Leaf on the River

2 More Finds Today

2012-01-27T18:48:00.000-06:00

You Should Do This! It's Fun!

2012-01-26T18:24:00.000-06:00

Go geocache hunting! It is really fun! The kids found treasure and I got out of the house for an adventure. It's a win-win.

This is how it works. Someone hides an item (usually a box filled with "treasure"). They go online and post the coordinates. You type the coordinates into a gps enabled devise and go find the treasure. If you take something, you're supposed to replace it. For instance the girls picked out a couple of happymeal toys and Bubbers picked a weird plastic finger out of the cache we found. We replaced those things with a waterproof pouch, a keychain flashlight, and an unopened container of playdoh.

There are literally geocache sites all over the world. Within 10 miles of my house there are tons!!
Go to this website and type in your current address. It will bring up a list of sites near you.

We had a great time in the search. The one we found today was along a hiking trail and hidden under a fallen tree. No adventure is complete without someone falling in water, so Averlin was sure to fulfill that obligation by slipping on some rocks and landing on her bum in a stream we crossed. Twice. Jeff said her adventurer name is now "Mossy Bum." Also she had to pee the whole time, but at least she didn't complain. It was so exciting to look around for the little box and was SO great when we actually found it! Here are a couple of pics from our first geocache adventure:

The kids with their treasure (except Bubs- he lost his on the way to the car).

Averlin "holding it". Haha. Poor thing, she needed to pee so bad.

Orphans and Farmers (A Poem)

2012-01-24T10:15:00.002-06:00

4 long days of showers and overcast grey skies
4 long days of wanting to stay in bed with covers over my eyes
Yesterday my mother channeled a red-head orphan we all know
And told me that "Tomorrow!" the clouds and grey would go
And what do you know! The sun came out and gave me hopes for spring
And I have been shouting the only song from "Oklahoma!" I can sing
Because it is a beautiful morning and it is a beautiful day
And I've got a beautiful feeling my kids are going outside to play!

Verrry Interesting... Well, To Me At Least

2012-01-23T22:44:00.001-06:00

I know, I know. This one is Boring (with the capital B and all), but definitely worth a once over.

I get in these phases on occasion where I crave intellectual stimulation to my very core. It becomes a need almost as essential as eating and sleeping. So I found myself today. Usually my research has to do with education, and today was no different, but it turned into a very interesting discussion with my Jefe, and I'm pretty sure Reid and Tim would have really enjoyed this one.

It all started with my ideals of a small (10 student max.), multiage, progressive classroom. I know, cool, huh! Then I ran into some articles on Jean Piaget and his ideas on genetic epistemology (!) (I'm pretty sure Reid and Tim are the only ones who are still reading now... If there's anyone else, you're awesome!) So, Jeff and I began some kind of chameleon discussion which took so many color changes that somehow it transformed from my little family-type classroom ideals to empowerment of people over institutions and why we allow ourselves to turn our brains off to what we deep down know is happening around us.

While Jeff was studying his geography book, I was reading an article by a very eloquent and intelligent man named Parker J. Palmer entitled, "A New Professional: The Aims of Education Revisited." His premise is that while people become more and more educated, they do not necessarily become more humane or even in tune with what they know deep down to be right and true and just.

He spoke of being born during the time of the Holocaust and how, as a youth he felt that if only people were more educated, things like that wouldn't happen. Then, upon entering grad school he learned that some of the most educated people in the world, "had seen thebarbed wire fences and the flames in the night. Theyknew what occurred. But, taught to value intellectualdetachment above engagement with the world, theyrefused to recognize what they knew. Thus they collaboratedwith evil." Yikes. Knowing, but not attempting anything to change it = bad bad bad!

He gives several examples of individuals who allowed practices of the institution they were employed with to override what they knew in their hearts to be right, including a brand new medical resident who allowed a patient to die because she was too scared and overwhelmed to raise a fuss about the patient's symptoms.

Anyway, Jeff looks up from his textbook at some point and says, "Did you know that there were solar powered water heaters in use in America as early as 1905, but that natural gas was cheaper and easier, so it took over?"

I said, "Crazy! Guess what I just read!"

"Does education humanize us? Sometimes, but not

nearly often enough. We have yet to uproot the myth of

“value-free” knowledge, and hence we turn our graduates

loose on the world as people who know, but do not recognize

that our justice system often fails the poor, that

corporate logic usually favors short-term profits over sustainability,

that practical politics is more about manipulating

public opinion than discerning the will of the people,

that our approach to international relations is laced

with arrogance about our culture and ignorance of others..." (Palmer)

Then we got on this crazy topic of the big bad oil industry that people continue to give a facade of power to because of its money. Why, oh why, do we allow money to equal power? Isn't it derived from us? As unchoosy consumers we are allowing big industries to build themselves up in power, but we could snatch it all away if only we really figured out what is right versus what is easy. Of course it's not easy or convenient. I'm pretty sure John Adams (and of course other founders... I just have a thing for John), Ghandi, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton didn't do what they did because it was easy or convenient, and yet look at some of the lasting outcomes.

Anyway, just thought I'd give you something to think about. When you give up cable, you find all kinds of ways to fill the time! Just think- no cable bill and you could learn to become a social revolutionary!

Europe and Asia... All in One Night!

2012-01-16T21:14:00.000-06:00

We had a very eventful Family Home Evening tonight. First, Salem and Averlin had a Chinese dragon parade for the rest of us, I suppose in honor of Chinese New Year, which I had no idea they even knew was coming up. Salem taped a homemade dragon mask to her face and they crawled around under a pink comforter humming "Chinese music." Simeon was supposed to be the tail end, but he decided to poo the second before the parade started, so he was uninvited from participating (yes, potty training was a big FAIL).

THEN, as if one cultural experience wasn't enough, we relived the monstrocity that was the burying of unsuspecting Pompeii by a very ridiculous looking Mt. Vesuvius (hey, we tried). Also, there were only two Pompeiians affected by the blast this time: Wicked Witch of the West from some McDonald's Happy Meal purchased long ago, and a nude Strawberry Shortcake doll. It was Awesome.

The first video is an encore performance of the parade plus Nimmy's (Simeon's name for himself) big CheeseFace that I could just about eat because it's so cute, but the stink of his diaper saved him from my cannibalistic notions. The second video is the volcano amazingness which can't be seen too well on camera because 1) It was really fast and 2) I just about dropped the phone when it exploded. Ha! oops.

Okay, well, the video of the volcano was taking forever and I am too ~~impatient~~ busy to sit around waiting for it, so, sorry. Try not to be too disappointed.

J'ai Beaucoup de Lessive

2012-01-15T20:45:00.000-06:00

French.

It is certainly not Spanish.

In Spanish you are sure to be able to pronounce any word you come across if you just remember that every letter makes the exact same sound just about every time. The only exception I can think of is that the letter /c/ can be either hard or soft, like in the English language.

