Friends to last a Lifetime

Finally, another Sunday addition of people who inspire me.

The fact that I have put this post off for SO LONG is pathetic. We went to AZ for Aaron's grandpa's funeral (what?.. like 6 months ago) and we were able to stop and see some of our favorite people in the world. I know, I know, I say everyone is my favorite... but these guys really are! We met Lauri and Myounghee (me-young-he) 7 years ago at the Provo tabernacle, where hundreds of people were gathered for a church function. I sat next to Myounghee and immediately fell in love. Our husbands were off ushering [or doing something else manly] and we just chatted and chatted and chatted. Ben was only 6 months old and her oldest daughter Michelle was two. A second after being introduced, we were literally talking a million miles an hour-- (we're both fast talkers to begin with) but there is no other way to explain it but that we had instant chemistry. I remember thinking that day, "Meeting a person like this doesn't happen everyday." At the end of the conversation (when we were pulled away from each other) I got her number to call her so we could meet up another time.. and you would never believe what we discovered when we returned home-- WE WERE NEIGHBORS! We lived in the same building!! No kidding, her front door was about 20 steps away from mine.. she was just a stairwell away. It was divine intervention. We were meant to be friends with these people.. and I believe we will always keep in touch.

I could probably write a novel about this family-- they have had such incredible experiences and stories. (This is the very reason I have put off writing this post is because it I knew if I started it would end up being 100 pages!)

Let me just start with the basics... I will try not to get carried away.

Myounghee is Korean. Her father is a rice farmer and she comes from a big, hardworking family. She was not born into the church, but was baptized at age 12. Her story of finding the LDS Church in Korea is miraculous. If I can get her to write it in her own words, I will.. it's just overwhelming for me to try to do it myself. Let me just say that after the death of her grandfather she was searching for answers and tracked down the Mormon missionaries (remember, I said she was only 12.) She read the Book of Mormon in ONE NIGHT. Her parents allowed her to get baptized, and she worked so hard to prove to them how much her membership in the Church meant to her. As a teenager, her father got very sick and the family was devastated. Myounghee promised God that if He would save her father, she would find a way to serve a mission for the church. Her father was healed, and a few years later, she was called to serve as a sister missionary in California. She served faithfully, learned English and has some of the most miraculous stories from her time as a missionary. After her mission, she attended school at BYU-Hawaii. This is where she met her wonderful husband, Lauri (who happens to be from Finland.)

Lauri is funny, smart, humble and such a great guy! We love him too and have learned so much from his example. He was attending BYU law school in Provo when we met. He (and his wife) had to sacrifice so much for his degree.. not just during school, but they had to save for years for tuition money because they didn't have citizenship in the country to take out student loans. They lived so frugally and were so humble about everything they had. When we first went into their apartment, it was practically empty. I saw suitcases on their bedroom floors, and I thought they can just returned from a trip.. but I quickly realized that they didn't have any furniture. Their clothes were in suitcases (for over a year) because that's all they had. With lots of family close by, I rounded up help from Aaron's parents who were living in Orem. We got them dressers and couches and a few household items. Myounghee was so excited about it, she called me several times to say, "I feel like I am living in a hotel." How can you help but not love her?

They didn't have a car while living in Provo. Myounghee walked everywhere and was so shy about asking for rides. We each only had one child at the time, so we always piled in our Honda and went lots of places together. Soon after we met, Myounghee found out she was expecting again and I was lucky enough to not only be a part of her doctor's appointments, but I was in the delivery room when her second baby girl was born. Nicole was a BEAUTIFUL baby and is such a gorgeous 5 year old now! She has since had two adorable little boys.. A big blessing for Myounghee because boys RULE in Korea. She always tells me that God favors me by sending me boys.

I found out I was pregnant with Luke when early one morning, Myounghee knocked on my door and told me that she had a dream that I was having another boy. I didn't think it was possible because we weren't even trying. She said, "oh, yes. You are having a boy. I dreamed there was a cow and flowers [or something to that effect] and that means you are expecting another boy!" I didn't know it at the time, but I was 5 weeks pregnant.. and sure enough, it was a boy!. I quickly learned to trust when Myounghee had 'revelations'. She has amazing stories of what has happened in her dreams and I believe her 100%. Don't mess around with the Korean woman with vivid dreams. She knows what she's talking about. She also ALWAYS says it like it is. She is blunt and open and isn't afraid to hurt your feelings. I just love that about her!

Another story I just LOVE is when we realized they had never been out to eat at a restaurant in Provo. I am not sure how long they had lived there, but when we found out that they hadn't eaten at a single restaurant, we told them we would take them ANYWHERE they wanted... our treat. They were both so surprised and almost turned us down. We told them to pick the place and we'd make it a date. They both said they needed to think about where they wanted to go. A couple of days later Myounghee called me and said, "We finally decided where we want to go...." I wanted to know where. With much excitement she said, "ARBY'S!" That was not the kind of restaurant we were expecting, but Arby's it was. We told them to buy as much food at they wanted.. It was such a fun night. After dinner we all went to a 50 cent movie at the cheap theaters in Provo and it was ghetto-fabulous.

Myounghee and Lauri are such a big part of our Provo experience. We were so sad to say goodbye to them because we weren't sure when we'd see them again. They are literally the most WARM, humble, wonderful people and will forever be our dear friends. Lauri has since finished law school and is an attorney in AZ. I LOVED going to their home to visit them because it is still so modest and so welcoming. They have their priorities straight and conversation with them is never vain or shallow. They are hilarious and such wonderful parents. Their children, by the way, are brilliant and well rounded. All four children are fluent in Korean, Finnish AND English. Myounhee only speaks Korean to them, Lauri only speaks Finnish to them, and in order for the parents to understand each other, they all have to speak English! It was such a joy to see them and to see Michelle playing the piano and Nicole talking a million miles an hour (just like her mother!) I am keeping my fingers crossed that we will still live close to them-- because you never know if they are going to go back to Finland or Korea. Five hours isn't so bad, but what I wouldn't give to be living in the same building!

