Good Genes

We have several oil paintings hanging on our walls that were painted by my grandma and Brad's grandma. We were talking to Emily about them and she mentioned she wanted to paint like her grandmas. I said to her, "Emily, you have a lot of art in your genes." Emily first looks confused then says, "I keep it in my pocket."

Finish the Sentence

I got this from Emma and I thought it was fun!

Finish the Sentence:

My roommates and I once: Had the Southern Utah University men's volleyball team sleep over at our apartment. Totally against Ricks College's rules!!!

Never in my life have I: Had a broken bone

High School was: a long time ago - thank heavens!

When I am nervous: I shake like a leaf in an earthquake.

My hair: Is dark brown and curling since I was pregnant with Ben (normally my hair is straight as a board!)

When I was 5: My brother was born and my grandma sent me to afternoon kindergarten way too early.

When I turn my head left: I see Brad playing his computer game. Poor guy he is getting a cold.

I should be: Sleeping - Ben has kept me awake too often lately.

By this time next year: Brad will be done with residency!!!!! We will be living in Idaho.

My favorite Aunt is: Aunt LaRae. She used to call us her "little boobies." Still don't know why but she did.

My ideal breakfast is: The Lumberjack at LePeep (buttermilk pancakes, sausage, eggs, potatoes)

If you visit my home town: You should come on the 4th of July.

If you spend the night at my house: I'll make you buttermilk pancakes from scratch in the morning.

I shouldn't have been: I have a bad habit of thinking of "shouldn't haves" so I'm not going to finish this one (I'm trying to overcome this bad habit).

Last night I: Blogged when I should have cleaned my house

I've been told I look like: Someone's cousin (I have had that comment many times)

That was fun!

Tagged

Sarah tagged me on her blog. Here it goes...

Jobs that I have had:

• Hamburger maker at Carousel Burger in Lagoon - This was such a fun job. I made a ton of new friends and there was a lot of laughter and joking going on while we worked. I was also a gold badge employee! :-)
• Telephone surveys and then telemarketing in college - I hated it!! Need I say more
• Waitress - I was a waitress at a motel/cafe near the Grand Canyon. This was one of my favorite summers ever! I also met Brad there so of course it was a summer to remember!
• Cashier at BYU's HFAC ticket office (Great job! I got 2 free tickets to any event we sold! A lot of fun for two poor newlyweds.)
• Plant secretary and then Administrative Assistant at a commercial flooring manufacturing plant (1 year each) -I was overqualified for the job but struggled to find a social work job in Houston when we first moved in and rent had to be paid. I learned a lot about people on this job. I knew that if you did not get an education you could end up doing factory work the rest of your life. I learned that I hate dealing with workplace politics. I learned that a good boss it one of the best things in life. When I was promoted to Administrative Assistant, I got a new boss named John. He was great to work for. He even let me work evenings and weekends while I completed my course work for my special ed. teacher training. He then tried to bring me back a couple of years later luring me with more money.
• Special Education Teacher (5 years) - The first year was 5th and 6th grade Resource Reading, Language Arts, and Math (It was a horrible year for many reasons). The last 4 years was Resource Math with co-teaching the last 2 years. I loved working with kids who needed special help. It was wonderful seeing kids who couldn't even count to 10 when I first met them finally be able to multiply and divide by the time they left me. I love seeing their different talents (you'd be surprised at how many special ed students were amazing artists).
• Various secretary related temp jobs - I would do temp work during the summers to make money to go on vacation. I really hated doing these jobs but the extra money was nice. People could be really rude to temp workers. When I told them I was a teacher and temp work just for a few weeks in the summer, they treated me so much better and with more respect.
• Math tutor - I charged $30 per HOUR to teach kids how to do story problems and master their multiplication facts. I have to admit I think I was worth it but surprised at what some parents will pay.
• Full-time Mom - Definitely the hardest job I've ever had.

Movies I could watch over and over again:

• Return to Me
• A Knight's Tale

Favorite TV shows:

• Law and Order (original and Criminal Intent)

Favorite Hobbies:

• Reading
• Blogging
• Scrapbooking (although I done much lately)

Places I have lived:

• Utah
• Idaho
• Arizona
• Texas
• Minnesota
• Florida (does one month count)

Favorite Foods: Do I have to narrow it down?