But, oh! French. Each vowel can have a different sound depending on which of 5 accent marks it has and which letters are surrounding it and whether it occurs at the beginning, middle, or end of the word.
Ay caramba!

I must persevere, however, as one of my goals for the next 2 years is to learn French, and to learn it well. Jeff is learning German, and the kids are learning Spanish (taught by me, which means I am re-learning Spanish also). Why? Because we're a little loco, or fou, if you will.

Also, we all need to learn how to ride bikes, but that's a different story.

Anyhow, the title of this post is most definitely true and I really need to take care of that. But, in the meantime, I called Jeff at work tonight and said it to him in my sexy French accent and he was impressed until I told him what it meant. Heehee. Fun times in the Curtis house.

Oh, P.S. The title is pronounce zhay bo-koo duh leh-seev. Just in case you want to call your special someone and let him or her know. Just promise me you'll use the super sexy accent.

Scariest Night of My Life

2012-01-09T20:53:00.000-06:00

Hands down, I have never felt so afraid as I did tonight.

The girls got their jackets on and went outside to play around 5:00 in the last hour of sunlight. Our acreage is fully fenced and we are in a very private location, so I don't worry about them too much when they're out, though I peek out on them often to make sure they're alright. At around 5:30 I looked out and there they were on the front porch having a very serious conversation about the horrendousness that is strep throat swabbing. Then I turned my back on the front door and began helping Jeff map his bus route to the University as tomorrow is the first day of class.

There is a bus stop about 50 feet from the top of our long private driveway and Jeff decided to run up there and see if there was a schedule posted on the signpost. I asked him to take the girls up with him because they love to walk up the driveway with me to get the mail or to bring up the garbage can on trash day.

He walked out to fetch them up with him but several seconds later I heard him yelling the girls' names. Over and over again. And again. And again.

They were gone.

He ran in the house, "Are they in here? They're not outside."

I threw my shoes on and ran. Around the side of the house, down the sloping backyard, through the side gate, and into the pasture. My mind was on the edge of a precipice. One moment of neglect and I would have been unable to catch myself from falling headfirst into the dark abyss of panic. So I focused on my footsteps. As I ran through the pasture screaming my daughters' names, I was internally telling myself, 'take a step. Take another step. One more step. They'll hear me if I'm just one step closer.' But they didn't respond. I opened the Taboo Gate. The gate that leads through nasty underbrush to a creek, which to my dismay was coursing swiftly and fully thanks to recent rain. It's the gate the girls KNOW they aren't allowed to even touch.

I get to the creek in the very last minutes of sunlight, and there is nothing. No footprints in the clay bank to let me know if they had been there. No footprints, but no little girls. I have never prayed for anything like I prayed to find those girls tonight. There was one shred of hope left. Jeff had hopped in his car as I had taken off around the side of the house. He was driving back down the driveway just as I reached the front yard.

"Do you have them?" I had to ask it even though the look on his face had already confirmed my worst fears. Then my mental handling slipped and there was the falling sensation and I couldn't hold back the panic any longer. I sobbed, "Where are my babies? Where are my babies?" The sun was sinking so quickly into the horizon. Why was it so eager to set on this night in particular? I needed more time. The police would need more time. The police.

I have always made it my goal to live my life in a way that will keep my family and I off the evening news, but here I was handing my phone to my husband as we both decided that it was time to call 911 because our 2 little girls had vanished without a trace.

And then we both heard a tinkling giggle ringing somewhere through the forest closeby. "Shh!!! What was that?" Jeff demanded. "Salem? Averlin?"

And then the sound of their happy little chatter. We turned toward the driveway and there they came hand in hand completely unaware that their mother had just begun to prepare herself for a lifetime of heartache and that their father was just pushing the send button for a call to 911.

When they saw our faces they froze and then proceeded forward cautiously and ever so slowly. I ran to them and hugged them both to me and laughed, and sobbed, and scolded, and laughed some more, cried some more, and scolded a WHOLE lot more. They knew perfectly well that they are NEVER EVER EVER EVER allowed to leave the gate without an adult with them. How could they do something so thoughtless and dangerous?

And then they explained that they had been to all the neighbors' houses selling the bracelets they had been making all day. Which earned them another tearful scolding of its own.

And then we all went in the house and Salem cried and told me she was so sorry and would never ever do it again. And you know what? After the commotion of their homecoming, I believe her.

And now, all three of my treasures are snug in their beds. Warm, safe, and whole. I am always so grateful for that, but tonight I have offered up an extra prayer of gratitude for the lovely little blessings He has given me and for every moment I have been given to spend with them. I am grateful for the moments when they are wonderful and loveable, when they draw uninterpretable drawings or wrap their little arms around me in "bursts of love". I am grateful for the moments when they are horrible and difficult, when they won't go to bed on time and I have to lie on the floor in their room and sing to them until they fall asleep, when they get chocolate all over the kitchen trying to make cupcakes, when they are disrespectful and I have to learn patience and the true meaning of unconditional love. I am so grateful for each and every opportunity I have to be in the presence of my little gifts, even when I don't appreciate them in the moment. God has been so, so very good to me.

How 2011 Changed Me

2012-01-08T20:22:00.002-06:00

Looking back at this time last year, I'm sad to remember the state of mind my sweet husband and I were in. But, we followed our family motto, "put our shoulders to the wheel," and came a looooong way over the course of 12 months (and not just in distance, though we did that too!). The following is an entry from my journal a week and a half ago, you know, back in the dark ages when I didn't have the consolation of my blog:

We had a lovely Christmas! The few gifts the children got looked small under the tree, but I felt like it was plenty and they were thrilled with what they received. I'm so glad that my children are humble and grateful and I hope that stays with them always.

I've recently had serious misgivings about buying all the cheap plastic "stuff" at the stores that gets used a few times and is then broken or forgotten about. I want to only purchase or make items for the children that are good quality and aren't a mindless waste of time.

My Jefe and I have been thinking a lot lately of living in a poor country for a while to serve and help however we can. Because of our discussions and research I've felt a deep love for Heavenly Father's children all over the world and I've felt a humbling sense of gratitude for all that I have. We live in an 800 (or less) square foot house and sometimes space is hard to find, so I've been blessing others with the things we don't necessarily need or use, through donations or giving them to friends or family. Anytime I start thinking that I wish I had more space I remind myself that I am abundantly blessed and definitely have more than I need.

Our family's focus on the Savior during Christmas this year was such a nice change. Not that we haven't always had our spiritual and religious traditions, but this time I made it a point to keep the Savior on my mind and to remind my children of Him too.

This past year has been about simplifying our life as a family so that we can focus on the important things without so much distraction. The first thing to go was Jeff's teaching job. It just plain was NOT worth the stress. I know people probably still think we're crazy or irresponsible, but I'm telling you it was so difficult to hear the Lord's guidance during that time because our hearts were so full of stress, sadness, and uncertainty.