This Thanksgiving season, I am truly grateful for friends. The last few months of my life have been spent thinking about such materialist things.. buying a new house (and trying to furnish it) does that to you.. or at least it has to me. The last few days I have really tried to step back and take a breather and remember what is MOST important. And for me, it's people. It's my family-- immediate and not so immediate, it's the wonderful friends we've made in Las Vegas, and it's all the loved ones I've met along the way. I am so grateful for those who have made an impact for good on my life. I wish I lived closer to my parents and siblings. I know they are going to have a killer Thanksgiving meal on Thursday and I will SO miss it!!! But I get the next best thing-- my in-laws are coming to town and I am looking forward to hosting in my new house.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Eat your heart out! I will be back next week... with Christmas music to boot!

Lucky in Love

Aaron and I have an email relationship. It's been this way since the beginning. He confessed his love (not the first time, but the second time) over a wonderfully written, charismatic email and that was the day I knew. We call it "THE email". Maybe someday I will share it, but that someday will have to be after Aaron dies.

We have volumes and volumes of emails sent to each other. We spent our entire engagement living 4 hours apart... and it was before the cell phone age, so the majority of our "conversations" are written down. Our first couple of years of marriage were school years for both of us. We were lucky to see each other for an hour a day, but we definitely kept in touch... it just happened to be over email. And of course, law school was the same story. We literally have thousands of emails, and I just so happen to have all those emails printed out... and in chronological order in three ring binders.

If my house burnt down, these volumes are one of the first things I would grab. Pictures are important, but love letters (and some not so lovey-dovey) mean something more to me. These emails tell our story. And it's not the same story that I wrote in my journal. I always tell people that I can't remember the first few years of motherhood (I was so busy with school, work and two little toddlers) but I have SO many emails written to my husband about what happened during those busy days. And I am so glad I do! A few days ago, I was thumbing through these emails and laughed out loud several times. How quickly we forget! How much fun it is to remember!

I decided to copy and paste a couple of emails on my blog.. and don't worry, they aren't the lovey-dovey stuff. Just a couple of everyday stories that could have been easily forgotten..
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From: Janet
Title: Do you think my mom is GORGEOUS?

I went to the store with the kids in tow because cereal was on sale--- and I know how much you love Lucky Charms. I told the boys if they were good at the store, we could rent a movie on our way out-- (Redbox is the bomb!)

The couple in front of us was taking entirely too long deciding which movie to rent.. when the wife's cell phone rang. She answered with, "Hi Mom!" and then proceeded to tell her mom which movie choices they were thinking about. Then she handed the phone over to her husband. His greeting totally shocked me. He put the phone to his ear and enthusiastically said, "HEY GORGEOUS!" I just couldn't help but smile because he was talking to either his mom or his mother in law--- Have you ever described your mom (or mine) as GORGEOUS? It's kinda cute and kinda twisted at the same time.

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From: Aaron
Title: evil soap dispensers

So I just went to the bathroom and went to wash my hands and when I pushed down on the soap dispenser it shot across the entire sink and hit me right in the crotch...right on my zipper. Now it looks like I stained my pants for the day.

It would probably come out with some water...but that would mean getting that area even more wet. So, I'm stuck with the soap on my crotch. My hate soap dispensers.

("My hate" is what Zack says... or used to say anyway.)

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From: Janet
Title: get outta my personal space!

I took the boys to a consignment store today. It was empty and it seemed like the manager was super excited when we walked in the door. She kept asking what we were looking for and how she could help. She was a short little Asian woman and although I liked her enthusiasm, sometimes overly anxious customer service people can bug! She seriously followed us down every isle. If I touched an article of clothing and put it back, she asked if it wasn't the right size or why I didn't like it. Geez lady! And if the kids picked up a toy and played with it for a minute, she was breathing down their necks, just waiting to put it back where it belonged. Eventually I told them not to touch anything. Just as I was about to leave, I turned around and for some odd reason, she was at my feet-- picking something off the ground. She stood up at the same time that I turned around and I elbowed her right in the head. (I told you she was short!) I could tell it really hurt her... you know when it's a hard hit. She grabbed her head and just kept saying "Ouch!" And I am such a bad person because I wasn't about to say sorry. I was just trying hard not to laugh.... first of all, because I always think it's funny when people get hurt... and secondly because she totally DESERVED it. We left without buying anything, and now I can see why her store was empty.
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*As I was printing out our recent emails and filing them away, I realized something... This past year, we have really been slacking in the email department. I figured it was because Aaron's job has been busier. And then it hit me. We finally have cell phones. Much more convenient, but if any of our posterity ever decide to read our Email Love Story, they will think we split up in 2008.

TWO days of crazy.. and more to come..

In the past 48 hours, I have:

• been visit taught
• gone visiting teaching
• made dinner for a neighbor who is very sick
• gone on a temple trip with the youth (left at 5 pm returned at 10:30 pm)
  
• sold a few appliances for a friend who has recently moved
• participated in my cleaning group.. still love this.. and can't wait for it to be my turn next week!
  
• visited the dentist.. (and must elaborate later)
• attended a birthday party for a cute 3 year old
  
• ran several errands with all three kids in tow-- they hate me!
  
• ruined a load of laundry.. so sad.
• hung shelves in my kitchen
  
• went to YW.. with three new investigating girls-- and a few old favorites :) (again.. I have GOT to sit down and write about the incredible missionary work going on with the young women in our ward.)
  