• my mom’s barbecue spare ribs
• really good pizza
• CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Places I would rather be right now:

• Someplace where I wouldn't have to worry about my huge TO DO list and maybe have some quiet time
• New York City (with Brad-stay in a beautiful hotel and take in some great shows and sights)
• On an Alaskan cruise with Brad
• I really could go on and on...

Websites I check daily:

• my email
• blogs of my friends (I wish my family would blog!)

Who am I tagging?

• Angela
• Emma
• Vicki - you need to blog!

Ouch!

I was making salsa Friday afternoon for gourmet club. Sam was watching me slice the slippery tomatoes and kept reminding me to be careful with the sharp knives. He was really concerned that I would cut myself. We got a new set of knives awhile back and I didn't realize how sharp they were until I saw the knife slice into my finger. It took a second to realize what I had done and for the pain to come. Then I screamed and started to bleed. Sam and Emily came running and I told them what happened and Sam said, "Mom, I told you to be careful!"

Thankfully, it wasn't too deep, no stitches needed; but it hurts like the dickens! Brad said that the tips of your fingers have a lot of nerves so it hurts worse. I can attest to that!

This experience has made me appreciate my hands because the simplest tasks have become a burden. Any slight pressure on it makes my finger throb (as I type this I have tried to avoid using my sore finger but it is quite difficult). I'm sure it will get better soon but in the mean time I'm glad it wasn't my right hand!

Ben is 6 Months

Ben is now 6 months and I wanted to give an update on what he is doing. Ben is the most delightful baby! He is a bundle of joy. Unless he is hungry, sick or has a messy diaper, he has a smile, a giggle or squeal for anyone. In the morning he usually wakes up really happy. He kicks and grins when he sees me and you can't help but scoop him up and snuggle him (no matter how many times he woke me up at night). I'm so grateful for this ray of sunshine in my life.

At Ben's 6 month appointment, he weighed in at 20 lbs 2.6 oz which put him in the 87% (which is a drop from 92% at 4 months). He is 67 cm long which is 46% (down from 58%). He is now bigger then Emily and Sam were at 1 year old. He is wearing clothes that Sam wore at 10 months. We contribute the drop in weight due to his excessive amounts of moving. He rolls all over the place and can get up on all fours (see below). He can even lift his rear end in the air with his arms and legs straight. He is trying to crawl but has not been able to move his hands forward. So he ends up just going backwards (see picture below again-he has backed himself up against the wall). He is very happy to be rolling and/or scooting on the floor playing with his toys (or anything else that is on the floor).Ben has 2 little teeth on the bottom which accounts for all the drooling you see in the pictures. His hair is coming in BROWN!!!! I'm so excited to finally have a dark haired baby! His eyes will probably be brown as well which Emily and I are also excited about. He is sitting up independently although if he leans forward or backward far enough he will tip over and can't get back up to a sitting position. Ben is starting to babble and often will say ba ba, da da but isn't to consistent about it. He is also very distractable. He won't eat if there is something to watch or listen to.

He just started eating rice cereal. When I first started giving it to him, he did not have any interest so I stopped. But then he started reaching for our food when we ate so I tried it again and he is liking it a lot (which is a first for us-Emily and Sam had nothing to do with baby food). Tonight at dinner he would not nurse before we ate and he fussed all through dinner. I could tell he was hungry so I made him some rice cereal and fed him in his high chair at the table and he was so happy. You could tell he wanted to eat like the rest of the family. He was all smiles and happy squeals because he was just like everyone else. It was strange and hilarious! Ben loves people. He is all smiles for Sam and Emily but he really loves Brad! They have a special "language" they use with each other. Ben will use a squawking sound he only uses with Brad. Brad "talks" back to him. It is amazing. Emily and Sam were such Mommy babies. It is so neat to see Ben so attentive to Brad. I love it. I love to see Brad come and pick him up and give him hugs and play with him just because he wants to. It is so special. I love this adorable baby!