Next to go were my ideals of what a "perfect life" looked like. Truly, once I gave up my delusions of what is "normal" or what I thought would make me happy, my vision has been broadened. I can see so many opportunities for our family that have nothing to do with living in the perfect place or being able to go shopping whenever I feel like spending money. While I've never been super materialistic, it was still a big step for me.

The next thing we simplified was our schedule... here it comes: Homeschool. I really cannot sing its praises enough. There is an occasional day that I wonder if I'm doing the right thing, but then I have days like today when I hear my 8 year-old teaching her 5 year-old sister her colors in Spanish or my 5 year-old teaching her 2 year-old brother his colors in English, and all the many many days when my girls run around holding hands like best friends or I see the light bulb come on during a tough teaching moment and I KNOW I'm doing the right thing. I could go on for a year about how homeschool has influenced our family for the better.

Mostly, the thing I gained from our goal of simplifying has been the burning testimony of Jesus Christ that I have in my heart these days. If the Church sent families on missions, I would be SO on it! For now though I am opening myself up to sharing the gospel through action and example where I can. My first and foremost recipients are, of course, my babies. They need my shared testimony as much as any stranger I come across. I am so grateful for all that my Father in Heaven has blessed my family with.
End of Journal Entry
There are BIG BIG things in store for our family! I can't wait to share them with everyone sometime this year. We're in the process of turning our life upside down, shaking it around, and doing things I never would have dreamed of doing just one short year ago. Stay tuned! 2012 is the beginning of some pretty amazing stuff. (And, Mom, no, I'm not pregnant, thankyouverymuch).

Salem's Baptism

2012-01-07T13:18:00.000-06:00

"We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sin; fourth, the Laying on of Hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

My little girl turned 8 on December 15th. She was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost on December 31st. I am so proud of my Salem. We have had so many lovely discussions about baptismal covenants and about spiritual matters in general. I'm impressed by her questions and by her understanding of gospel principles.

I remember a couple short years ago at age 6 when she said she wasn't sure she believed in God or anything really, and Jeff and I nervously kept our smiles on and told her it was important for her to build her own testimony and to find out for herself what she believes. We told her she could always ask us any questions and we would answer them to the best of our knowledge, but that the testimony had to come from her heart, and that we couldn't tell her what to believe because faith is such a personal matter. For the following 2 years she studied, prayed, asked questions and learned. By age 8 she had developed a testimony and decided she was excited to be baptized and to live very closely to the teachings of Christ.

Salem is such a great example of diligence, service, and generosity. I know her siblings look up to her. She is always coming up with ideas of ways we can serve other people and she has a soft place in her heart for those less fortunate than herself.

One thing I hope to never forget is how during the baptismal prayer she was giggling and bouncing up and down on her toes. She was SO excited!

I hope she can harness that excitement and passion for the gospel and keep it for life. I know what a great feeling that is!

Booyah! I Have Internet Again!

2012-01-06T21:18:00.000-06:00

Woohooooo!! I finally have home Internet again! I am the most excitedest girl in the world! I care little-to-nothing about social networking and the library was fine for checking email, but for the love of the BLOG! I can now upload my photos again and write and write and write! And I've had so much to say! My journal has seen an awful lot of action in the past few months, but there is just nothing like the photo/posting combination of the BLOG! So get ready cause I'm back online! Hooray!

All Aboard!

2011-12-03T09:41:00.001-06:00

We've been on the potty train for a while now. It's been slowly moving out of the station since August. And I'll stop with the cheesy metaphors now. You're welcome.

Anyhow, for the past 2 or 3 weeks Simeon has been pretty independent about telling me when it's time to "go." And this past week he had a couple of days with no accidents whatsoever. But potty training every child has to have its embarrassing tale(s) of horror, and Simeon is no exception.

Ward Christmas party.

Everyone silently watching primary children singing "Away in a Manger."

Simeon running in from the adjacent nursery screaming, "Mommy! I PEE! MOMMY! POOPOO! OH NO!!!"

The front of his jeans are soaked and there is an obvious... um... surprise, bulging in the back of his pants.

Jeff is a saint, removes the potty train offender from the vicinity, and cleans him up.

And, I hope that this incident fills the quota for embarrassing tale(s) of horror for this potty training child.

The End.

Picture Overload...

2011-11-12T10:46:00.001-06:00

Ok maybe not.The library internet is so incredibly slow. It took me 15 minutes just to upload these three. So enjoy, because they may be the last ones for a while.

Life is Peachy

2011-10-31T13:12:00.001-05:00

Well! Hello there, dear blog! I have missed you terribly the past couple of weeks as there have been so many new adventures to write about.
First off, we made it to Georgia safe and sound and no worse for wear. There were only a couple of car issues and only one incident in which I had to pull over, kick the kids out of the car, and threaten them with walking the last 100 miles. All in all a successful trip I'd say!
We stopped for a day and a half in Alabama to visit my 90 year old grandparents whom I have not seen in 2 years. While there I got to visit my sister's brand new salon, which is incredibly gorgeous. In celebration, I let her chop all my hair off and I love it! I would LOVE to post pictures, but I'm on a library computer right now. Soon, I will figure out how to use the wifi here and I'll bring my own computer and then I will overload you with pictures!
So, our house is small but super cute and we are in L.O.V.E. The yard is massive, the front porch is huge, and there's a tire swing. What more could a mama want??? Maybe internet, but we're playing the poor, starving student role for the next couple of years, so I guess the library will do. Also, the heater in the house doesn't actually work, but we are happy to have warm clothes and space heaters. And socks. So long as my feet are warm, I'm okay. (I've already put in a request with Santa for slippers)
My brother Tim got his mission call this weekend. He was called to the HongKong, China mission speaking Cantonese! We are so incredibly thrilled about this. I love that they have him learning Cantonese because he already knows Mandarin, so this will be a fun challenge for him. Glad they didn't make it too easy on you, Timmy!
We started our first day of whole-family homeschool today and that's been exciting! I was hoping Jeff would be able to get in on the action since he'll be working nights, but the van has once again decided to stop working (for the past 3 days) so we decided he should have it towed and go pester those mechanics a bit. Well, maybe tomorrow.
My goal is to blog once a week, especially since I only have Internet access once or twice a week, so we'll see how that goes. If you email me or message me on facebook, and I don't respond right away, that's why. Sorry! I must admit though, I have a tendency to be a little hermit-ish, so this life style suits me just fine.

