Washington Trip 2011

This trip was memorable at the very least. 

We started out our journey stopping in Utah and staying overnight with our dear friends the Merritt's.  Thank you for opening your home to us! We miss you!  (forgot to take pictures. Grrr)

Then had lunch with a couple of Jason’s high schools friends.  (Again, no pictures.  I got the hang of it eventually)

Stopped at Shannon’s for a few days. 

Had a grand time zipping around her little Pleasantville neighborhood on quads, trampoline jumping, marshmallow roasting, airsoft warring, target shooting, item blow up-ing,  ping ponging, pool table-ing, and enjoying one another's company.  Thanks for the memories Poppleton Fam!

Then we headed up to Washington.  I think THIS is where I started going down hill…

Montana’s 50,000 silver dollar joint.  I’m not keen on the place.  We had stopped there on previous trips and I wasn’t super thrilled about swinging in again.  I became monster mama and developed a 3 year old attitude of I hate this place and how soon can we leave. 

Our first stop was Jake and Kyra's, church with them, and then a few hours up north to his mom’s.   It is definitely off the beaten path.   The forest was gorgeous.  My kids had the time of their lives.  It is well known (my whining was inescapable) that I am not a huge fan of camping.  So I struggled a bit huge amount.    The days went like this: tents,  hiking, swimming, creek wandering, kitten hording, outdoor shower taking,  out housing, bow and arrowing, hammocking, tree climbing, mallow roasting, and all around running amuck.  Love you Chad and Lynnette!   Thank you!! 

 

Well into week 2 of our vacation, and we headed out to his dad’s place for the family reunion.  (I snuck 2 days of a hotel in, as a buffer between me and crazy.)   Joe’s was great.  The kids (and Joe!) went down the creek one afternoon,  we spent a day in the church gym playing volleyball, and death by rubber ball  dodgeball.  I did some hair on the lawn. Kids ran through sprinklers, had meetings in their clubhouse, were told they couldn’t marry their cousins, and played lots of Legos. Lainy and 5 year old cousin Aaron, had an immediate friendship. He told her he was 8 so she would like him, though he could have been 3 and the color green and she would still adore him.    And then the boys decided there was no better send off for us than to blow up a dryer. 

Thanks for the memories Stolworthy family! 

The journey didn’t end there…  We (Jason) drove straight through 24 hours and came home to a washer than had flooded the night before we left (thank goodness!), a water heater that exploded and a fridge that had died a week into our vacation.  I cried.  And then I took my already packed car and went to my sisters.

Marlin meets his rival

You know Marlin, at the beginning of Finding Nemo,  how he keeps trying to tell that same joke and just can’t seem to get it right?  But he knows that deep down he really has the potential to be funny?  And then when he’s looking for Nemo, and comes across this school of fish and they say, “blah blah blah blee blee blee- Mr. Bossy”?

That is my Jayce.   He turned 9 yesterday.  And I LOVE being around him.  He has finally learned how to tell jokes that make the whole room laugh, and knows how to laugh at himself. 

He has more self assurance than even I have at age 31.  (Case in point- see wristbands in picture below)   One day I came to pick him up from school and he had his shirt tucked way into his shorts, and his shorts hiked up.  I told him he looked like a dork. He told me he didn’t care, that he liked ‘em. 

I LOVE THAT. 

If you’re going to do something, do it because you want to.   As far as Mr. Bossy goes...  He is and probably always will be bossy in some form.  I’m cool with that.

Happy Birthday Bug,  I love you!!

There he blows!

About a year ago was when I realized what it meant.  Jared would come up at random moments and just blow in my face.  It was a bit of a nuisance for a while, until one day I realized the timing wasn’t random.  It was very well planned.  Jared says I love you by blowing at you.  It has become one of my most cherished attributes of him.  He will come up and hug my legs and I respond with a smile and he will look up and blow at me.  Anytime he feels the need to show affection I get a smile followed by some Jared breath.  I love you isn’t something that escapes his lips very often.  At least audibly.  But he knows that I know what it means when he blows in my direction. 

Oh how I love that boy.

Love better

A mom post isn’t typically written in June.  But I had a little inner prickly that I needed to get on paper.  Summer has thrown all planned organized thoughts and actions clean through our newly broken window.  (A story for another day)  It makes for a lazy mama.  Which also makes for a mom who has those little heart strings tugged.  I am home with my kids all day everyday and yet I feel as though I haven’t seen them.  We watch TV, play video games, I work, and clean…  but when a tiny person comes and looks up at me with that look on his face that says I love you, I need you and I want a kiss, all without words,  I want nothing more than to rewind and spend every waking moment making memories instead of letting them be swallowed by mindless media.   My babies will only be babies once.  I just want to look back and know that I loved them enough.

Father’s Day

I had girls camp the week leading up to Father’s Day this year so it was a very low key day for Jason.  Primary leaders at church had a questionnaire printed with all of the kids answers….

What is your dad’s fav food?