Boys Will Be Boys

Brad and I were cleaning up the toy room last night after the kids were in bed. We came across this stroller that Sam had been playing with. In case you can't tell, it is a boy doll loaded with tools and, of course, a sword. Just what everyone needs when going for a stroller ride.

Dancing Fairy

Emily went to a costume birthday party last weekend. She decided to go as a fairy. Isn't she adorable. I used a small curling iron to create small ringlets in her hair for the first time and she was amazed that her hair could curl like that. She exclaimed, "Can you do the back like that?" After we took this picture, I put pink curly ribbon in her hair. She stated that she would be the "prettiest one at the party!" I think she was.

Benjamin Finds a New Toy

As I was typing the previous post, Ben had been fusing and crying. Brad was holding him and eventually put him on the floor where he continued to fuss. Then he stopped and made the happiest, most delightful sounds. I did not look down but smiled to myself that he was finally happy. After a few minutes, Brad looks down and realizes why he is so happy-he is playing with a tissue. He is sucking it and tearing it as happy and content as can be. He loves to play with paper but we always take it from him as fast as we can. Poor kid-we take it away and he starts to cry again. Being a baby is no fun sometimes.

He is now sleeping soundly in his bed.

"Meatloaf, Peatloaf, I Hate Meatloaf"

Tonight for dinner Brad made a meatloaf. He decided to experiment and used two recipes-his Mom's and Alton Brown's. I generally make my MIL's recipe; it is easy and good.

At the dinner table, the kids, especially Sam, were complaining about eating meatloaf for dinner. We, of course, say all the typical parent-trying-to-make-their-kids-eat things like, "It is really good" and "You can't say you don't like something until you try it", etc. So Emily takes a bite and says, "Yuck, I don't like it." I'm starting to comment about giving it another try until Brad says, "I don't like it either!" This stops me in mid sentence because he made the meatloaf. I taste it and sure enough it is gross!!!! It was too salty! We were so confused. Why would it be too salty? What had we done? After a little investigation we discover there is a misprint in my cookbook. Brad added 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt, as listed in the cookbook, instead of 1 1/2 teaspoons. When he was making it he asked me if I usually put in all the salt and I said yes-not realizing there was a misprint. It is one of those recipes I can make without thinking too much about it so I never realized there was a mistake-until now that is.

So there we were without our main course. No meatloaf to compliment our scalloped potatoes (which were delicious!!!), mixed vegetables and rolls. I have to eat protein with my carbs or else I get sick so Brad saved the day and made hamburger patties.

Next time I'll think twice about making the kids eat something when they say it is yucky. Maybe it really is.

PS The title of this blog is from The Christmas Story when Ralph's little brother doesn't want to eat his meatloaf and his mom is trying to make him. He eventually eats it-piggy style!

PPS If you have a copy of my red cookbook make the change to Dianne's Meatloaf so you don't repeat this experience (if you haven't already-oops).

Another Haircut Saga!

The other day at dinner I mentioned that Emily needs her hair cut or at least her bangs trimmed (see Next Time I'll Just Pay the Money post). "I don't think I'll do it," I said with an exasperated sign. Emily then pronounced happily, "Well, good thing!! I want to go get a sucker!"

I was really tempted to just do it myself to save the money. But I remembered the frustration I felt at my previous attempt so I made appointments for Emily and Sam at the same place I go to in the mall. They cost about the same as Great Clips but I hoped that they would do a better job. I was wrong.

I am really unhappy with their cuts. Sam's is uneven and too long in the back even though I asked her to cut it shorter. I was surprised that she couldn't even do a simple boy cut. He held really still and was very cooperative. Emily's hair cut is just okay-nothing special at all. I honestly could have done a better job and saved the money. I'm so frustrated!!!

Well, at least Emily got a sucker!

New Calling!

I am amazed at how the Lord answers our prayers. I have mentioned how difficult my current calling, Primary Chorister, is for me (see Why Me). After our Sacrament Meeting Program, I talked to the Primary President. We discussed how since I will be moving in June it would be a good idea (okay I just told her outright) it would be better to call a new chorister before January so they can teach the songs for next year. I would be willing to stay on until Christmas if they needed me to. I mean all the pressure is gone of teaching and mastering the songs. Now it is just fun-no stress.