Kneecaps and Other Madness

2011-10-11T16:49:00.003-05:00

We are leaving for Georgia in 5 days. YIPE! I should totally be packing right now, but a queen loves a little procrastination. I can't completely label it procrastination, though. Many of my recent days have been filled by spending quality time with my little brother (the 20 year-old). We have had lots of important things to do: we talk religion, we talk politics, we talk the importance of knee-caps and how without them our eyeballs would bulge out... (don't even try to figure that one out- it was very late), we talk palmistry and dream interpretation (while I value political correctness to a certain extent and I respect palm reader's right to their chosen professions, I must admit that we do this with a certain air of... dare I say... mockery. Not a lot. Just a little. An air.), we talk missions and baptisms, we talk crazy people... heck, we talk like crazy people, we sing off key to the songs on the radio, we annoy my mom and pretty much everyone else in the neighborhood, we discuss our future businesses that we're going to start together someday (get your family's pictures taken while you wait for custom wood furniture to be built, anyone? We're gonna be rich).

I have also enjoyed watching late night television with Tim. Our Favorites: "Say Yes to the Dress," "Chopped Champions," and "Psych". Sick addictions, I know, but I figure I will be moving soon and won't have TV, so I may as well indulge while I can. Plus it's all in the name of building sibling relationships, so I can justify it.

We also ventured into productive territory once. Yesterday Tim read part of my camera manual to me. I have this incredibly gorgeous camera that I hardly know all of the functions of. When I meet someone who is also interested in photography they say things to me like,
"Oh! Does the Nikon D7000 bdslkbflsvflvsflbvsbfvkjsbvfkjlbskfjbvskjvfkjsvfkjvsv x cvkjsbfklavgsljfglwuegrbsk f sfbvwiuebvfil?"

And nervously I respond, "Um, if that means that it takes pictures, then yes. Yes it does."

So I decided I should read up on what the camera actually does so that one day I can respond, "Well, I prefer abdagsdflibsdfilbskldbf, though my camera does efkgdgfvjdsbvdjkbsfg," or something all cool and jargon-y. The problem is that I read a paragraph from the manual, lift my eyes from the page, and my brain is wiped completely clean again. I cannot get myself interested in the technical stuff. I just like taking pictures, okay???? So, Tim agreed to read the technical poo and to show and tell me what it all means in ways my brain can hold onto. I think some of it may have actually worked.

So, obviously my having not packed is definitely not completely procrastination. I have been B.U.S.Y. Also, one of my more recent stress dreams involved us opening our storage unit in Texas to find mountains of dirty laundry, so I haven't even wanted to go near a pile of clothing in real life.

It'll happen... just maybe Saturday night.

The Importance of Personal Revelation

2011-10-03T17:45:00.003-05:00

Isn't conference so motivating? I always get so inspired to go and do! I am so grateful to have a living prophet in this day and to have the opportunity to hear his words and the words of the apostles twice a year.
Sorry if those of you that tuned in didn't get much out of it. Apparently almost every talk was meant just for me. :)

I came away from conference with some very important insight.

There were multiple messages that mentioned personal revelation and listening for the Holy Ghost. I believe it was President Boyd K Packer who said that we cannot make a huge mistake without first receiving a warning. I felt like I need to start trusting my own revelation and decisions and to stop questioning them because of other people.

Growing up I always imagined that I would get married, my husband and I would graduate from college, we'd have children that I drove to public school every morning, and my husband would go to work from 9-5 (no weekends) at a job that was "socially acceptable" (whatever that meant). I was quickly awakened to reality early into my marriage that not everyone follows the same path. Not everything falls into perfect place for everyone (anyone?).

This past year we've made some decisions that most people don't understand as far as Jeff's career and that many people don't agree with as far as our children's schooling.

Jobwise, early this year we prayed diligently and felt ... not like we'd hoped to feel. We knew what we needed not to do, but didn't feel any guidance on what exactly to do. So, we kept going and followed what felt like limited inspiration. The hardest part about this was that we were being hammered with questions of "who?what?when?where?why?how?" and we didn't know at the time. That part hadn't been revealed to us yet. So, we offered up weak explanations, which now I regret doing. Had I trusted more in the Holy Ghost and God's plan for us I would have simply said, "We don't know. We're just moving forward until Father in Heaven decides we're ready for more information." I know this would have been even less of a socially acceptable answer, but does that really matter? People sputtered off, "butbutbutbut," anyway, so I may as well just have given an even more exasperating answer, right?

Schoolwise, I didn't realize how rude people would be when it came to homeschooling. People have attempted to talk me out of it, to tell me nonstop that my kids will be social pariahs, to go behind my back and attempt to trick Salem into saying that she's completely miserable (which didn't work bytheway... and this was a lady from church that I've talked to a total of 5 times).
In fact, I am so grateful that I followed the prompting I recieved a year ago to take Salem out of school. It has been such an amazing experience. I LOVE it, Salem loves it, and we are really happy with the situation. I know that this was personal revelation for my family and I have faith that, while it doesn't fit the "normal" scene I described from my teen vision of a perfect life, it is what I have been led to do in my family.

I know that we are entitled to inspiration as part of the covenants we make at baptism. I know that our Father in Heaven loves us and wants us to be happy. I know that we can rely on the inspiration that we receive and that we need to be strong in our faith and not let the dissenting of others weaken our faith. If you are reading this and have no idea what I'm talking about, go here , it will do good things for your heart!

Panic

2011-09-28T13:27:00.002-05:00

It's officially panic time. We're moving in 18 days!

Easy

2011-09-23T09:33:00.000-05:00

Nothing's easy.

End of story.

A Few Things I Love About Homeschool

2011-09-21T11:39:00.004-05:00

1. Salem has two scratches on her arm that start out separate and then join together to form a larger scratch. She has named the scratches Euphrates, Tigris, and Persian Gulf.

2. Last week we learned all about King Tutankhamen and for most of the week we had been looking at drawings and cartoon art of the tombs and treasure. One day I turned a page in our book and there was an actual photograph of the inside of the tomb. Salem completely freaked out with excitement.

"Is... IS... IS that a REAL PICTURE OF THE TOMB??? I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SEEING THIS!"

It was completely awesome.

3. The next day I walk into the livingroom to find Salem, Averlin, and my 6 year-old brother huddled around the computer watching a youtube video of a professor giving a lecture on King Tut. I asked them what they were doing and they both broke out into excited chatter about hypotheses scientists have on how King Tut died.

4. A little background about the following poem: For our writing lessons we use passages of classic literature to do copywork, narration, or dictation exercises. One of the books we recently used is called "Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan. In the story, any pilgrim who wants to reach the Celestial City must pass through a mire of temptation called Vanity Fair. Ever since we read this passage, Salem has been obsessed with the word vanity. Thus, we have the following masterpiece about our golden retriever, Megan.

A Poem By Salem

Megan is our vanity

Of humanity

But she is not a manatee

She is a dog

Cowboys

2011-09-21T10:45:00.002-05:00

Yeehaw!

What Will You Be Doing?

2011-09-08T23:04:00.004-05:00

This weekend I plan on some of this.

Bubbers is 2

2011-09-07T09:45:00.005-05:00

It's official. I no longer have a baby. The Bubs is 2. Are you crying with me?
What is life like with this 2 year-old little man? Let's examine...