Jayce: Pizza

Lainy: Ice cream

Jared: Broccoli

Who does your dad want to be like someday?

Jayce: A Dad

Lainy: A police officer

Jared: His self

Other good ones: someone with a shorter job, Larry Fitzgerald, Chuck Norris, Batman, border patrol, a pet helper at the zoo, Justin Bieber, like Noah.

What is your dad’s shoe size?

Jayce: 15

Lainy: 60

Jared: 15 feet

Other good ones: big, giant, 70 feet, this big.

If your dad could wish for one thing, what would it be?

Jayce: XBOX 360

Lainy: An IPod touch

Jared: to work again 

Other good ones: Someone would do his work for him, to be taller, older sisters to not be terrors, a star, to never send me to my room, to runaway, to play like a T-rex.

Who is your dad’s best friend?

Jayce: Heavenly Father and my mom

Lainy: Uncle Jess

Jared: He doesn’t have one

What do you like to do with your dad?

Jayce: Play Basketball

Lainy: Eat pizza with him at Red Robin (I don’t even think RR has pizza…)

Jared: Play with him

Other good ones: Play Barbie's

What is your dad’s favorite thing to do in his free time?

Jayce: Play video games

Lainy: Watch movies

Jared: Work

Other good ones: Go to bed, fold his arms, take naps, well…nothing, play ,play ,play, hunt for mean pigs,

How tall is your dad?

Jayce: 8 feet

Lainy: 50 feet

Jared: 2 inches

Other good ones: Medium, Giant, Almost as tall as my mom, 9 inches, I’m thinking like 8,9, or 10.

 

My friend Marta

This is Marta.

  When I was 21 and in beauty school I did a LOT of pedicures.  I had my own mini clientele.  Marta and her friends came every month.  I knew the first time I met her that her and I had harmonious spirits.  We laughed and talked and worked on those callused feet!  I finished beauty school and as life took me here and there, Marta was always there with me.  She has been a comfort, a confidant and friend to me all these years.  She is a brilliant artist, quite a comedian (even when she hasn’t intended to be!) and has a fine tuned listening ear.  Marta often comes bearing gifts: wind chimes, treats, and even sweet letters in the mail.  She has brought me many plants over the years. I killed the majority of them. (She started bringing my seeds after I killed half a dozen lantana, the said-to-be unkillable plant)  I credit her for my ability to keep house plants alive today via trial and error.  She brings books and love to my children, and they adore her.  I feel privileged to know her and call her my friend.  Love you Marta!

In n Out

Jared stuck an orange BB up his nose this morning.  He wanted to show me how he could shoot it out.  I of course told him that if he accidentally sniffed, it would fly up through his nasal cavity and get stuck in his brain. 

A 3-year old little girl locked herself in my bedroom while I was babysitting.  It was a lock that required a key.  A key I didn’t have.  And following instructions through a door was not this little girls strong suit. 

This afternoon Jared asked if I could help him get the orange BB out of his ear.  I told him to tilt his head sideways and gave his head a good whack.  Partly to get it out, and partly as reminder not to stick it there in the first place.  Two good whacks and no success.  I took my chances and stuck my finger in. 

Removal was successful on all accounts.  And it’s only noon.

Memorable Sisters weekend

I didn’t take any pictures of last weekend, but I will try and paint you one…

Meg, Shell and I started off on our journey Friday afternoon with our daughters in tow.  We headed out to Cali for the weekend to go to our sis-in-laws baby shower.  We piled into Meg’s van strategically placing each person to their best suited position for the drive.  8 hours isn’t too bad when you have 3 mommies, one 6 year old and two 1 year olds.  (It normally takes 6.5 hours) 

The baby shower was SO much fun.  Good food, good company, good times.  We played estimating M&M’s in a baby bottle, (mom tied for winner, but gave up the prize!)  matching baby socks in a basket within 30 seconds.  (I almost won that one, with 12 matching pairs)  And how fast can you suck down martinelli’s apple cider in a bottle?  Apparently I am very fast, since I won that one by a landslide. 

The evening was spent at mom and dad’s laughing and eating.  Lainy and I took the nice couch and all was well until….

2 am marked the beginning of the unforgetableness of this weekend.  She threw up.  And then again and  again every half hour for 12 hours. 

We packed up and headed out Sunday morning and the trip home was as you might imagine.  Only worse.  Not only was Lainy blahing in a seemingly constant fashion, my little dog Flapjack made himself comfy in Meg’s lap, and then made her uncomfortable by blahing all over the front of the van.  Mmm hmm, puking child and puking dog.  So fun trip.  The babies cried off and on just to fill in the gaps of peace. 

Before Jason even hugged me, he couldn’t stop the words from tumbling out of his mouth, “wow, you look like you’ve been hit by a bus”.