I thought to myself, "What calling would I like to do? " My dream calling is being a Relief Society teacher. I love Relief Society. I have missed it so much. I love being with other women and being taught and inspired by them. I realized that this is what I would really love to do until we move but I knew they had recently called a new teacher and it would not be likely.

After the morning session of General Conference, we received a phone call from a member in the Bishopric. Brother B wanted to come over and meet with us. I hoped it was a new calling but prepared for the worst. Then he asked if I would be a RELIEF SOCIETY INSTRUCTOR!!!!! I was thrilled to say the least. It is just want I wanted! After he left I pondered the calling. It really brought to mind how our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers and knows what is in our hearts. Being Primary Chorister was so difficult for me and I did not always do it with a light heart but did grow to like it (sometimes). When I was set apart in that calling, the bishop said that I would be blessed because I trusted the Lord and I believe this new calling is a blessing.

A day or so later I was talking to the Relief Society President about another matter and I mentioned that I accepted the calling and was thrilled. I told her how being Primary Chorister had been a real challenge and I hoped I could be a Relief Society teacher. She mentioned to me that there were many people they thought of to fill the calling of instructor but that my name was the one they felt so sure of without a doubt. It was a further confirmation to me that our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers and understands our needs. He loves us so much. This experience has strengthened my testimony and confirmed to me that if we follow His will we will be blessed and grow from whatever struggles we face.

Time Out for Women

I was so fortunate to attend a Time Out for Women in Minneapolis. If you are not familiar with these you should check them out. They are sponsored by Deseret Book and they consist of a day of uplifting speakers and music especially for women.

I attended a TOFW session in San Antonio just before Sam was born and it was one of my favorite days ever! Mostly because Angela, Mindy and I stayed in a Westin Hotel on the Riverwalk. We stayed up late talking (getting in trouble with security) and giggling and having a great time without kids.

When I received a postcard in the mail about one in Minneapolis, I decided to go. I recruited 12 friends from the ward to go and it turned out to be a great day. Hillary Weeks was the host and musical guest. She is one of my favorite LDS musicians. I love her songs (if you haven't heard her, she has a collections CD that is a great addition to any uplifting music collection). She was funny and her music touches the heart and soul. She sang "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music but changed the words-part of which included (sing to the tune of Favorite Things) "Bedtime and Naptime and Bedtime and Naptime." I wish I could find all the words because it was funny and true. I love bedtime and naptime at my house. Kids are so cute when they are sleeping.

The other speakers were funny and uplifting as well. Emily Watts was great and Mary Ellen Edmonds is always fun to hear. She said we should be a "happifier" and that happiness is a choice-good things to remember.

After nourishing our souls, we then feasted at The Cheesecake Factory-yummy!!!! Rosemary recommended Linda's Chocolate Fudge Cake (I have to admit, I think the cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory isn't that great-Salt Grass Steakhouse Cheesecake is sooooo much better!) The chocolate cake was divine!!! Brad and I almost drove 30 minutes out of our way last time we were in The Cities just so we could get another slice.

I arrived home late that night in great spirits and happy to have had a day without kids and cares. Since Ben takes a bottle, I was able to go without him. Brad stayed with the kids all day and they had fun. Thanks Brad for being supportive of my "day off".

Mission Organization

I really like this show.It is on Home and Garden (HGTV). They take an extremely messy room (actually more like a disaster zone) in someone's home and give it an organization makeover. They clean it up and give it a new design to make it more functional for the family and pretty. The reason I like this show is because I love an organized room. Unfortunately, I can't always maintain it. I have the skills to organize and the desire but not always the time. My office is generally in a cluttered state (not as messy as the rooms on the show but cluttered). Even though most things have a place and are organized, I don't always have the time to file or put things away. Also, it seems like I never have the chance to really work on something without being interrupted and at night I'm too tired. This show is fun to watch because you see how beautiful and function a room can be. I hope in my next house, I'll be able to create an organized office (and maybe invest in some beautiful storage boxes, baskets, cabinets whatever). Right now I'll just settle for functional and keep watching Mission Organization for great ideas!