Simeon likes to pretend that he's shy, but if you pick him up he will wrap his arms around you and lay his head on your shoulder for forever.

He still likes to be wrapped in a blanket and rocked for a few minutes before naptime.

At the risk of jinxing my luck, I have to say that he is the best sleeper of all 3 of my kids. He will nap everyday for upwards of 3 hours and still go to bed by 8 pm AND sleep all night.

Simeon likes bugs and dirt and mud and water. He likes to make messes. He loves to hold water in his mouth and see how far he can spit it. He enjoys throwing ceramic dishes and watching them shatter. He LOVES splashing in the toilet.

Simeon loves to run and climb and jump. He really enjoys doing the riskiest thing he can think of doing to watch the looks of horror and fear on his mommy's face. He likes to climb up the bunk beds, walk on the kitchen table and counters, and scale the tallest playground sets like he's a little monkey.

He gives the best hugs. He is scared of loud noises and will hide behind you if a motorcycle passes by, though he will also peek out from behind you to point with awe at the "moto-cul-cul" as he calls it. He loves to climb into Mommy and Daddy's bed on Saturday mornings to be smothered by kisses from his adoring parents. He loves to help with laundry and cleaning the kitchen table, while his absolute favorites are taking out the trash and working on the car with Daddy.

I am so in love with this little boy. Exhausted by him, but completely in love.

We Hit a Deer, Then Everything Came Together

2011-08-09T14:19:00.003-05:00

Three weeks ago Jeff was about to leave for a 3 week National Guard training in Texas. At the very last minute (no joke!) we decided that the kids and I should come too. We had some decisions to make and we needed to check on the house, which was not selling, so the best way to accomplish these things was to be together.

In about a half hour we packed and loaded up the car. Apparently I was in a really big hurry, because while I packed all the children's necessities, somehow I ended up only packing one pair of yoga pants, a swimsuit, and a skirt for myself. Awesome, right? 3 weeks and my only options were lazy or churchy.

We decided to drive in Jeff's tiny old Civic instead of the van to save money on gas. It was... crowded.

At about 1:30 a.m. on the last leg of our trip I was having a hard time sleeping in the passenger seat because I was nervous about a deer jumping out on the back roads we were on. I finally dozed off for a few minutes but woke up just in time to make eye contact with the deer that had just jumped in front of our tiny, loaded down car. Texas friends, if you see a deer hopping around with only one hind leg it may well be the one we hit. She also might have a piece of our headlight. Ick, Ashley, that was gross...

I gave up sleeping and helped Jeff avoid 3 more deer and a raccoon.

WEEK 1- R&R.
I chose the lazy dress option most days. Jeff and I taught Salem how to play handball in the playroom and reminisced with my brother and sister-in-law via text about all the awesome things/shows we used to play/watch. We decided to only open one box of kitchen stuff from our house, so we got really creative about what to cook/eat with. I found a random package of water balloons in one of our cupboards- JACKPOT!!

WEEK 2- We got down to business.
Issue 1: House- Met with the realtor a couple of times. She admitted that the market was completely flooded and not many people are buying right now, so we decided to refi and rent.
Issue 2: Job- Jeff's current job is good, but it's definitely just a job and not a career. There's no longevity. We knew he needed to go back to school, but we had to come to terms that we simply cannot afford to live in California right now. It's way too risky financially.
Issue 3: School- One of the major things that has been weighing on us of late is what career Jeff should go for. We've tossed around a couple of ideas, but nothing felt right. Unfortunately the degree he currently has is basically useless and he had to get it due to time constraints with ROTC. Long story short- we found the degree that would be absolutely right and, while it is a rare program, it happens to be in a place we have always considered living and still have lots of family there. (GO DAWGS!)

WEEK 3- The hardwork.
House- Spoke to property management company and before they even put up a sign in our yard we had renters (because our house is cool!).
School- Jeff applied to school and now we are peacefully waiting for their decision. Whether or not he gets in for winter semester, we have decided to move and continue to work towards his acceptance into this program.
Moving-Packed it all up and moved it all out in the hottest hottish hot heat Texas had to give.

So, there you have it. It all came together. Both of us finally feel like we have an answer to what we have so long been worried about. And even though our car broke down in the blazing heat in the middle of nowhere on our way back to CA, we were too happy to be concerned and even that worked out quickly and cheaply.

Hooray!

The End

Baby Eye Candy

2011-06-24T17:36:00.002-05:00

Kissing cousins... literally.

Isn't my little niece stunning! My son thinks so.

Because I'm not known for being on time

2011-06-23T13:29:00.006-05:00

What? Has a month really passed since Averlin's 5th birthday? I suppose I could just pretend that the party pictures were just taken at a lovely party thrown yesterday, but while I've never been known for my promptness, I've also never been a good liar. So, yeah, it's been a month.

Check out Cole's party hat... and his cute crossed legs. heehee

The candle blowing shot.
(This was from her first small party on her bday. Her big party with more family was a few days later.)

Best surprised look of joy ever.
She had been asking about a 12 piece Strawberry Shortcake lipgloss set since January.

Gifts! Dress-up clothes, money, Barbies.

Who could ask for anything more?

Hugging Grandpa and Grandma Curtis...

... and Nana and Papa Johnson.

Happy (belated) Birthday, Averlin.

Bob

2011-06-22T14:41:00.002-05:00

This is Bob. Bob is my parents' Conyer. Bob bites. Bob bites everyone. Except for me. Bob loves me. I love Bob.

Bob also likes my Sister-in-law, Susie. He likes cute twenty-somethings, I think.

Bob tells me, "Good Morning," and "Peekaboo!" and "Meow," and "Woof!" and all kinds of other silly noises. Bob likes to nuzzle my cheek and make kissy noises.

Bob also poops anywhere... and everywhere. It's not lovely.

But, I still love Bob.

A Few of My Favorite Things

2011-06-17T10:25:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite things about being here is looking outside and seeing my kids playing with my little brother and sister:

A couple other favorites:

beach

watching SYTYCD with my Daddy

having relatives around for the little moments of life

beach

walking down Del Mar St in San Clemente and smelling the salty air

the fact that it's mid June and not sweltering hot

the gorgeous landscaped roads

mainly just feeling like I've found the place I want to be

The Trip

2011-06-16T17:01:00.003-05:00

Oh how I despise the drive from Texas to California and back (especially back). Not just because it's interminably long, but also because it is downright ugly. It's not like the drive from Texas to Georgia, which is lush and green, the trees so dense you can hardly see 10 feet into the woods. The drive to California is barren and brown, dusty and dirty, and just plain boring. And it is a killer with a toddler.
This time it wasn't quite so bad because I knew we were headed home. We appeased the Bubbers with songs and movies and, mostly, candy.
About 4 hours from our destination Jeff bought Salem, himself, and I Popsicles from a gas station. I asked him what he got for Simeon and he said he thought the baby could just eat fruit snacks. I don't know about other people's kids, but if everyone else is eating a Popsicle, the Bubs is NOT going to tolerate fruit snacks. So Jeff ran back into the gas station and brought out the following:

A giant chocolate covered peanut butter ice cream pop. Awesome.