Busy Mother

By Jayce Age 8

One day me and my brother came to the bus stop, then the train, then the airport, after the house.  It took us 4 hours.  Hafe an hour later we came to are soccer game.  my brother had 6 sandwiches and 2 whole bags of dredos.  When we got in the car my mom is like look at the time we have to drop you off at the football game and your brother at his baseball game!  We have to bring your sister to the basketball game.  Then piano then-  YOU JUST SIND IN FOR A GOLF GAME!  My mother was so angry she exploded like crazy!  She was jumping off walles and yelling golf game! Golf game!  Golf game!  What time does it start?  5pm.  Ono right after the basketball game!  We are going to have a busy day. “Sigh”.  I hope are games cansul.  10 minutes later ya! ya! ya! ya! ya! all the games are canceled! 

***We don’t even do half of that stuff.  But apparently he is trying to tell his mother something. 

Project runaway

 

Made these little grocery bags for my mom and mom-in-law, they turned out super cute and once I got into the swing of them, super easy! 

 

This chandelier has proven to be quite stubborn in securing it’s place in this house.  So, I just went with it and covered the gross shades.  I swear it looks much better in real life. 

And my very most favorite item on my re-do list isn’t quite put back together yet.  But I am LOVING it so far! 

Preparation with a kick

Uh huh.  Those all belong to me.  All those wonderful growing things.  Hens, lemons, grapes, apples and not pictured, peaches.  All things that haven’t taken a whole lot of effort on my part.  And besides the hens which we brought with us, this house had everything else minus someone to water and prune them.  Feeling like I am on the receiving end of a little kick in the rear to get a move on with my journey to emergency preparedness. 

Stick-to-it-iveness

My poor kids.  They are going to have huge chunks of their memories missing because I can’t get with it and write them down. 

I envy those of you who can stick to a schedule.  I can stick to a schedule like gum to a shoe.  It’s sticks really well right away and am very aware of it for a good long while, until enough dirt sticks to it I eventually ignore it, or when I can’t stand it there any longer I just scrape it clean. 

Sorry blogging.  I vow to step on a fresh wad of gum with your name on it. 

So I cancelled my cable when I moved.  They told me I owed a $240 early cancellation fee.  I told them I had been using their services for 5 years and that no, I did not owe them a cancellation fee.  They agreed.

But there was a little problem.  There were two companies.  One who was also my phone company and whom if I got TV service through, they bundled the price of both the phone and TV service (we will call company A), so that is who I paid monthly.  And the other, who actually provided the TV service (company B), but whom I did not pay directly. 

So, in order to fix this early cancellation fee, I had to wait for a check from company A to be mailed to me, so I could in turn, pay company B. 

So, I got the check from company A to pay company B.  And I cashed it.  And then I got a statement from  company B, saying I had a zero balance and thank you for my business.  Hmmm.  I had $240 of theirs.  And the words that slipped out of my mouth next frightened me…

“Well, then I’m just keeping it.” 

Uh huh.  I actually said it out loud. 

I was going to STEAL! 

Once that thought zipped through my devious little mind,  I called company B to tell them I had $240 that didn’t belong to me.   After 20 minutes of them trying to figure out how to reverse a credit, he told me to call company A and try and return it to them.   But what if they won’t take it either? I asked him.  As appropriately as possible, he tried to tell me to count my blessings.  So, I spend another chunk of time on the phone with company A, who kindly said, it wasn’t their money and again was told in cable company terminology, to again count my blessings.  So, I found myself saying…

“Well, then I’m just keeping it.”

Sugar coated

For me, these two things go together like milk and cookies.  

I like sugar.  I like processed food.  It’s terrible and I know it on some levels doesn’t qualify to even be labeled food. But I still desire to inhale it.  I preface with that info so you know full well I am NOT in the business of judging anyone with this post. 

Jayce has been an asthmatic since he was a tiny person.  He suffers from eczema,bowel problems, and some pretty extreme emotional instability.  (Sorry, kiddo. I’m sure someday this post will cause some embarrassment.)  When we started in with Jared having the coughing bouts for several years, I knew the time had come.  I had toyed with the idea of changing our diets drastically multiple times, but never had the gusto to follow through. 

When we moved, I was packing and was fed up with the constant arguing between my children, so using a normal form of discipline in our home, took snacks away for the day.  Then, in an irrational moment, I packed up everything in my cupboards that had sugar or high fructose anything in it, and I stuffed it all in a bin.  It was that day I began this little journey. 

After many trips to the doctor and pharmacy filling and refilling Rx’s that take my boys 10 minutes every night just to ingest, I took Jayce to my Kinesiology/Chiropractor.  Jayce has been tested for allergy’s and had blood drawn to test for food allergy’s over the years, and the only thing my pediatrician and allergist could offer me was a band aid.  Treating the symptoms.  Well, that’s just not good enough for me.  I have a Heavenly Father and Savior whom I know have created a glorious earth and surely they have thought to give us the ability to cure allergies!  (In case your wondering at this point this this horribly long post, I haven’t found that cure yet!)  BUT, I did find out from my chiro that Jayce has an allergy to milk and cheese.  It was a starting place.