• realized the activity was BORING so we ditched--
  
• came back to my house for banana splits. Surprised my husband when I brought back a houseful of girls.
• sent about 200 emails.. or so it seems.
• took a nice long shower somewhere in the middle of all this mess!
• blasted the new David Archuleta CD in my house and my car. I love #11.. the rest is still growing on me.
  
• said goodbye to the Chaos who are leaving us!! We will miss you!
• took apart a big playhouse and reassembled it in our toy room.
  
• dropped off my kids to several different houses to be babysat. Thank you everyone!
  

Things I have NOT done:

• gotten over my cold
  
• played with my kids
• watched a minute of TV
  
• called my mom who probably wonders if I am alive.
• made my husband a lunch for work
• read anyone's blog
• cleaned my house
• prayed, read scriptures or done anything that requires quietness.
  
• gotten ready for Thanksgiving.. there is so much to do and so little time!

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A conversation held somewhere in the middle of this that I don't want to forget:

Zack brought me a granola bar and asked me to open it. I saw that it was the crunchy kind... a kind he never actually eats.

Me: You can't have this.. you won't eat it.
Him: I will break it and throw it to the dog and he will eat it.
Me: We don't have a dog, Zack.
Him: OH! (laughing)

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and last but not least... let me address a sad matter of business, since it's been the commanding subject in my email box. Blurb (the company that I printed my blog book with) is no longer converting blogs into books. You can manually copy and paste your blog, but it's not doing it for you.. the older software will still do it. So, don't upgrade if you haven't already. My computer hasn't been updated and will still transfer any blog over. I tried it last night and it worked fine, but that may be because I have already printed a book with them.

I have no idea why they changed their software.. probably because blogging has gotten out of hand and they print the books cheap. Does anyone know of another blog printing company that doesn't charge an arm or a leg to print a book? I don't have any answers, but would love to hear from some of you.

Because I Have Today Award

A little while ago, I wrote about how much I love Hilary Weeks, an LDS singer/song writer/author. While looking at her website several weeks ago, I read about a "Because I have Today" Award.. inspired by her new song If I only had Today-- a song that ALWAYS makes me cry every time I listen to it. After reading about the contest HERE I decided to write about my dear friend Bev Olson.. my adopted Grandma that I introduced to to a few months ago. Anyway, we just heard the news from Hilary herself.. and my entry WON! Wahoo! Bev recieved a personal call from her and will be getting her CD and new book in the mail shortly! I was so excited to hear the news and love that others can be inspired by her incredible story.

To read the article I wrote on Hilary's website, click HERE

If you love it, then why don't you marry it?

Another random post with pictures and stories that have nothing to do with each other... but I'm still good enough, smart enough, and Doggone it. People like me!
__________________________________________________________________

Last week I took this picture of the kids eating lunch.

Their conversation was funny and I knew that if I didn't take a picture, I would forget what they said. Well, guess what? A few hours after the picture was taken, I could NOT remember what they said. Is it possible to be part-time Alzheimerish? If so, I think I am.

It just so happened that they repeated the SAME phrase today and the conversation came flooding back.. so I am writing it down now.

Ben and Luke were in charge of making lunch.. (hence the knives still standing upward in both jars..) They made a PB&J for Zack, but he didn't want it. He insisted on having a Cheetos. Ben said, "Well, I am not taking orders. If you are not going to make it yourself, you'll need to eat what we put in front of you." (wonder where he got that one from....)

Zack still said he didn't want a sandwich and eventually they caved in (again, wonder where they got that from....) Instead he got the only other lunch option they knew how to make= cheese quesadillas. After he ate several bites, they let him have Cheetos and he was a happy camper. He kept saying over and over and over, "I love Cheetos so much. Cheetos are sooooo yummy. I love them, I love them!"

I could tell Luke was getting a little frustrated by Zack's obsession with Cheetos so he said, "Well, if you love them so much, then you will just have to marry them!"

I thought it was particularly funny because I am almost positive that he came up with that line himself... as if it hasn't been around for a hundred years.
__________________________________________________________________

A few days after that, I found Luke on the couch reading last year's blog book. He was fascinated with everything in it and asked, "How did you get all these pictures in here?"

I told him that I had done it on the computer and a company printed it for me.

Luke said: Why do you write down the things I say?

Me: Because sometimes you say cute and funny things.

Luke (still dumbfounded): Well, who reads that kind of stuff?

Me: You would be surprised. I post it on my blog and a lot of people read it and think it's funny.

Luke: You mean, like Grandma?

Me: Yeah, like Grandma and lots of other people. Some people you have never even met before.

Luke: Oh. Then I don't think I am going to say going to say anything funny anymore.

Me: That's exactly how Daddy feels.


And yet, he still let me take a picture of him. Sucka! He doesn't quite get it yet. **evil witch laugh** Let's make fun of him even more by pointing out that both his heel and toe are making an entrance in the picture too. I tell ya, this kid can put on a brand new pair of socks and within a couple of hours, he's created all kinds of holes. That's why I love summer... no socks, no holes.
________________________________________________________________

Today Zack was very upset when he handed me this picture (taken by Val last year)


I asked him why he was so mad and he said, "Mom, You DON'T marry me ever again!! You only marry Dad!"

I said that is fine by me.
__________________________________________________________________

And last but not least... here was today's home improvement project-- a new fireplace. Ever since we walked through the model home of this floorplan I knew I needed to do something with the mantle over the fireplace. It's used to be a tan plasterish-mold of some kind.


Evenually, I want to get a nice wooden one.. but until then, I am going to enjoy it painted black.