P.S. I still haven't washed his carseat.

Still Alive And Slightly More Tan!

2011-06-12T22:46:00.002-05:00

I totally ditched my blog for a whole month. How rude! Actually I have hardly spent any time on the computer at all, which I must admit has been wonderful. We have been having an absolutely amazing time living in California. It has been incredible to live close by family and I LOVE being close to the beach.
I have about a million pictures to post and I'll get to it sometime...

But until then:

Tomorrow is our FIRST DAY OF HOMESCHOOL!!! Woohoo!! We are doing kind of a funky year-round schedule, which I love. The kids are super excited. Salem can't believe she's starting 2nd grade and Averlin loves that she is going to be a Kindergartner starting tomorrow morning.
If I'm not totally exhausted by tomorrow night I hope to blog about the first day of our new adventure.
So, that's all I've got to say. Just thought I'd check in.

(Random and Jumbled) Stuff

2011-05-11T19:45:00.000-05:00

In 2 days my Jefe will be here!!

In 4 days I will be in California hugging and kissing my little Averlin who I have missed so terribly.

The house is almost completely packed. All the boxes are numbered and labeled and I'm keeping a notebook about exactly what is in each box. It's not because I'm super organized (HA!), but mainly because I HATE unpacking! I hate the chaos of searching for that one oven mitt that somehow ended up in a box of office supplies. So, I've attempted to make it easier on myself.

I have awesome box taping skills. Really. Awesome.

In 9 and 1/2 years of marriage we have moved 8 times, but we've spent the past 5 years in this lovely little home that I will miss very much.

I've been staying up really late watching Masterpiece Classics. Because they're awesome. Like my box taping skills.

It is raining something CRAZY outside right now.

In 2 days my Jefe will be here!! (I know I've already said that, but it's been three weeks, so I'm allowed to say it at least twice)

Ummmm, not sure exactly how to end a post about random and jumbled stuff, so...

THE END

A Poll: 2 things I don't want to do

2011-05-05T12:57:00.002-05:00

Our moving date is coming up FAST! There are 2 important things I need to do within the next 7 days- okay there are a million important things I need to do, but these are the biggest and need to be done the soonest.

1. I finish my antibiotics for my ear infection tomorrow, but I'm still in pain, I can feel fluid behind my ear drum, and I am totally deaf in my left ear still. I need to go back to the doctor. I have a really bad feeling I'm going to need a tube put in. You know, the ones that preschoolers get. Surgery. Fun times. Especially since I'm MOVING in A WEEK.

2. My van wouldn't start yesterday morning or the morning before (the "cold" mornings... I think it was around 45 degrees or something) and today the check engine light came on. I took my perfect angel van in a couple weeks ago to have a button fixed and there have been weird things happening ever since. I need to take it back in.

SOOOOOO..... Which do I do first? Ear? Car? I have to do one or the other tomorrow. I hate being a "single" mom!! These decisions would be so much easier if it wasn't so.

Oh! On a wonderful note: Jeff is flying out to help me drive out to CA! Hooray!! Even better is I found tickets for $99.00 !! I didn't even think that was possible these days!

Some Americans Are Crazy

2011-05-02T10:49:00.004-05:00

I've heard somewhere the quote that "life is not a spectator sport... get in the game," but sometimes it is just so darn entertaining to sit on the sidelines and observe.

The last week has been extremely eventful for those, like me, who don't mind taking a step "off the field" so to speak to watch everyone else react to stuff.

Big events: Terrible destructive tornadoes. Royal wedding. Osama Bin Laden killed.

I had this post forming in my head yesterday morning before the last even occurred, but it just adds extra.

Why is my title "Some Americans Are Crazy"? Because my original title "Americans Are Crazy" wasn't quite accurate.

Let's start with the tornadoes. I was extremely nervous as the huge twisters were making their way through the south, because, while I value all human life, there was a personal touch to it as well- my sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents live right in the path of the monster storms. I was also, however, dreading the ignorance and stupidity that I knew was going to take place the following day and will continue to take place in the months (maybe years) to come.

I knew it was going to be all the president's fault.

How did I know? Because Hurricane Katrina was all that president's fault. Remember? I was not a fan of George Bush during his second term, but for goodness' sake it was a natural disaster, he visited the area, he put FEMA in charge. Because that's FEMA's job. But I swear people expected him to spoonfeed the displaced and handout cash from his own pocket. When I heard news of the approaching tornadoes, I knew Obama was in for a world of trouble. And I was right.

So, now, the same people who were supportive of Bush's handling of things are launching their own scathing attacks on Obama about his handling of the tornadoes. How does that work? Guess what, guys: even if a tornado ripped through Washington DC and did a similar amount of damage, there would be a presidential speech, a presidential visit, FEMA would be put in charge, and the president would go back to his meetings and the other things he is responsible for.

Second, the Royal Wedding. I actually thought people would be upset that the tornadoes didn't get as much publicity as the earthquakes in Japan, but apparently I don't understand human nature as well as I thought, because I haven't seen anything about that. No, it's the Royal Wedding that people are upset about. Like William and Kate planned their wedding to take away attention from the natural disaster. It's the media sources covering it that people should complain to. We shouldn't be hating on the prince and his bride.
Personally I didn't really care about the event, except for the small remembrance that once I was a lovesick teenager with a small hope that Prince William would somehow magically fall for me. Other than that I almost forgot all about it. Yes, Kate was beautiful and I am happy for them, but I didn't even care when our own country's president's daughters got married. And really, I don't think anyone I know did either. It certainly wasn't televised live for billions to watch with weeks worth of hullabaloo preceeding it (or was it?). So, why is everyone so obsessed with a wedding in another country?

Third, Osama Bin Laden is dead. Most people are simply spreading the news. Others, however, are adding to my Americans Are Crazy theory. According to some, President Obama could have allowed the soldiers to kill the terrorist sooner, but decided to wait until just the right time to politically boost his chances of winning the next election.
Really guys? I mean..... Really???

I can't even go on with that one, because that kind of stupidity makes me angry. I have spent the last 2 days reading one conspiracy theory after another on issues as broad as government mind control to how we should go back to life without public education or public health (and I'm not talking about socialized healthcare, these people are freaking out about the use of hospitals and doctor's offices in general) and I really think it's time for people to take a step off the field, and just observe. Sometimes, from the sidelines of life we get a broader picture of what's going on, so that when we step up to join in the game we don't seem quite so, well, crazy.

Deaf and Deafer

2011-04-30T09:20:00.005-05:00

I can't wait to spend more time at places that look like this!! 2 weeks! I made it through one whole week with almost no problem...until my ear exploded. Now I am no longer in excruciating pain, I'm just completely deaf in my left ear, but hopefully that will go away soon. Fingers crossed, everyone!