And within a few weeks of a non milk and cheese diet, Jayce’s once scabby, scratchy, always-wears-pants legs, were clear as the noon day sky.  And his temperament was remarkably changed.  Peace and harmony is a stretch on any level in my home, but normal was what I got. 

We purged our home of processed food, junk food, and more recently dyes. (Red 40, Blue 1 etc…)  Asthma is still a giant problem.  Eczema still lurks on the tops of Jayce’s knees if we are not 100% diligent.  Jayce still isn’t close to being regular in the restroom dept, but hasn’t been on Miralax for 2 months. (He has had to take it for 5 years)

I heard recently in a talk at church a man say,  “we are so careful what we allow our children to take in with their eyes and ears, why are we not just as careful with what they put in their mouths?”

I am a baby in this world of healthy eating.  But I am fully aware that I can no longer live in ignorance to what things we ought and ought not put into our bodies. 

The 10 virgins taught me today

I drove home tonight filled with emotion.  I had received so much information at once, and I didn’t want to lose any of it before I could get home and get it out on paper.  I found myself literally holding my breath and crunching my stomach down as if I could somehow hold it in from disappearance. 

I should begin earlier in the day….   My sister and I had moment of frustration with one another on a miscommunication of where I should be tonight.  To an important dinner with her, or at my women’s Relief Society event.  I had disappointed her when I told her I wanted to go to my meeting.  I wrestled with myself throughout the day on whether I had made the right decision. 

This event was a play of sorts put on by women portraying Christ’s biblical parable of the 10 virgins.  Through song they retold the story of these women and what might have been their life’s blessings or challenges and how it played into meeting the Bridegroom.  As each women told her story, I saw myself and those I love in each one.  I saw my mother in the woman who spent all of her time serving and comforting others and lit the way for those who suffered,  I cried when I saw myself in another who was endlessly busy with day to day life, that had often run out of time to fill her lamp, or even light it daily.  I saw dear friends in the face of one whose life was filled with grief and sorrow, whose lamp was broken and could only be made whole again by one…  I saw the world in a young woman who was plagued by self doubt, and envious of those around her.  I yearned for the simplicity of another and the peace in her eyes as she described her love for her Savior.  Each had a story.  Each had a message.  Each story told, brought to my mind vivid answers to questions I had been searching for.  There are few times in my life that I have known without a doubt that the spirit was actually speaking words to my mind.  Tonight, I had no doubt. 

I am thankful to my Savior for the message given tonight.  For the comfort spoken to my soul.  I understand why it was a bit of a battle to make the decision to attend.  I understand my Heavenly Father as well as the adversary knew what I would gain tonight. 

Baa baa black sheep

Jess and Shannon have always had a jovial competition as siblings as to who was the rightful owner of the title ‘Black sheep’ in our family.  I, on the other hand am happy to sidestep that title.

I have been hearing a bit about sheep in the past few months.  Well, more about those who tend the sheep.  So there are shepherds, and then there are sheep herders.  There’s a difference.  Did you know that?  A Shepherd leads His sheep, guiding them.  While a sheep herder pushes the sheep from behind, forcing them in the direction he wants them to go. 

Is it any wonder why Christ is often referred to as our Shepherd?  I tend to be a sheep herder generally.  My sister Megan this written in her home:

REACT

  I believe it is the way Christ teaches us.  He doesn’t react to our mistakes, hopes, or pleadings.  He acts, and allows us to follow His perfect example.  I need to be better at teaching my children well enough, that when they happen upon a speed bump, they will know how to handle it, instead of watching them go full force toward the speed bump and screaming and chasing after them trying to make them avoid catastrophe.  Sigh.  So much to work on! 

I’m taking a sick day

Cough.cough.cough. Cough.cough.cough. Cough.cough.cough. Cough.cough.cough. Cough.cough.cough. Cough.cough.cough. Cough.cough.cough. Cough.cough.cough. Cough.cough.cough.

It’s like a bronchial symphony.  Fevers breaking, tempers following suit.  Add cabin fever with the rain and mud and you have my week/weekend/looking like this week too.  It’s been really great.  I have even gotten to clean up vomit a dozen or so times.  The one time we ventured outdoors…. 

Jayce felt well enough to head outback and kick his soccer ball around.  Right over the back fence which backs up to a main road.  So, I throw off my robe, head out and start the walk around the corner in my pajamas.  The kids look haggard but seem to enjoy this breath of fresh air.  Until they start coughing. And I swear once one starts, the others have this subconscious need to chime in.  Jayce gets a hold of the soccer ball and we head back home. We have just one more house between us and home…  and Lainy is coughing uncontrollably.   I’m hurrying them along so as not to sicken the neighbors… and she turns and throws up right in my neighbors driveway.  Yay.  I practically sneered at lainy to ‘get in the house now.’  (poor thing.  She was so sick.)  And ran back outside with a pitcher of water…  

Feeling like a kid again

Jared:  Mom, when I grow up and you and dad are my kids, I will give you a whole piece of gum. 