Obviously, you can't see how nice it looks because it's just so... black. More reason to come and visit me. I have things to put on the fireplace too, but the paint was wet and I didn't want to get ahead of myself. Oh, and the whole room is finished too. Ceiling fan in, pictures hung on the wall, curtains up, new red couches. I would have taken a picture, but Aaron was sitting on the couch and I didn't want him to think I was blogging about EVERYTHING. Seriously, I am walking on eggshells around this house when it comes to what I put on the blog. Men can be so touchy.

Someday, I will take you all on a virtual tour. Not that you care what my house looks like... and not that I care what you think of me and how I decorate. Seriously, this is my house and I will do with it how I please. So stay away interior decorators. Don't spoil all my fun.

The Primary Program

My blog is totally slacking lately.. but I've practically been on my death bed here. I was barely able to lift my head off the pillow this morning.. and I would have slept all day had it not been the Primary Program at church. For those of you who aren't LDS, my church has a wonderful yearly tradition of having the children take over Sacrament meeting. The program is about an hour long and gives each child an opportunity to practice their public speaking skills as well as sing the songs they have learned in Primary that year. I wouldn't miss this for the world.

I cried two minutes after the program started. Not necessarily because of my kids (although they were mighty cute) but I was overwhelmed by the sight of all these beautiful children.. the future leaders of the world. They began the program with all of the little Sunbeams (ages 3-4) saying their name followed by, "I am a child of God." It was very powerful. I sat back and looked at my three sons and realized that even though I am their mother, they are not MY children. They are God's children. They belong to Him and they each have a specific, divine purpose. How lucky I am to have them in my life so they can teach me on a daily basis.

My other favorite part of the program happened somewhere in the middle. The kids were all on their feet, so I am pretty sure it was in the middle of a song. Luke was standing about 4 feet behind Ben.. and I watched Ben turn completely around and wave at his little brother. Luke (who was in the middle of a big yawn) quickly smiled and whole-heartily waved back.. As Ben faced the front again to resume singing, Aaron turned to me and said, "Did you see that?" Yes, I did. And I will never forget it.. at least not after I write it down in the blogging archives of our lives, anyway.

So, that's all I have time for tonight. My intension was to sit down and write about our dear friends in Arizona.. and post 6 month old pictures that I haven't got around to uploading yet. But it aint gonna happen tonight. I must sleep. Hopefully tomorrow I will get a minute of peace and quiet and get caught up in the blogging world (and every other area in my life!) Isn't being sick the worst?

Old Nevada or Bust

"Field Trip Friday" actually took place on Thursday this week. I know, we're total rebels!

Bonnie Springs is always good to us. We were surrounded by lots of friends and the weather could not have been more beautiful. Highlights of the trip were:

• Zack announcing "It stinks in here!" as soon as we entered the petting zoo.

• Ben wearing his "way too cool for you" Transformer sunglasses..

• Kaitlin grabbing Ben's arm when a goat approached and said (in a very high, flirtatious voice) "Oh, I'm scared!"

• Joshua almost getting eaten by a deer.

• Me talking with my sexy voice. I was lucky I had one!
  

• The turtle with his leg up in the air... we figured he was doing tortoise yoga.

• The donkey who gave us several demonstrations of an actual "Hee-Haw!"

• Ryder crying the entire time :)

• The bull named Houdini.

• Vaughn almost running into the nasty lake! Should have brought the leash!

• Not having to pay a penny for a petting zoo that wants to charge $20 a car. I don't think so.

Rachel and Ashley + kids weren't in any of the pictures because we got split up. Where did you guys go?

the dome that Jack built.

This is the view from our front "porch"

If you don't think miles of nothing is exciting, think again. I have three boys who love to throw rocks and clods of dirt to watch them explode. Eventually something will be built there, we're not sure WHAT (it won't be houses because there is a big wash going across this land.) Our neighbors are fighting for a big nice park across the street. Our boys secretly hope it stays exactly how it is.. Exploration, imagination and adventure just waiting to happen.

What you may not have noticed in the middle of the dirt is the ULTIMATE fort.. an old abandoned dome house.. Let me show you the picture again, but with an arrow or two.

Yesterday we were all feeling a little cooped up in our homeschooling house, so we decided to take a hike to the "fort". I think it's about a 15 minute walk and it was a beautiful day. Can you say 75 degrees? We can. Here is my favorite picture from our mini-hike. Luke with his Moses staff and Zack with his light-saber.


And here are a few shots of the dome house. This is not the first time the boys have been here, but it was mine. It's completely trashed, but a long time ago it was someone's house. Complete with a front porch, light sockets and textured, painted walls. Now that we've played in the Ultimate fort, cardboard tree houses are for sissies.

Oh, and if anyone needs an extra toilet seat, I know EXACTLY where to find one.

Make a MONTH of meals in ONE night.

That's right, people. I made a month of meals in a single night... My friends and I started a little FREEZER MEAL group last month and dinner time has never been better (or more cost effective!) If you're interested in starting your own group, this is what you need to do (in a very simplified explanation.)

• Gather a few friends who want to make their busy, complicated lives a little easier. (Our group has 6 people.. but that's not necessarily a special number.)

• Meet together to discuss a menu. Decide on the meals you want to make. Multiply the recipe ingredients by the number of people in your group.

• Make a master shopping list... (our list included TONS of gallon zip lock bags, disposable tin casserole pans, and other necessities for our meals.)

• Assign a person to host the freezer meal making party.

• Assign a grocery shopper (or 2 or 3 because it's a lot of groceries!)

• Divide the prep work (like chopping onions, browning the hamburger, etc.) among the members. The prep work takes about an hour or so of time. (For instance, last month I shredded 15 pounds of chicken for everyone's chicken enchiladas. Someone else chopped the onions :)
  

• Set a date to prepare the meals. We like doing it on a weeknight. It takes a couple of hours to assemble the meals, but let me tell you, it's a good time!