Conversations with Salem lately have been kind of humorous. She is pretty hard of hearing herself (audiologist appointment coming up) so our house gets kind of loud sometimes.

Me: Salem go put your jammies on.
Salem: mumble mumble mumble
Me: Huh?
Salem: What?
Me: I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID
Salem: I CAN'T REMEMBER NOW. WHAT DID YOU SAY?
Me: GO GET YOUR JAMMIES ON
Salem: OH. OKAY

We're in trouble in our elderly years hahaha.

But seriously, I'm wishing I had retained the sign language I learned in college and through my cousin who truly is deaf. All I can remember now are signs like spaghetti, more, and please. Completely useless unless you're having a serious Italian craving.

Speaking of craving Italian... Jefe, if you're reading this, I miss you. I haven't seen your cute face for a week now. Sorry for crying to you so much on the phone about my exploding ear. I know if you were here you would remind me of other sign language signs that we learned in college together... except, wasn't that the class we always ditched to go to make out in a parking lot somewhere?

Maybe that's why I didn't retain so much...

Empathy

2011-04-27T21:45:00.001-05:00

I have an ear infection.

It feels like childbirth in your ear.

The End.

I Am Mommy, See Me Post

2011-04-26T20:57:00.004-05:00

Here's the post where I give yet another update on my children and their goings on (how many readers did I lose just now?):

I am adjusting to our awkward little 3 week transition fairly well.

Salem and I have had some really great bonding moments recently. I love how she is becoming easier to have conversations with. I love how bright and intelligent she is and how she is starting to understand the complexities of language and communication.

Last night she had a terrible earache and I promised her if she could make it through the night we would go straight to the doctor's office in the morning. She made it. Just barely. Poor thing moaned all night in her sleep (she slept in my bed).

We got up and dressed and waited for my little babysitting charge to arrive, then off we went to the doctor's office. When we walked in and the receptionist asked who needed to be seen, I had a strong prompting to ask for Salem AND Simeon to be seen even though he was running around the waiting room happy as could be. He has had a little cough and has been pretty cranky recently, but sometimes it is so hard to tell the difference between sick baby and normal fickle toddler behavior.

Simeon was seen first and the RN hardly had to look in his ear to see that it was terribly infected. Same on the other ear. Sometimes Mommy Guilt turns into this giant serpent that rips out my heart and hisses, "how did you not know this and take him to the doctor sooner???" But in self-preservation I wield my sword of excuses at the serpent hissing back, "How was I supposed to know? He never even ran a fever! So there!! Give me my heart back. I'll do better next time."

Can you tell I'm running a little low on sleep? When I start typing about my conversations with my serpentine alter ego "Mommy Guilt," yeah, that kind of gives it away.

Anyway, I managed to escape the mental altercation just in time for Salem's checkup. Ear infection- check. I knew that one was coming. The nurse turned to walk out to call in some prescriptions but she jerked back around and looked Salem in the eye. "Open your mouth and say 'ahhhhh'." Again, barely a look and she turned to me, "She's got strep."

What?

Strep?

But, but, but, but it was just an earache. Well, she did mention her tummy hurting a little this morning.

I felt "Mommy Guilt," lunging for me again.

Nurse took Salem's temperature and it was 102! How did that happen? I swear by the mole on my right arm that she did NOT have a fever this morning. They did the strep swab, which is torture because Salem clamps her mouth shut and fights me and baby girl is STRONG! Plus she almost weighs half of my weight. Not a fun fight. Swab came back positive of course.

Anyway, Mommy Guilt took another little piece of my heart now baby (Sorry, I couldn't resist. Plus the episode of 30 Rock I watched on netflix last night talked about Janis Joplin... okay, getting back to my story...) but we got medicine and I was so grateful for inspiration today- mine and the RN's.

Meanwhile, 1400 miles away...

Averlin is having a great time staying with Grandma everyday. She goes to the park or library during the day, then for a walk with Grandpa in the evening. Oh how I miss my little girl, but I don't dare tell her because I don't want her to get homesick at all. But everytime I fold a piece of her laundry or see one of her Barbie's shoes I want hug her, kiss her little cheeks, and listen to her giggles.

Jeff's job is going well and he sounds so happy and positive on the phone, which is such a relief. I'm glad to have him back to his old self.

Less than 3 weeks!

Road Trip

2011-04-24T07:28:00.004-05:00

El Jefe was hired on Thursday of last week and starts work tomorrow (Monday). Considering it's a 2 day drive to California, that gave me about a day and a half to prepare him and myself for a 6 week separation. I spent most of Friday freaking out.

The responsibility of our 3 kids, the 3 kids I babysit, our 5 animals, and the house being on the market and the possibility of it needing to be shown at a moment's notice was rather daunting to say the least. Jeff, who handles my insanity attacks so calmly by the way, suggested we go pick up a moving truck and just all move out that night. I considered it for about a half-second, but decided that leaving the woman I babysit for with no notice whatsoever wouldn't be the nicest thing I've ever done for someone. So instead we decided that I will be going out to California earlier than planned (3 weeks instead of 6) and Jeff is taking some of my responsibility with him (our 4 year-old daughter).

Averlin is SO excited for her big girl adventure. She hopped around the house all Saturday morning before the trip shrieking with delight, pinching the baby, and doing tickle fingers on my bum. When I asked her to settle down she said, "I CAN'T! I'M SO ASITED (excited)!!!"
Then, when I asked her if she was going to miss me too much she said, "I won't miss you at all," and, as an afterthought, "but I still love you!"

I called Jeff every 2 hours yesterday and it warmed my heart to hear her voice coming from the backseat. Jeff said she was a perfect traveling companion. Last night when they got to the hotel she told me about the trains that were passing by their car in the parking lot. She said it was freezing outside and "looked like ghosts."

It's so funny how something that makes your heart ache can also be such a relief. I can't wait until the 3 weeks are over and I am on my way to scoop my baby girl up in my arms, but right now it has been a lot easier to get things done for our move. I'm so grateful that my Jefe's mommy is willing to keep Averlin every day while he's at work.

For now I just keep telling myself:
I can make it 3 weeks. I can make it 3 weeks. I can make it 3 weeks.

Homeward Bound

2011-04-21T12:24:00.003-05:00

So here it is. The moment we've all been waiting for. The mystery is beginning to unfurl.

It's been quite a year. El Jefe has had a tough time with his job and it's been hard to see him struggle with this and not be the fun, happy guy he usually is. Back in early March we made the decision to move on. The security and stability weren't worth the emotional turmoil. Believe me- we did everything we possibly could to make this work. I spent hours during the day helping him with what I could and we would spend hours every night trying to work out a plan to make things easier for him. He had lots of people offering their support and prayers. He had an incredible administration. In the end, it just wasn't the place for him, and it was time to move on.

