enjoyed tapping my feet and singing along (in my head) to the same Abba songs that I grew up singing. It was a BLAST!! (Thanks, Calvin, for being the only guy there!)

(I love this clip because I love Mr. Darcy. Nuff said.)

Help My Ineptitude

2008-07-31T22:48:00.005-06:00

Mercy.

I got a new computer over a year ago. I have not connected my Ipod to this computer -- EVER!! (The battery charges in my car.)

Tonight, I need some of the music that is on it to put on the slide show about camp I'm putting together for my YW.

So, I connected my Ipod to the computer.

Unfortunately, I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW TO DISCONNECT IT!!!

There is a big red circle with a slash in it, flashing, telling me DO NOT DISCONNECT.

OKAY!?!

I guess I'll just leave it connected until morning, when I know my computer expert is up. Hopefully she'll take pity on my idiot-ness and walk me through the steps (again.)

Chrissy, I'm sorry I'm such a dork!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update: Okay, I'm only 3/4 stoopid. I finally saw the little button to disconnect. The problem I'm having now is that none of the songs stayed on my computer... they are still only on my Ipod! That does me no good in preparing my slide show.

Grrrrrr.....

Looks like I'll be calling for support after all.

Where Does He Come From?

2008-07-31T09:04:00.005-06:00

It's been a while since I've posted something off-the-wall that Adam has said. Well, he seems to be back in fine form saying some of the most amusing things:

(This was told to me by Aly:) Adam was playing with his best friend Devyn. They were getting into the car and Adam excitedly said, "I'm going to get married tomorrow!" and after a brief pause said, "OH! I guess I'd better find a girlfriend then!"

(No, he's not going to marry Devyn. At one point in his life he talked about it, but he scared her by saying things like that, so he backed off. I wonder, however, if he's trying to make her jealous by talking about marrying another girl.)

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Yesterday we went boating. It's the first time since the end of June that we've gone out. Everyone was very excited. We were planning on leaving the house between 3 & 3:30 pm. At noon, Adam came running to me and asked if he could put his swim suit on. Of course he can, so off he went running to his bedroom. Thirty seconds later he comes running back to me..... completely naked.

"Mom! I've got my swimsuit on!" he said with a funny grin on his face.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise and in a calm voice say, "Oh, you do?"

He started laughing and yells, "I'M GOIN' SKINNY DIPPIN'!!"

Then he looked at me from the corner of his eye and says, "I'm just kidding," and ran back to his room to get dressed.

He thought he was so clever.

And he made me laugh.

Update

2008-07-28T16:00:00.003-06:00

Calvin went to the dr. for a check-up on his injured finger. In order to remove the gauze bandage, it had to be soaked in a mixture of saline and hydrogen peroxide. We learned exactly how much hydrogen peroxide responds to blood, by watching all the foaming action when Calvin submerged his finger into the mixture! Ugh!

Things are looking good. He's been able to avoid infection so far and he's starting to get tingling in the tip of the finger. The dr. re-bandaged the wound (after liberally applying some neosporin) and our next appointment will be on Aug. 5 (after our trip to Lagoon) when they will probably remove the stitches.

The dr. was still cautious when giving a prognosis. He said it's still too soon to be able to tell what the long term damage will be. But so far, things are looking great!

(If you want to see the newest pictures, feel free http://picasaweb.google.com/adoptdreams/CalvinSFingerGORY)

Makin' More Memories!

2008-07-27T20:40:00.022-06:00

Wow! What a weekend!

Finally, FINALLY, we were able to go camping. It was sam-fran-tastic! I love that we live so close to such beautiful mountains and wonderful things to do and see. We chose to go to Beaver Creek Campground, which is next to Quake Lake. I've been coming to this area my entire life and count it as my second home. We had a blast stomping through all the old haunts of my childhood. There was a fairly large (7.5) earthquake in this area forty-nine years ago that I have have been hearing about since I was knee high to a landslide causing ground squirrel and I wanted to share these same spots with my kids.

But first we needed to take a drive to Mom & Dad's cabin and say "hey!"

It was good to see them and to use their facilities. Plus they were nice enough to feed the kids hotdogs (Adam was mad that I didn't bring hotdogs for us.) Then we headed off in the heat, wind and waves of horse-flies to visit all the earthquake sites I could think of.