Happy Birthday Mom

It is my Mom's Birthday and I'd like to give her a blog tribute! Here are a few great things about my mom:

• Mom is the best grandma in the world. She spoils her grandkids to no end. She always has time for them. She will drop everything when they are around to be with them. You'll often find her taking grandkids for a stroller ride, sneaking them treats (even before or for breakfast), and setting up a couch for them in her room to watch a movie. She always has something special for them and they love her to pieces because they know Grandma loves them so much and always has time for them!!!
• Mom is so helpful in her own special way. After the birth of each of my children, she has been there for me. She comes and helps so much. She just loves to hold and cuddle her grandbabies. When I had my wisdom teeth out and when Sam and then Ben were born, she took over the care of my kids. She did everything for them while I recovered. She then apologized that she didn't help more. I mean isn't that crazy. What more could I ask for? When I weened Sam, Mom was visiting and she got up at night with him so he wouldn't want to nurse. She does so much despite her arthritic hands and knees. Thanks Mom!
• Mom is so thoughtful and generous. She knows what each of her children like and want and makes it happen. When we go grocery shopping together she asks, "Is there anything you want but were afraid to ask?" It means can I buy you something that you wouldn't buy for yourself. When she comes to visit she brings something special for each of us. She likes to go shopping and let us pick out something we need. She also knows each child's style and what they would or would not wear. She is amazing!
• Mom is funny. Brad thinks is it odd (good odd) but when we get together we often find ourselves giggling and laughing over something that was said. She has shared that characteristic with her daughters especially. It is so fun and refreshing!
• She is my best friend! I love my mom so much. We have so much in common. I hope that I can be like her in so many ways.

Have a Happy Birthday Mom! We Love You!

Book Club

I love my book club! It is full of fun ladies who have great insight into life, read interesting books, and like to talk! Every meeting is great fun and even if I didn't like the book we read, I always walk away with more appreciation for the book. I try so hard to never miss a meeting. I have been fortunate enough to be in charge of the group for the past year and I will miss the group when I have to move.

Last week we chose our next 13 books. The evening was full of laughter and suggestions of new books to read.

Here are our choices (Thanks Sarah-I copied the list from your blog):

44 Scotland Street, Alexander McCall Smith
The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell
Dinner at Homesick Restaurant, Anne Tyler

The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins
Pope Joan, Donna W. Cross
Silas Marner, George Eliot
Enders Game, Orson Scott Card
The Scarlet Pimpernel, Baroness Emmuska Orczy
These is My Words, Nancy Turner

Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
My Name is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok
The Goose Girl, Shannon Hale
A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini

Here are the other suggestions that weren't lucky enough to be chosen:
Back When We Were Grownups, Anne Tyler
Wish You Well, David Baldacci
Color of Water, James McBride
The Hot Zone, Richard Preston
A Return to Modesty: Discovering the Lost Virtue, Wendy Shalit
The Last Mimzy, Henry Kuttner
Till We Have Faces, C.S. Lewis
Winter of our Discontent, John Steinbeck
The Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula Le Guin
The Dark is Rising, Susan Cooper
The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold
Into Thin Air, Jon Krakauer
The Plague, Albert Camus
Narrative of the Live of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
City of Joy, Dominique Lapierre
Everyday Sacred, Sue Bender
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
Eleanor Roosevelt, Blanche Cook
Girl in Hyacinth Blue, Susan Vreeland
Darcy’s Story, Janet Ayler
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
The Shop on Blossom Street, Debbie Macomber
A Train to Potevka, Mike Ramsdell
The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
I Can’t Wait to get to Heaven, Fannie Flagg
The Good Good Pig, Sy Montgomery
Gifted Hands, Ben Carson
The Mitford Years, Jan Karon
Mao’s Last Dancer, Cunxin Li
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See
Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan
Sarah’s Quilt, Nancy Turner
The Star Garden, Nancy Turner
The Family Tree, Sherri S. Tepper
Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer
March, Geraldine Brooks
The Namesake, Jhumpa Lahiri
The Bean Trees, Barbara Kingsolver

Kindness Jar

The past few days at our house there has been too much arguing, teasing, crying and disobedience (from the kids). Brad and I were getting fed up with it. So we have decided to try a "Kindness Jar". When they are nice, kind, obedient, and all-around-good, we put a rock in jar. If they are mean, tease, or disobedient we take one out. When the jar is full we are going to go get ice cream (Emily LOVES ice cream). So far it has changed the atmosphere in the house for the better. We hope it continues!