• Bring your prep work to the meal making party --along with your cooler and fill it up with lots of good, healthy meals!

• Divide the costs. We paid a little over $100 each for our meals.. this included all the tin pans, baggies, etc. Very cost effective and no dinner dishes!
  

• Take home a months worth of meals for your family and stop stressing about what to make for dinner!

We made 14 meals total, but the recipes are about 2 meals each (at least for my family.) Most of the meals are great for crockpots and lay flat in the freezer in a zip lock bag. We originally thought we were going to have to purchase a freezer for our garage, but there is plenty of room. For December, our menu includes lots of yummy soups to keep us warm in this COLD Vegas weather!

If you want a list of several recipes we've used, leave a comment with your email address and I will send it to you.. A big thanks to my friend Stephanie who gave us great instructions and got us going!

Also, if you live in Vegas and are feeling left out, I am sorry. I tried advertising it the best I could and went with the first 5 people interested. There are enough people who want to start another group. Talk to me and we'll get something going..

For other WFMW tips, check out Shannon's blog.

1970 called. They want their laundry room back.

What were you doing this morning at 1am? I was painting mustard, orange and green stripes in my laundry room. I think it turned out great, but I forgot to ask my husband's opinion before I started. Oh well, I figured if he doesn't spend any time in the room, then he doesn't have a say on how it's painted. Word.

Before..
just plain ol' boring white.


During..
quite the mess. especially after I stepped on a paintbrush on the ground.
yes, I mixed colors again. I wanted the mustard less mustardy..
so I lighted it up a bit in a bucket. ALL of these colors were on the clearance (miss-matched) isle at Walmart. I think the whole project was about $15... including the 3 rolls of tape used.
Suh-weet.


Keeping the kids busy.
Homeschooling=slave labor.


The final product


so many busy pictures.. I tried to get it from all angles.



Pictured is my shoe organizer on the back of the door. I love this.. it keeps my super glue, exacto knife, batteries, balloons, etc out of reach. the laundry room is the best place for all these odds and ends (in my opinion :) So far the kids (especially ZACK) have stayed away from it... *knocking on wood*



I still have a few touch ups on the ceiling.. but not bad for a one day project. And here's a shout out to my friend, Natalie, who was a huge help! She stayed late while our husbands went to play basketball together. It's always fun to have company especially at 11 pm when our kids were crying and roaming the house naked!

PS. Today The Twins Turn TEN!
I can't believe it's already been ten years! I still remember the day you were born.. I was telling everyone on campus at Ricks College that I was an aunt to twins! A boy and a girl.. who are still the best of friends. We sure do love you Cole and Corah!

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down..

It's definitely not raining or snowing in Vegas.. and I am glad about that. But how is it Monday again already? I had every intention of blogging over the weekend, but there wasn't a second to spare. It just goes by too fast and somehow we're starting another week. We had a great time the past couple of days... we went to the temple, bought a new couch, started another painting project, tried a couple of new recipes, ate the yummiest apple cinnamon bread, hung curtains, took long naps, and decorated our house Turkey-style.. it was busy and I don't have a single picture to show for it.

I do, however, have another picture. I came across a photo from one of my bridal showers (taken 8.5 years ago.) And at the time, I was wondering how in the world I could keep in touch with ALL of these girls that I love so much. Guess what?? EVERY one of them has a blog.. EVERY SINGLE ONE. and those who don't keep their blogs updated (you know who you are) I so wish you would so I wouldn't have to CALL you to know what's happening in your life. Who uses the phone anymore, really?

Bloggers pictured:
Top: RaeLynn, Tristie, Heidi, Nat
Middle: Francine, Azy, Moi, Janessa, Steph
Bottom: Smelsha, My sister Debbie, Kelly, Becky, and the hostess Valerie.

I just wanted to take the opportunity to bear my blogging testimony. I love keeping in touch with so many people that I love. I am so grateful we have the technology we have to make it so easy. I am so glad we can print it out at the end of the year and have everything documented. I am so grateful for my kids... for the material they give me to blog about. And even though my husband is not an active part of my blogging world and will probably never become a member-- I am grateful that he gives me the support to do what I love. I am grateful for the people who comment because I totally feel the Spirit every time you do. I know that blogging is the ONLY way to live and that whoever invented it was inspired by God to restore it in these Latter-days. I say these things over the World Wide Web. Amen.

Bad Moms Anoymous

I know. Two posts in one day. buckle your seat belts.

We met Aaron for lunch yesterday.. I was proud of myself for getting out the door on time (when Aaron meets us for lunch he shows up 10 minutes late.. because he thinks I will show up 10 minutes late.) We were in the garage, getting into the van when Zack, standing in a puddle of wetness, says "Oops. I peed my pants." Ugh. He hasn't had an accident in forever and he purposely chose THIS time to pee his pants because he hates me and loves to see me irritated. We went inside, changed his pants, underwear, socks AND shoes.. all while Zack is explaining to his brothers that he's not a big boy anymore. He's smart, that one.

We get back out to the garage and realize that the huge, heavy 500 pound bench seats are against the garage wall and not inside the car. Aaron took them out so that he could vacuum the van after our disgusting road trip where the kids had gobs of candy and popcorn from Halloween. It was sweet of my husband to clean out MY car, but he didn't put the seats back in. As much as I would like to drive around with my kids rolling on the floor, it's against the law. And I never break the law when the safety of my children is in jeopardy.

So, I rally the troops to help me lift up one of the monstrous seats.. (because one is all I NEED for the legal amount of seat belts.) Whenever I ask for the boys' help--especially if it involves physical labor-- Ben is the only one to respond. Luke will pretend like he's a big helper. He will make a face like he's lifting and sometimes even grunt as though it's too heavy.. when in reality, he's not lifting a finger. It's kinda cute and kinda annoying. Anyway, Ben and I lift the heavy seat in the back and lock it in place.