First was the actual visitor's center (which costs $3/car now!!) The hikes were hot, but great. Adam ate up all the info we could give him on this natural disaster. If people and animals died; if great masses of land moved; if animals died; if a new lake was made and if people died because of this, then it was one of the coolest things EVAH!

Then we drove up the road to the Hegben Lake Dam. Dad took us fishing here all the time when we were kids. I still remember hiking down to the spillway, sitting in the jagged rocks and imagining how horrific it would be if I lost my balance and fell into the swirling water!

While we were hanging out at the spillway, we noticed a nice family of mountain goats hanging out (in the bright sunshine).

Of course we had to go to the "Building Destruction" site:

When I was young, hearing the story about the resort owner and her dog that jumped over huge fissures in their escape to safety was the thing that a drama queen like me loved to imagine. Adam (Mr. WasSomeoneHurt?) was totally enthralled by the whole thing. He thought it was totally cool that the outhouse was still there. Aly (Ms. Non-nature) did amazingly well. No complaining, even though the walks were long and steep and the flies were swarming and biting like crazy.

(I took a lot of pictures of the outhouse, didn't I?)

By now, we were sweaty, tired, thirsty and pooped out. We did a lot of walking!! (and none of it was flat.) We turned back toward Cabin Creek to teach the kids what an earthquake scarp is. We quickly read the marker, and made a bee-line to the creek where we took off our shoes and soaked our weary feet in the ice cold water.

Poor Lola wouldn't go near the water, but she used this time to rest as well.

Our last night in the campground brought us a couple surprises. The first was shocking, because it was so sudden: I was preparing the fire and getting supplies ready to make s'mores (have you ever had them with Reese's PB Cups? HELLO!!!) All of a sudden there was a loud flutter and a rather large bird flew from the grass by the picnic table up into the tree just above it. HOLY COW!! Lola started barking, and I settled my heart down enough to grab my "Birds of North America" book. It was a Sage Grouse!! Who knew they could fly like that? And who knew they could perch in a tree? Of course, what I know of grouse is from the movie, Bambi -- when the birds are hiding from the hunters... "Don't fly!! Don't fly!!" BOOM!!

(Can you see it in this picture?)

Later that evening, the kids were in bed and Calvin was helping me pick things up. I was up by the picnic table, closing up the chairs and Calvin was down by the trailer. All of a sudden, I heard noises in the trees just beyond me. Keep in mind, we were in the heart of grizzly bear country and they are known to frequent this camp ground. Also, keep in mind that while I love camping, I am perennially terrified at night that we are all going to be eaten by a bear. I thought that my worst nightmare was finally coming true. I called to Calvin, who like a hero, came running up and stood in front of me. We listened for a minute and sure enough!!! the bushes and trees were rustling!! It's completely dark and I only have a small flashlight, but I was shining it in hopes that we would see what was going to eat us before it got to us.

It was a huge relief when a brown eyed doe mildly came out of the trees, looked at us and ambled through our camp site. With a nervous titter, we went to bed and slept as if there were no bears anywhere.

Today, there was one item left on my list: I had to find the old crooked cabin -- the old cabin that slid down the hillside in the earthquake. I remembered how fun it was to walk across the slanted floors and how hard it was to stand straight up while in it. Unfortunately, the road that led to the cabin was closed and we had to walk to find it. It has been over 20 years since I was there and I wasn't exactly sure if I could find it, or if it was still there!

Guess what! It's still there! It's slightly over grown, but we were able to get inside! The kids had a blast!

And now we're home. We're tired, sunburned and covered with bug bites. But it seems that everyone is happy....

.... and we've made more memories.

Proud Mama

2008-07-24T22:16:00.003-06:00

Tonight our family had the opportunity to go to the local nursing home and provide Family Home Evening for the residents there. Opportunities like this don't come often. As you know, we live in a predominantly LDS community with many wards looking for service and they have to be shared. (The last time we had missionaries for dinner was before Adam was born 6 years ago! There are just too many people who want them over!) So, when they sent around the sign-up sheet, Calvin jumped at the chance. I will admit, when I first heard that he did this, I was a little... put out. It was two weeks before camp, I was feeling completely overwhelmed and couldn't even fathom adding one more item on my to-do list.