Mom:  Wow, Jared.  That is super nice of you.  How many kids will you have? 

He turned, sort of studied me for a minute, looked pointedly from me to Jason and back. “Two.  You and Dad.” 

Boy, am I glad that’s not the way it works.  Pay back can be a scary thing…

Practically Perfect in every way

I love Mary Poppins.  I can’t count how many times I have been enlightened by her.  She’s confident and self assured, but not to a flaw.  She breaks out into song in a public place and no one seems to think she is a loon.  She can fly. Doesn’t mind getting dirty.  She knows when her time is spent, and makes a perfect exit.  Of all the times I had watched, I never caught this little phrase until passing by it while my kids were mesmerized by this wonderful character.

“Enough is as good as a feast”

I know.  Read it again.  I heard it and it literally stopped me where I stood.  How had I missed this perfect little gem all my life?  I find myself complaining more often than I like admitting about the things I own, or the house I live in, but I have now added this little phrase and it slips me back into my reality in which I should be down on my knees expressing my gratitude for the blessings I do have. 

Our house… is a very very very fine house.

This new house was foreign to me.  It was an intruder in my life.  (A blessing, but an intruder nonetheless)   Nothing was the right shape or size or color.  I was kind of angry with it. 

I had a good departure from the old house.  I spent some time walking through it watching memories replay themselves as I allowed some tears to slip out. 

New house is now full of all of our unnecessary things.   And just like that, after 2 weeks… it feels like home.  I have found a lot of things to love and a few things to annoy. 

And although my ‘stuff’ helps make these walls feel familiar and more comfortable, it’s my family that make this our home. 

Sink or Swim

I hadn’t blogged in a while.  I started a few days ago, but all I could squeeze out was a few scratch-the-surface memories and thoughts. 

I knew this post was coming. Lurking in the back of my scattered little mind.  The moving post.   I have been inching across the diving board toward the water for months now.  It’s time to dive in.  Make our move.  In 2 weeks.  My house is half packed.  It’s sold.  Sigh.  I talked pretty big.  No tears allowed.  I only talked about the good and excitement in all of it.  Bright, shiny, and new.   Now, looking over the edge, I would like to baaaaack up, right down into my nice comfy familiar pool chair.  Have you been there?  But you can’t backup.  There’s a line.  You have to jump.  So I am standing here crying on the edge of the diving board hoping it will just go away. 

I don’t want to be the kid who cries at the edge of the diving board that someone puts out of their misery by giving me a swift shove over the edge. 

I know I’m not dying, or even moving very far.  But I’ll miss my friends.  My home. My familiarity.  

And in I go! (envision me gracefully twirling through the air, a couple of flips and just the tiniest splash.) 

Lainy turns 6, and I get older.

 Lainy and I share a birthday week, and sometimes Turkey Day is thrown in there.  Her dear and talented Aunt Shelley made her this beautiful tutu and wand combo.  (LOVE) 

 

I got a little carried away and went a little Vegas showgirl that night…  I know, hard to believe there was no drinking involved…

You can’t tell, but behind the paper were two glorious treasures.  My mom had taken all of my childhood photos and put them in order in two beautiful photo albums.  And those cute earrings I have on are from her.  (Thanks mom!)

And this picture is for Shannon.  I idolized my sister Shannon growing up (I still do) and every time something exciting happened to me, her name was the one that came out of my mouth, since she was usually the one I wanted to share the news with. I have countless pictures of me with this less than glamorous facial distortion.  I’m sure I was saying her name yet again here… 

 

We had our annual gingerbread decor contest that weekend as well.  Boys vs kids vs girls.  We won.  Hands down. (Though I’m not sure the boys know that)

Thanksgiving was wonderful and fattening.  Great week.  Christmas post is coming along nicely…. 

Hi Ho Hi Ho back on Steroids we go…

I have two asthmatics, and one very healthy child.  Jayce has had it since he was a tiny person and now that he is older we have a handle in his medication.  But Jared…   oh my goodness.  He shows no normal symptoms of an asthmatic.  He seems to be able to breath deeply, but cannot stop the chronic coughing.  Remember last year?  He coughed for months.  I’m not talking a little cough here and there.  ALL NIGHT. EVERY NIGHT.  We tried all kinds of meds, had his tonsils and adenoids removed, slept keeping him sitting upright with a bowl next to him for when he coughed so hard he threw up.  (I know, I know, woe is me.  I’m documenting history here…) 

Once the summer hit (and all things living died, hence no allergies)  The boys slept like babies again minus being stuffed with steroids, creams, and antihistamines.  Winter hit and here we are again.  Doc said to keep up his steroid regimen, but to also put him on OTC Claritin.  Really?  Claritin?  C’mon.  We took the kids tonsils out for crying in the night, you think it’s as simple as Claritin?

MM HMM.  It is. 