My kids LOVE it when our 3-seater is in the van without the 2-seater. They have lots of room to stretch their legs, do a little dance before buckling up, etc.... it's basically like we're having a party in a moving vehicle. I like it too because there is so much SPACE between us... and when Zack needs something, I pretend I can't hear him because he's so far away from me.

The kids were were all sitting down, putting on their own buckles when I pulled out of the garage and called Aaron to tell him that I was running late. When I hit the busy road, I realized that Zack and Ben are firmly buckled, but Luke was only pretending to be buckled in. Does anyone else have a child who pretends to be buckled? Mine pulls the seat belt over his lap and holds it with his hand, but never actually clicks it in the clicker. He's very tricky that way. But I wasn't falling for it. So I said to him (in a very June-Cleaver-ish sort of way) "Luke, please put on your seat belt."

He responds with, "I have my buckle on, Mom."

Me: "You're being pretty tricky, Luke. But I know you don't have it on the right way. Make sure it clicks."

The little liar says, "I am not tricking you! It really is on! Can't you see that it's across my lap?"

Me: "I am not going to ask you again, Luke. Click it in and pull it tight. You could get really hurt if we got into a wreck."

"But Mom! I promise! IT'S ON! I clicked it!"

And this is when my He-Is-Going-To-Have-To-Learn-This-The-Hard-Way personality takes over and makes me do mean things. I see that there is a red light ahead and zero cars behind me... so I decide to SLAM on my brakes long before I need to stop. Ben and Zack who were firmly in their seat belts said something like, "WHOA." And Luke... who had just promised that his seat belt was on, went flying... and with so much space in the van, his cute little body came all the way up to the front seat.

I was laughing hysterically when he stood up and quietly whispered, "Okay, I will put my seat belt on."

Very good, son. Very good.

And THAT is how we spent our afternoon. Lunch was very delicious, by the way.

This or that? Lighthearted comparisons.

To compare or not to compare. That is the daily battle of most women. Why do we add stress to our lives by making constant comparisons? No matter where we turn someone is always doing/being something better than we are. Their house is cleaner, their jeans are smaller, their kids are better behaved, they seem to have it more together, they have more comments on their blog, etcetera, etcetera. The past few months (after reading my favorite book that I never talk about because it means too much and I would talk too long about it) I have found myself comparing less and life is definitley less complicated.

However, the past week or so, my boys conversations revolve around comparisons. It's not so much that they aren't as good as someone else, but they are really analyzing everything in general-- wanting to know if it's better and why. This is new for them (I think) and may have been triggered by the recent election talk. It's definitely taken a new spin on the things said at our house. Every time I turn around my kids are talking about who sees farther, who runs fastest, freckles or no freckles, which child is better behaved, who eats the most dinner. At first I was thinking it was a solely a boy/competitive thing.. but I think it's more than that. It's like a whole new way to have a conversation. Let me share a few of their discussions, so you get an idea. These have all happened in the past week... and I am telling you, is a small percentage of their non stop comparisons.


Situation 1: How many stairs will make you happy?

Ben asks the family WHICH HOUSE we like the best. The one we're living in or our smaller townhouse we just moved from. I would think it would be an easy question.. with no discussion needed, but I was wrong.

Ben: Are you guys glad we moved?
Me: How could you say that? Everything about this house is nicer than our other place.
Ben: Yeah, I think I like this house better, but I am just not sure.
Me: We have so much more room and we can paint the walls and make it OURS.
Luke: Well, the other house had 16 steps and this house only has 15. So not everything is better about it.
Aaron and I looked at each other and tried not to laugh while they kept talking... Luke is a numbers man. If one stair was going to make him happier, than maybe we should have stayed.


Situation 2: Which food is higher on the "healthy" scale?
(this is a conversation that happens almost at every meal, but here are a few examples..)

While eating at Cafe Rio:
Luke: What is more healthy, the strawberry or the cheese quesadilla?
Me: Um. probably the strawberry.
Ben: What? I thought the strawberry was the dessert!
Me: well, it's a fruit. The cheese quesadilla is a good source of protein, but it has fat too.
Luke: So which one should I eat first? (not stressing about it, just wondering for future eating habits :)
Me: It probably doesn't matter. You need to eat them both.
Ben: What he means is, if you had to chose only ONE to eat for the rest of your life, which one should he chose?
Me: I don't know. Maybe the quesadilla ?
Luke: I would chose the strawberry.
Ben: Me too.

A typical dinner question:
Ben: Which is more healthy CHICKEN or TURKEY?
Me: Um, I don't know. It depends on what part of the turkey or chicken you were eating.
Ben: Well, I think turkey is better because a whole holiday was named after it.


Situation 3: If you could color your wife what would she look like?

In the car, the boys were having a FULL BLOWN discussion on what they want their future wife to look like. This is HUGE for my boys because I wasn't sure they knew girls existed. This was what I overheard in the back seat:

Luke: Do you like brown or blue eyes?
Ben: Blue because I have blue. Don't you wish your eyes were blue?
Luke: Yeah, probably. But I like green too.
Ben: Well what color of hair do you like for girls?
Luke: I don't know. What do you like?
Ben: I think black hair is the prettiest. But I like red and brown too.
Zack: (Screaming) I like blonde hair! I like blonde hair!
Luke: (laughing) Zack likes blondes. But what color of eyes do you want, Zack? Blue?
Zack: Not blue. Light blue. Light blue. I have light blue.
Me: He thinks you're talking about what color of eyes HE has.. not want he wants in a wife.
Ben: yeah. I don't think he wants a wife, yet.
Me: Do you?
Ben: No way.
Me: Well, what is it about black hair that you like?
Ben: I just think it's the prettiest hair color.
Me: Who has BLACK hair that you know?
Ben: well.. Kaitlin does. (this is serious stuff because Kaitlin is his good friend who happens to have a crush on him in a major way!)
Me: *trying to remain calm and not sound like I am teasing* So, do you think you want to marry Kaitlin?
Ben: No. Just someone that has the same hair color as her.