But, Calvin is very wise and knew in the end all would be well.

Since I was busy, Calvin was in charge of putting the program together. He decided that we'd run it similar to the way we have our own FHE. (I will admit we stole the idea from our neighbors.) We each pick a hymn or a song from the Children's Songbook, sing all the verses, and then move onto a lesson, activity or game. (FHE is mostly singing.) He decided that Adam would sing a song (I Want to be a Missionary Now), Aly would sing (Quiet Grove by Janice Kapp Perry) and I would play a piano solo (Spirit of God arranged by Marvin Goldstein). Calvin would give the lesson on pioneers.

It worked out well. I think the residents really enjoyed having us there.

But what I was proud of wasn't the program, the singing or the lesson. I was so proud of my children and how they handled themselves while they were there. We all know that nursing homes can be difficult and the wonderful people there can act in ways that society deems "different." I don't think the kids cared that the old man on row two let a loud belch that would rival anything I can do after drinking a Diet Coke. Aly, while she was leading the opening song, kept waving and smiling to the old lady on the front row who had a grin a mile wide and wanted to be acknowledged. The kids didn't act like any of this was unusual. Their smiles were genuine and their affection was real.

There was one sweet lady who adored Adam and his energy. I was helping her walk back to the common area and she kept pointing at Adam and smiling. She couldn't verbalize very well, but she communicated with her eyes. I asked him if he would help her walk to her chair and without hesitating, he ran up and took her hand. You should have seen her eyes light up. When we got to her seat, he walked up and gave her a big hug and then ran off. I think it made her whole day.

Aly didn't grumble or complain about going. She helped several residents back to their rooms, looked them in the eye and had conversations with them. She treated them like people which is important when you're in this station in life. It seems that often elderly are treated like children and talked down to. It's so important to give them the respect that their long life deserves! And I was so impressed that Aly instintively knew exactly how to do this.

Sometimes, being a mom is the hardest thing in the world. You love your children and you want them to be good, upstanding members of your community. Sometimes they aren't. Sometimes there's fights and frustrations, tears -- and you are mortified when your 5 year old son punches a girl in the face at the park (another story for another time). But every now and again, your faith in the celestial calling of motherhood is restored. Sometimes, the divineness of your children's spirits shines through --bright and clear. I call it "Mommy Moments." Or "pay backs." These are those moments that make being a parent worth it.

I will always treasure the memory of tonight (thanks to this blog I will be able to).

Camped Out

2008-07-22T09:12:00.011-06:00

This is the grassy area of camp, looking toward the cabin we were assigned this year.

I am a bit late in recounting my camp experience, but since I've been home I've been pretty darned busy. Apparently my house threw up all over itself while I was gone and it's taking a while to get it put back together. Also, I promised the kids that "after camp" I would be "theirs" and I'm trying to make good on that promise by spending more time taking them to parks and playing games with them. There aren't enough hours in a day, are there?

Camp

... was great! (Exhausting as well!) I have worked in the YW program off and on for 13 years now (more on than off) and I have been so blessed to have wonderful girls in my program each time. It's nice when you put so much of your life into trying to create a fun experience and the girls actually appreciate what you do!! I actually got hugs from them on a daily basis, smiles and sometimes they even wanted to hang out with me!! (Go figure!)

I even had time to goof off. The ward that was in the cabin next door to us is the ward we were recently split from. Their camp director and I enjoyed a fun-spirited competition called "Who's the best camp director?" We kept sending girls next door to "show off" something we had done for them. The girls enjoyed bragging and I got TONS of ideas for next year. It was especially hilarious because at some point the bragging turned into harmless pranks (stealing the pole our banner was on; stealing our garbage can; stealing all the food out of their fridge, etc.) To be truthful, I didn't pull any of the pranks, but I don't think they ever fully believed me. They were on guard whenever we were around! (The only prank I pulled was being drama queen: I found some saline solution and poured it into my eyes to look like tears. Then I went stomping up to this camp director and in my best drama queen moment of the year pretended to be extremely upset, bawling and telling her that I just couldn't compete with her and I agreed that she is the best camp director. At first she thought I was faking, but I was so good at fake crying that she and the other camp directors by her got very concerned at my emotional frailty. They got quite uncomfortable and I could see them looking at each other, wondering what they were going to do with me. It was HILARIOUS!!!!)