Slept like a rock.  For a month.  Until I decided to mess with it again.  Why do I do that?  Oh, it’s working, surely we should mess with it and see if we can screw it up fix it some more.  Two nights of coughing cured me.  Back on all those blessed meds. 

Ok, here’s the thing.  (The point of this novel)  I complain a LOT about everything I have to give my boys for this thing called asthma.  But really, I need to add it to my daily prayers.  Because I wouldn’t have either of my boys anymore, if it weren’t for all of these things that may or may not have horrible side effects.  So….  I LOVE Flovent, I LOVE Pulmicort, I LOVE Hydrocortisone cream, I LOVE Albuterol, I LOVE Immunotherapy drops.  Because I LOVE my boys. 

Good teeth come to those who wait…

I thought this kid was going to be 10 before he got his teeth back.  I would venture to guess he is the only 3rd grader in his school still missing his front teeth.  I even took him to dentist to make sure there were some IN there waiting to pop through.  Today, 8 full months after it came out, it has made it’s debut. 

Jared:  sniff sniff.    SNIFF SNIFF.

Mom: You ok?

Jared: Yeah, I have a booger in my nose. 

Mom: Let me see, do you need a tissue? 

Jared: (Proceeds to blow nose.)

Mom: Did it work?

Jared: It needs a finger up there.

He lives in a pineapple under the sea

I never thought I would say I miss SpongeBob.

I always put cable TV on hold for the 6 months while the weather is beautiful in AZ.  So, we right now have the basic shows.  As Jared was watching one of these channels (qubo) I was doing dishes and catching a bit of it.  I kept hearing the term ‘belly button lint’.  My interest was piqued. 

There are a handful of animals that are friends and were each collecting their own lint.  Some of the more villainous characters were stealing the lint from others.  (gag)  Turns out there is an annual belly button lint weighing contest. 

In case you are still held in suspense, (I know I was feeling something other than suspense) The villian is found out and is disqualified. 

So, need I repeat…

I MISS SPONGEBOB.

Miss you nanner.

If this picture is the only good thing that came out of Thanksgiving weekend, all the prep and crazy would be worth it!  But it’s not…  More to come!

A little privacy please?

I almost never write about Jason.  He’s such a private person.  Maybe I don’t out of respect for his privacy…

NAH. 

Several years ago I asked a marriage counselor a simple question. It wasn’t phrased so much as a question as it was a slur of words spit out in exasperation. 

“Why can’t we just have a normal marriage, like everyone else??”

He laughed.  That counselor laughed.  A good hearty laugh.  He of all people would know.  No normal marriage is what it seems. 

We both have taken our turn, well…  turning things upside down.  We started messing things up when we first got married,  and continued on doing so now for nearly 10 years.  We just figured out there will always be things to mess up, things with which to make mistakes, things that need fixing. Thaaaat’s the part we’re getting good at.  The fixing.  We know how to make a mountain out of a mole hill, and how to avoid doing it.   We have traveled (tripped/stumbled) down the road of sorrow.  And then headed back on the path to forgiveness.  We still have a long journey ahead.  BUT…

We have never laughed so loudly, smiled so broadly, loved so deeply, as we do now in our 10th year together.  He is my friend. My companion.  My love. 

It’s in the fine print

So I bought some new clippers. 

Aren’t they pretty?  They sound like a jet engine when you turn them on.  And they are awesome.  I could shear a sheep with these babies.   So today I was looking through the warranty info and reading the fine print. 

This warranty does not cover normal wear of parts or damage, resulting from any of the following…  (it goes on to list)  …Further, the warranty does not cover: Acts of God, such as fire, flood, hurricanes, and tornadoes. 

It doesn’t cover Acts of God!  I shouldn’t be surprised that God was mentioned here, but I was.  It could’ve said, the warranty doesn’t cover natural disasters, a phenomenon, a supernatural event, freak accident, or aliens taking over planet earth.    Thank you Oster for this small print truth. 

 

Pick a chick

Fall Carnival was last weekend and I have three additions to the family.  Chick number one, Beautiful unicorn sparkle bird, and Motorcycley.  Keep in mind we live a bit out of city limits so the festivities fell into the categories of Money Goat (they tied money to a goat and the kids chased it), the Chick chase, and the typical, bounce house, dunk tank, cake walk, etc etc, and the concession stands.   Lainy was all in for the chick chase.  I had to coerce Jared into lining up.  He was not enthusiastic.  I figured I didn’t have much to worry about.  Until they both came giggling and squealing each carrying a wiggling and squeaking chick.  What are the chances?   There were like 30 kids in their group and 6 chicks!  Ok, I figured we could give them away later right?  Then Jayce’s group was up.  The older they got, the more competitive it got.  The chase ended and Jayce was empty handed.  Phew.  But wait!  A chick had escaped.  Through the fence and into the adjacent field.  The kids stood watching it run free it seemed.  Until a kid shimmied up and over said fence and grabbed the fleeing chicka-doo.  My kid.  3 for 3!?  I heard myself sigh loudly as a mother consoled her child walking by empty handed and in tears. 