RIGHT E-O.


Situation 4: If we could pick our own presidential candidates...

Ben: I would never vote for Megatron if he was running for President. Would you Luke?
Luke: Who is he running against?
Ben: Optimus Prime.
Luke: Then I would NEVER vote for Megatron. He would just blow up stuff.
Me: Well, doesn't Optimus Prime blow up stuff?
Ben: Yeah, but only bad things. If Megatron had control of our country, everyone would die.
Luke: If you could pick Jazz or Bumble Bee for President, who would you pick?
Me: That's a tough call because they are both good.
Ben: That's not hard at all. I would always pick Jazz. He's my favorite of ALL the Transformers.
Luke: Yeah, mine too. **which really means, I have no opinion, but chose whatever Ben chooses.**


Situation 5: Which of the three chipmunks is the coolest.

After watching the movie, I overheard this conversation (and I still laugh out loud every time I think about it.)

Ben: I think Alvin is the funniest even though he gets in the most trouble.
Luke: Yeah. and Simon is the smartest.
Ben: But Simon is never any fun.
Luke: And he has glasses.
Ben: Well, what about Theodore?
Luke: Um.... (LONG PAUSE)
Ben: Well, I guess he has a really big butt. ?

And you wonder why I Homeschool.

all I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten.

The year was 1985. My parents had just moved into a new home (the same home they are living in 23 years later.) I was 6 years old and starting my scholastic career as a Mountain Man at Oquirrh Elementary... (and you better believe I can still sing the fight song!) I have many great memories from Kindergarten, but I think that's because I suppress all the bad and only talk about the good :) Kindergarten gave me a new sense of freedom and I loved making new friends. My mom allowed me to walk to school with my friends and that was thrilling! I was shy, sweet and told other kids on the playground that they didn't jump rope the RIGHT way. (How many times do you want me to apologize Annie? Geez.) I have always been independent, but I don't think I have a rebellious bone in my body. My mom would probably disagree, but that's because she's biased. The only time I can think of openly rebelling was in Kindergarten on picture day. At least that's the only time we have proof of my rebellion. I think.

Picture day was always exciting, wasn't it? For years, I had watched my older sisters stress about school pictures... "What do I wear? How should I style my hair? How do I keep the picture guy from making me smile my real smile?" (because we all know that the half-smile is definitely more sexy.) I am telling you, I knew the tricks of the trade and had my outfit all planned out. But the morning of my very first official school picture day, my mom crushed my hopes and dreams. She insisted that I wore my fancy, lacy pink dress, not my favorite (dirty) stripped T-shirt. I was devastated. It was hard enough getting through church wearing that itchy thing, but HOW was I going to run around the playground with a frilly dress? She reassured me that it would be okay and that fancy was the only way to go. I was disappointed, but agreed to wear it, as long as I could accessorize with my favorite pink jelly necklace. When I put the necklace over my dress, my mom took one look at me and said, "No way, no how." She told me that it did not look good together.. but I disagreed. After all, they were both pink!!!! She gave me The Look, and I was crushed. I took off the necklace and sulked down the hallway to my bedroom. And THEN I had a glorious idea. I would pretend that it didn't bother me. I would leave the house without wearing the necklace, carry on as normal and when it was time for pictures, I would pull out the jelly necklace from the secret compartment of my backpack and wear it for the portrait. Brilliant. No one will ever know. I was so smart and sneaky that after the pictures were taken, I took off the necklace, slipped it in my backpack and returned home as Miss Obedient. I had fooled everyone. Or so I thought. My six-year-old-brain didn't realize that the pictures would be printed and distributed back to the parents. My mom was shocked when I brought home my Kindergarten head shot.




oh, you actually want to see the picture? Okay.



















wait for it.































It took my mom a few years to get over it, but now the picture is classic. The jelly necklace definitely doesn't mesh with the dress, but the REAL criminal was definitely not me. It was my hairstylist. For years I thought the look on my face was "I can't believe I am getting away with this!" But now I think it could have been, "I hope the janitor doesn't want to use this mop on my head to clean the gymnasium floor."

Lessons I learned in Kindergarten:

• Jelly necklaces rock.

• Never commit a crime unless you can dispose of all the evidence.

• Moms are usually right.. but sometimes they aren't.

• the best photos (the ones that really show personality and have the best memories) are not always "picture perfect."
  

ready to paint The White House black.

Even though I voted for John McCain that doesn't mean I am disappointed by the outcome of the election. I am very hopeful and excited for the future of our country. President-elect Obama has my respect, my support and my prayers. I am sure the victory was thrilling, but the responsibility he now faces is overwhelming. He needs our support. We must work together. If we focus on the negative, we will most definitely find it. Obama is not a perfect person (by any means) but he has been elected and there aren't many out there who want his job. I know I don't. But I CAN do my part. We have so much to work for and so much to look forward to. Our children need us to be positive, respectful and courteous. We need more love and unity in our communities, neighborhoods and families. If there was ever a time to put our differences aside and be united, it is NOW! I pray that we can come together as a nation... that we can work and sacrifice to get out of this mess we are in...

Proposition 8 in California was a tough battle. The results aren't "official" yet, but it looks like it passed by a small margin. I am pleased with the outcome, but I know there are many people who are heartbroken. I feel for them and hope they understand why it's so important for us to fight for what we believe to be moral and right. It won't be long before we have to raise our voices again. It was too close for comfort and there is NO DOUBT it will be a never ending battle. I just hope, through it all, we can love and respect one another.