The mosquitoes were the worst I have ever seen. If we don't get West Nile Virus, I will be amazed. In the 3 1/2 days we were there, most people used their entire bug spray bottles. However, out of that irritation was born the craziest, "funnest" rendition of Little Bunny Foo Foo I have ever participated in. Instead of just using our fingers to sing the song, we used our whole bodies, which kept the mosquitoes from landing on us and biting us. It was also a great cardio workout for us elderly leaders.... believe me, I was out of breath by the time the song ended!

So now we're back to the hum-drum of every day life. I warned the bishopbric that I'm going to be inactive for three weeks and I plan on finally enjoying summer vacation now. I'm pulling out the camp trailer and we're disappearing....

This year we got to play in canoes! It was a lot of fun!

The girl's got a hold of my comb and hairspray and gave me a make-over!

Squeamish Need Not Read....

2008-07-18T16:51:00.006-06:00

par·tial [pahr-shuhl] am·pu·tation [am-pyoo-tey-shun]

1. being such in part only; not total or general; incomplete:

2. to cut off (part of a digit of the body such as a finger)

.................

Who said Girl's Camp isn't dramatic?

Today, Calvin drove to Girl's Camp to help us load our trailer and get it hooked to our Tahoe so we could bring our gear home. (More about camp in a later posting.) He also brought Adam along. He had been there no more than 5 minutes when another ward asked him for help hooking their trailer to their truck. They were having a hard time making the ball on the truck connect with the hitch on the trailer.

Of course Calvin agreed to help. He's that kind of a guy.

Within seconds I hear the trailer make a bumping noise and Calvin backs away swinging his hand, as if it had been pinched. He grabs his finger immediately and says, (very calmly) "Oh that's not good. I'm going to need to go to the hospital."

I know that calm voice. He's trying to keep me from panicking.

So I panic.

I ran to the nearest group of Stake Leaders , yelling for the nurse. Unfortunately, she had already left camp. People begin scrambling to find First Aid kits, which were scarce because most were packed up, ready to take home. A small triage station was set up near the priesthood cabin and gauze was applied to the wound.

It was bad.

In a panic (and bawling), I grab his car keys and insist on taking him to the hospital, but I was also in a quandry. I had 12 girls that needed to get home as well as a trailer full of gear. My wonderful assistant and some amazing stake leaders jumped right in and offered their assistance so I knew everything would be taken care of. We jumped into the CRV & drove 50 mph down the gravel road to our hometown and the Emergency Room. (We made the hour long drive in 45 minutes!!)

I dropped Adam off at a wonderful neighbor's house and sat w/ Calvin in the ER. The cut was deep enough that it had reached the bone (warning: this is where it gets a little gory.) The medical personnel were calling it "partial amputation." Another technical term is "open break" because the bone in the tip of his finger was broken as well.

I was quite curious and decided to watch when the orthopedic surgeon came to stitch him up. As the procedure began, both Calvin and I wished that I had brought my camera with me (I left it in the Tahoe back at camp). The triage nurse heard us and brought back a digital camera that she said I could use. I took several pictures, most of them completely gory (and I promise not to post any here)

This is the safest picture I could find.

Anyway, the doctor was able to get Calvin all stitched up. He didn't lose any part of his finger, except the nail. I don't know how many stitches were put in. The doctor is unsure how the broken part of his finger will heal, if at all. It's in an awkward part of the finger that makes it difficult to treat.

Calvin is being very stoic and brave about the whole thing. He won't let me baby him or wait on him (he's a unique man, isn't he?) and insists that it's "only throbbing a little."

Poor Calvin wanted to go boating tomorrow. Instead he'll be sitting on a couch, with his hand elevated over his heart, watching me clean the house.

Exciting, isn't it?

**Editor's Note** For those who enjoy seeing medical procedures like this, I have posted all the photos in Picasa. Click here to see all the blood and gore.