There was no prying those chickens away after that.   Jayce refused to name his.  (He assumed for a while that we would eventually eat it.)  It’s been a full week.  They still wake every morning with the words can I go see my chick? on their tiny tired lips.  And every afternoon they spend hours playing with them.  I’m getting used to the idea. 

My Autumn Eyes by Jayce

My autumn eyes behold

The tall tree at home.

The big fat person.

The tiny milk dud.

The little tiny weirdo.

 

*** I’m sure he meant no offense. 

Today I…

Began writing a little story.  A children’s story. Maybe someday I’ll share it with ya. It’s about counting your blessings.  It’s about knowing life changes and sometimes the stuff you want to hang onto the most gets lost in the shuffle of change.  I love the change.  It’s the shuffle I haven’t mastered yet.  So, following suit with you fellow bloggers in a month of thankfulness, here are the things I am grateful for even in midst of the shuffle. 

• I am grateful I don’t have a cold.  I hate stuffy noses and coughing.
• I am grateful for friends and sisters who let me chatter their ear off. 
• I am grateful for a husband who has a job. 
• I am grateful for the internet. 
• I am grateful for my calling teaching the 16/17 year old young women. 
• I am grateful for brown floors that don’t show the dirt. 
• I am grateful for bleach. 
• I am grateful for 80 degree weather in November.
• I am grateful that Jason’s hobby is collecting Hot Wheels and not real wheels.
• I am grateful for authors so I can read.
• I am grateful for modern medicine.
• I am grateful for Alpine Bakery so I don’t have to make bread myself.
• I am grateful. 

7 Brides for 7 Bros

This week for our musical I assumed I would be on my own.  7 Brides for 7 Brothers.  The kids didn’t seem interested so I took it into the office while I sewed costumes.  Halfway through I had Lainy and Jared squeezed into my office chair hushing me.   Even Jayce begs to watch it for our after dinner TV time. We have watched it 5 times together since.  Always at their request. 

Sedona memories

I grew up in So Cal and have never ventured south to Mexico. 

I have lived in AZ for 10 years and until a few weeks ago had never been to Sedona. 

We started out on the side of the road at an outdoor farmers’ market.  Whatever was in that field was probably very cool.

I know this looks like my mom, but it’s her twin sister, Julie.  Jared didn’t know twins were a reality until he took them in about 10 yards from each other.  I think his little head went back and forth between them about 10 times wondering how on earth she was in two places at once.  Once he realized she wasn’t Grammy, it only took all of 10 seconds to warm up to her!

We hit Montezuma's Castle along the way which was VERY cool.  I have a family of rule breakers and its a miracle that place is still in tact.  Jason wanted a close up shot, so he went close up.  Jared broke a chunk off of the (thankfully modern made) wall. 

Drewby had a grand time in my hair.  I swear I didn’t mind, though the picture would suggest otherwise.

I found Jared in the gift shop shaking this and trying to get the money out of the donations box.  Look at his gaze, the kid wanted that money.

Stopped off for a hike and found a walking stick bug.  Very cool. 

The rock formations were breathtaking and the weather was amazing.

Husband and 8 year old child.  Again, with the rule breaking, only this time I thought we might need a rescue chopper… They were a LOT higher than this picture looks.  Dummy.

How cute are they?  It is a still little weird seeing two of my mom. 

We ended the day going through the Church in the Rock.

Actually the day ended with milkshakes in this little place that had the ceiling covered in twinkly outer space lighting and alien life forms all over the place and creepy space music.  Weird. 

The paint plate

This plate started as a cheap plastic plate from Wal-Mart and has become a splotchy, messy, much used, memory holder. 

The dark green on the very bottom was used to paint an old picture frame that held my weekly menu and pictures of Jayce when he was a baby.

The gold used to paint the Gold plates for girls camp one year. 

The black was used to paint the Crayola signs on Halloween costumes when my kids and cousins were a box of crayons.

The red white a blue were used for painting popsicle stick flags for the Fourth of July.

It’s used several times a week for painting pages of super heroes and princesses, and sometimes arms legs and faces. 

Doesn’t look like much.  It’s all in the eye of the beholder. 

For me, it’s a plate full of memories.

Big Momma Lu

Jayce started (and has already ended) his first basketball season this year.  I have sat through countless baseball games and a couple of soccer games cheering him on as part of my motherly duties.  But basketball…  I know I will be that mom who gets removed from the gymnasium for disorderly…  yelling.   It’s my sport. I understand it. I love it.  So, when Jayce’s coach asked if I wanted to scrimmage coaches against the whole team of 11 kids, I was thrilled. 

You know when you were a kid, (or an adult) and you hear the cool nicknames people end up with?  And you wish you had one?  Yeah, that was me, with a name like Julia I thought for sure I was exempt and would never receive one (I did, but that’s another blog post).  So, that day while running around the court with little people, I had the ball and was dribbling past Jayce, when he said, “Hey, Big Momma!”   