Today I feel blessed. Blessed that I had the opportunity to vote. Blessed that I could watch the election from the comfort of my own home with a roof over my head. Blessed that I have running water and a bed to sleep in. I feel blessed to drive my car to the grocery store with food stalked on the shelves. I feel blessed to practice my religion freely. I have so much to be thankful for. I have so much to fight for. And I have so much work to do--- so that my children and grandchildren can feel as lucky as I do.

God bless us all, but especially our newly elected President Obama.

I voted for the loser.

Ben and Luke came to vote with me and I am so glad they did. We've been talking about the election for weeks now and it was only natural they were a part of the voting experience. When we got to the voting booth, Ben wanted to know why it cost money to vote. I told him it was FREE and not only was it a right, but it was a privelage. Then he asked why I had to put my credit card in the machine... The lady next to me laughed while I explained that it was an electric voting card, not a credit card. "Of course," was his response. They read over each of the names with me.. I hadn't heard of half of the local candidates, but I made sure to vote for Benjamin Something-or-other because Ben thought that would be cool to elect someone with his name. Luke was disappointed he couldn't find a LUKE on the ballot. Maybe in the future, kid. On our way out the door, the boys winked at the lady giving out stickers and scored one of their own. Charisma can go a long way, says I.

We took a few pictures in the car with our stickers. I wanted one normal one, and I think I got it..

or not.

We came home and threw a little election party with our friends, the Simpsons. Each of the kids had ballots----
After we voted, we tallied the scores. John McCain won at our house, but only by a hair (4-3, and one of those votes for Obama was from Warner who thought he was voting for THE ROCK.) It looks like the only election John McCain will win is the one in the this household. (And ordering pizza was a landslide, if you were wondering.)


And lastly, I uploaded a 2 minute clip of what these kids think about the election.... and it seems to make more sense than Fox news or CNN.

Everything Halloween

Millions of pictures.. I am going to try to keep the explanations short.. if I can.

Friends Party in Vegas. Way to throw a crazy party, Kelly! It was SO much fun.. and so insane! These weren't ALL of the kids in attendance.. whoa!

Painting Pumpkins with the YW. I don't think I officially announced (last July) that I was called to be the first counselor in the YW Presidency. Love these girls.. and the ladies I serve with.


Meeting Kennedy. We headed to SLC to see my newest niece (#25.. with two more on the way!) Tim and Rachel welcomed little Kennedy to the Clawson compound. They live in Michigan and we were so happy to see Little Bo Peep and the cutest little sheep for Halloween! She's got the famous Clawson blue eyes and long lashes!


Cousins party at my parents. Throwing leaves were much more exciting than carving pumpkins or playing Halloween charades. These kids just love to be together! Rach, will you send me that picture of Luke in the leaves? Aaron spent the day playing golf with my sister's hubbies and everyone was happy.


Trick or Treating with the Kimballs. My sister Kris was Dorothy (and her husband actually wore the Tin Man costume! Way to go, Randy!) My brother Kev came dressed as Mr. Incredible. He looks like him without the costume. The kids aren't in the pictures because they were too busy running from house to house to get candy. We were lucky to keep up. After Trick or Treating with one set of cousins, we headed to Debbie's and the boys went for another round while Aaron and I went to a party. Uncle Brent was a SCARY monster and had little kids in tears. Ben and Luke loved it. I wanted to take a picture of cute Deb in her florescent witch costume, but the battery died on my camera.. boo hoo.

These are my two fave pictures while trick or treating. Kris snapped this of Han and Leia.. it's not the best quality, but you can still tell that we're in love. and we are.


And during all the busy, crazy candy collecting, little Yoda slept in a stroller. *notice his hand still tightly gripped around his light saber.*


Party #3. Fran threw an awesome party on Halloween night.. she made homemade bread bowls shaped like pumpkins AND threw together family spider costumes. They were the hit of the night. It was fun to see old friends and prove to them that my white snow boots are still getting some good use.

GNO. We also had a girls night with the ladies in my family. So glad that Grandma June could join us. She even got her eyebrows waxed like the rest of us (except for Katie who is a baby :)


The car ride home was exceptional. The kids were awesome. We blasted Christmas music, played several rounds of "I'm thinking of something" (which always ended up being something from Star Wars) and overheard Ben tell Luke, "Well, I am sorry to rain on your parade, but it just ain't happening." They grow up too fast! Thanks everyone for a FAB Halloween extravaganza! Can't wait to do it again next year!

wish we could do it all over again...

Halloween is still my favorite holiday. I love the weather, the parties, the creativity, the late nights, the candy, the face paint, and the excitement. I also love when it's over because it means that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. 2009 is almost here and I don't know HOW that happened. How is it already November?

We had a fabulous weekend vacation. I am not about to post the thousands of pictures we've taken over the last few days because..... it would just make everyone jealous. and because the battery to my camera is dead. and because I am tired. Who decided that ONE hour of day light savings was enough? If I was in charge, I would give the world [at least] an extra 24 hours of free time. that's why you should vote for me. I am still undecided for the big election and may just pencil in my own name on the ballot. princess leia for prez.

For those of you who found yourself bitterly disappointed by my Halloween recap, make your way over to my friend Suzanne's blog. I take credit for converting her to the blogging world and I must say it's a happier place since she's joined. She's not very good at keeping in touch (or winning at card games) but she's no amateur blogger. If I had a blue ribbon for "Best Halloween Post" I would pin it on A Halloween Crime Story. Because after all, real dedication is when your oldest child becomes an actual vampire on Halloween night.