Does anyone else have any good ideas to help stop the teasing, crying, and arguing?

Our Fall Colors Saturday Drive

I have always wanted to take a drive to the Mississippi River to view the Fall colors and see some sights. We decided that we would make that drive last weekend since Brad had the day off and we might not be able to do it later in the season. The day started out overcast but weather.com said there was only a 10% chance of rain until 3:00 pm then it would be a 30% chance. So we started out with hopes that the rain would hold off until the drive home but before we even left the city it started to RAIN!!! It was a full blown downpour. We carried on because we might not be able to do this again. Despite the rain it was a fun day.

Our first stop was at L.A.R.K Toys. This is a really fun toy store/museum. It has all kinds of old toys on display. I think that "antique" toys are so wonderful because they were all about using children's imaginations and there were no batteries!

L.A.R.K. Toys also has a hand carved carousel. It is beautiful and, of course, the kids love to take a ride (well, me too-I couldn't resist).
Emily chose a deer, Sam chose a bear and I rode a flamingo.
Brad and Ben waited on the side and took pictures. Here is my cute boy. He is teething and drooling like crazy so he constantly wears a bib.Our next stop was Pepin, Wisconsin. This is where Laura Ingalls Wilder was born and the setting of Little House in the Big Woods. Emily has listened to this book many times and I wanted to take her there. They have a little museum and tourist info center. At the museum they have artifacts that were of the same time period as the Little House books. They also had pictures of Laura and her family (Laura didn't look anything like Melissa Gilbert!). Around the museum they had quotes from the book and an example of what it was referring to like the butter press Ma used and Pa's fiddle and many other things. One of my favorite examples was the tin cup, penny and candy stick Laura got for Christmas. We showed the kids and read the quote and talked about how happy they were to get those gifts for Christmas. Another Christmas she received red mittens and a doll (because she only had a corn cob doll). It showed an example of a corn cob doll and a rag doll. Emily thought that was really neat.

Here is Emily at the Tourist Info Center. There was a mini riverboat the kids could climb. A fun diversion after the drive in the car.
Sam was having a difficult time. He was tired and hungry and wanted a turn steering the boat. There always has to be some crying on a day trip.

We drove 7 miles from Pepin down a windy road to the location of Laura's family farm. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historical Society built a replica of the log cabin she was born in on the original location. The log cabin used to be surrounded by woods but now it is surrounded by corn. The rain was pouring down (you can't tell from the picture but it was raining hard and very windy) but I had to get out and see inside the cabin. I couldn't pass up an opportunity to show the kids how people used to live and how lucky we are. Notice how my umbrella turned inside out because of the wind. After our visit to Laura country, we drove home down the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River. After lunch at a local cafe, the rain stopped and we were able to see some beautiful trees in various shades of green, yellow, and red. It was really pretty. We stopped in Alma, WI at the Lock and Dam #4. We were lucky enough to watch a huge barge enter the lock. I was fascinated.
This barge was made up of 8 individual barges bound together and pushed down the river by a tugboat. Once it gets to St. Louis, it could join up with up to 40 other barges (since there are no other locks past St. Louis). I don't know why but this fascinated me. A railroad lines the Mississippi River and we saw 2 trains speed past. The engineer on one of them waved to us as it past by. Sam was enthralled-every boy's dream.

One of the barges was full of scrap metal. We told the kids it would probably be sent to a recycling center and Emily said she wished she could have it because, "I could make some really neat stuff with it."

It was a great day and nice to spend time together as a family. Ben is a great traveller and is easy to bring along (as long as he is fed, changed, and gets to see what is happening).