IT  STUCK.

All three of my kids call me Big Momma on a regular basis!  I am doomed to be known as Big Momma for the rest of my life! 

And this morning when Jayce was asking why Jared (who is barely 4) has bigger feet than Braydon (who is 5) I explained that both he and Jared have bigger feet that most kids his age.  And then my downfall, I asked him did he know why?  He turned around in that chair and said,

“Cuz you’re Big Momma?”   

 

Whoosh! Was that time flying by?

Last month I was outside and caught Lainy flying past me on her bike to the driveway, she smiled as she turned her bike to the side and skidded flawlessly to a stop.  I walked over and took the training wheels off.  She just took off again.

This week Jared followed suit.  It’s been 3 days and he’s already trying to stand while riding and doing ‘poppawheelies’

This year I have no children in diapers, (even at night!) all children at school at some point or another during the week, all children in primary, no children who cry when I leave the house, all children who ride bikes with no training wheels, and all children who have grown to love being together. 

I am sad some moments…   then I go back to reading my book in quiet while they are all keeping themselves occupied on their own!

I got off at the wrong stop…

I am ready for the city life again.  Oversized scorpions and tonight a snake in the garage.  Eck.   Give me an HOA, a 12x12 patch of grass, and a cookie cutter house, and stamp me happy. 

Ok, maybe I got ahead of myself there.  I have realized in my 5 years of stumbling upon creatures from the very depths of hell, dusting in vain, and spending ridiculous amounts in gas each month, that I don’t want to live in the city.  Or even the suburbs.  I like this quiet out here.  I like that my kids can hop on their bikes and have plenty of space without traffic.  I love the peace.  I just don’t want all of that here.  Too hot.  Too dusty. Too brown. Too many creepy crawlers.  But, I’ll take it with a smile if that’s where I’m meant to be…  

Anyone heard of this site?  It’s so fun!  You answer a bunch of questions about what kind of place you want to live in and it gives you the top 24 cities that match!  Weirdly mine are in Washington, Kansas, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Iowa, Colorado, Ohio, and Nebraska.  Where is your ideal location?

My friend Monica

There is probably an episode of ‘Friends’ that I can associate to nearly everything in my life.  I completely relate with Monica on so many levels.  But mostly, it’s her loudness, and her love of organizing. 

Finishing up dinner tonight I was doing dishes, cleaning pots and pans, packing extra food away and finally wiping down counters.  It hit me how much I love watching a kitchen transform from crazy food mess to sparkling clean. 

On to the friends episode.  I LOVE and totally indentify with the one where Chandler cleans Monica’s kitchen and rearranges everything, and instead of freaking out that everything has been moved she thanks him for such a wonderful gift as letting her put everything back. 

***Note to my children/spouse if they happen to read this and get any ideas…  If you mess up the house and say Happy Birthday, your busted. 

How to get out of an 8 foot hole

Jayce’s teacher asked them to write detailed directions to this statement.  Here’s Jayce’s response…

To get out of an eight- foot hole first call a robot and tell him to drop a match and a roket.   Second put the rocket on your back.   Third baptism by emerson.  Jest jocking.  Third light the mach.  Fourth put it on the rocket.  Or you could clim out with a later becase when I get on it, it will fall becuse it is raining the latter sank into the mud. 

I love this kid.  He is a lazy speller.  And obviously he gets a little distracted…   To think I just about threw this gem out before reading it. 

Unsinkable

We are still slowly plucking away at the list of musicals I deem a necessity in my children’s lives.  Today was The Unsinkable Molly Brown.  Could be the most memorable musical of my childhood.  I highly recommend it.  My sisters and I sing from it often.  And hilariously.  So…   Belly up!

There’s damage with any explosion

It comes out of nowhere really.  I mean I guess you knew it was coming.  All the signs were there.  All the warnings.  It’s not like an explosion isn’t worked up to.  You have to put the explosives in there and light them right?  Surely once you light them and walk away, you expect them to blow up at some point.  Just not sure at exactly what moment it will blow.  And for the those on the other side of the hill who never saw you shoving explosives in there and lighting it, wow were they unprepared.  All that noise and blasting.  Stuff flying through the air and being too close to it and having the ash and crud fall down on top of them without warning.  Seems as if they should have had some warning.  Probably scared them a bit.  Too bad you didn’t think that through before everything blew…

Today I shoved the explosives in and lit them.  Today my family were those on the other side of the hill being rained on by my explosion.  No warning.  Just noise and crud flying through the air.  Sorry family.  I’ll try and give a little warning next time. 

My hour.

There’s hours for sleeping

for eating

for feeding

for laundry

for homework

for the salon

for scrubbing

for carpooling

for bills

for scolding

for hugging

for comforting

for countless things that need doing. 

Then, there’s the hour for me.  The hour of silence, to read or relax, to eat without sharing.

Just enough time to notice the silence. 

And just enough time to love my life for all the craziness that it is.