So, we decided to see if it was plausible to move near family. We have family in CA, GA, AL, and UT. We followed job leads in all of these places. Our hearts were most hopeful for California or Georgia and we got promising leads from each of them. For a while we thought for sure it was going to be the job in CA. Then, when that one didn't progress super quickly we thought for sure it would be the job in Georgia.

Finally after some crazy twists and turns in the whole process, Jeff was offered the job in California, and he accepted.

We're going home.

I am a little sad that we won't be able to buy a bunch of land or visit with all my cousins and aunts and uncles any time we want, but I am thrilled to be near my parents, in-laws, 3 youngest siblings, and the beach.

Jeff starts his new job on Monday and I will be holding down the fort here until we get a little closer to selling our house.

I haven't told our kids yet, but they are going to be so excited! Cole and Emma are right in between Salem and Averlin age-wise. I can't wait to go trick-or-treating with them all together. I can't wait to do crafts with Kristin. I can't wait to be a budding photographer with a perfect coastal backdrop at my fingertips. I can't wait to "save" money at the mall with my mom, though that probably won't happen for a while as we are tackling student loans this year...

Really this is such a blessing.

It feels nice to take a deep breath and have a little bit of certainty again.

California here we come!

March Favorites

2011-04-20T09:05:00.004-05:00

These are some of the cuties I got to photograph back in March. By the way, the watermark on the pics is not my usual logo because I can't figure out how to put my business logos on my photos outside of my website and I don't have photoshop. So if anyone knows how let me know. Otherwise this can be my blog watermark. :)

Keep Me Laughing

2011-04-19T17:07:00.002-05:00

Yeah, I've already blogged today. So what.

I just remembered a funny story that happened amidst the chaos that was my weekend.

I took all the kids to McDonalds (drive-thru) to order off the dollar menu ($7.00 to feed 7 people! Gross, but woohoo! Plus it got us out of the house). Anyway, as we get to the drive thru window, the worker kid leans out to give me the first bag and Averlin pipes up in her quiet little four year-old voice from the backseat:

"Hey! That boy has a cute face!"

Then, shouting:

"HEY, BOY, I LIKE YOUR FACE!!!"

haha. I'm not really sure what to think about this. At least she has good taste, though. He was darling.

Better

2011-04-19T12:03:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was interesting. I threw my cyber tantrum, which made me feel a little better. Getting everything out of my brain and onto "paper" is always a relief. After that Jeff came home early from work to help me out.

My car has been needing some electronics repairs, so we took the opportunity of him being home to take the 20-30 minute trip to the dealership to drop off my car. On the way there I talked to my mom for a long time and was in a very good mood by the time we got to the dealership. I hung up with my mom, dropped the phone in the front passenger seat and pulled into a parking spot.

Shortly after we got home it was time to pick up the pumpkins from school. I was glad that Jeff was able to come with me because he was to be gone overnight visiting his parents in CA.

The minutes were counting down quickly to the time he needed to head out for the airport when I realized that I had left my phone in my van at the dealership. 30 minutes away. It wouldn't have been such a big deal except that it's my only phone. The only way of calling 911 if there's an emergency in the middle of the night. The only way of being in touch with the woman I babysit for (which is important when kids are getting sick and schedules are rearranged). I was convinced that we could make it to the dealership to pick up my phone and be back home with enough time for Jeff to get to the airport.

I was wrong.

He got there 30 minutes before takeoff. It would have been okay except that the ticket counters were completely deserted. No one to check him in.

Wow. I felt like poo.

The next flight they could get him on was this morning at 6 a.m. Not quite the amount of time he had hoped to spend in California.

Luckily, things worked out. He's there now, and I presume he's having a lovely time as I haven't heard a peep from him since he arrived.

I feel much better today. I had a wonderful photo session last Friday with a soccer team that generated another client who booked a session for later this week. I'm really looking forward to it. Even though I doubt my abilities so much, I love taking and especially post-processing pictures. It is so fulfilling.

See? This is me being positive!

P.S. Thanks to Lia, for her last comment and the song. :)

Bellyachin'

2011-04-18T10:18:00.002-05:00

Today is one of those days where everything seems to be working against happiness. It was a crazy weekend. I had 3 extra kiddos because their mom had to go up to Missouri to see her fiance who was in a life-threatening motorcycle accident (he had only had the bike a couple of days). All 6 kids had coughs and one came down with a 103.8 temperature. To top off the weekend fun, Jeff was at National Guard the whole time. This morning I woke up to two more kids complaining of tummy aches and another child throwing up.(Total: 4 sick kids, though I sent 2 to school). The kids' mom came home and took her two youngest to the doctor. The feverish one got taken to the hospital and put on IV's for dehydration. Jeff is going out of town overnight tonight. Some crazy-huge unexpected charge came through on our account and put us negative (which really bugs me!!!) My mom's best friend from high school died last night. She has 2 teenage children. I'm exhausted. Super unbelievably exhausted and I feel like throwing a temper tantrum. I know I should look for the good, but I don't feel like it right now. I will just let this post be my tantrum. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Food, Clothing, and Shelter[ed children]

2011-04-13T11:11:00.005-05:00

I just got up from rocking my son before his nap. Our routine is typically as follows: 1. He asks for "night night," which means his blanket and pacifier. 2. We sit in the rocking chair and I say, "should we sing our song?" 3. He says, "Star!" and points to the glow in the dark stars on his ceiling. 4. I sing "Twinkle Twinkle." 5. He is ready to be put in his crib.

Sometimes there are variations in our routine. For instance, when he is teething, he doesn't want to go to sleep at all. Unfortunately those are also the times I am desperate for him to take a nap because he's been screaming at me all morning.

There is also the wonderful variation. That is when he is verrrry tired and as we rock I watch his eyes opencloseopenclose...open...close..............open........................close. Then I sit in the delicious silence and hold my little man who, when awake, is becoming harder and harder to snuggle.

Today was the wonderful variation. It was difficult for me to convince myself to get up from the rocking chair and put him in bed, but as I was sitting there I decided that today was the day. It's the day to finally pull all of my thoughts together and address the naive and thoughtless comment someone made that I mentioned in my last post about, 'The problem with kids these days is that they're too sheltered and should get used to a hard life' and that the ideal of a 2 parent home where the parents love each other and their children was, "silly."

I know nothing about the person who made the comment except that we have a mutual friend. I do feel sorry for her though. What a sad thought. Maybe she grew up in a tough environment and feels the best way to shelter one from the pain of hard times is to convince him or her early on not to expect much out of life. I doubt she actually has children of her own, but I hope she sincerely evaluates her perspective before she does.

I wish to contend her statements here. I argue that a lot of the problems we see today occur not because children are too sheltered, but because they are NOT sheltered enough.

Several years ago Jeff and I decided to go see a movie on date night. We don't have television, so we are never "in the know" on what's in the theaters. Unfortunately, this time there wasn't really anything that looked too interesting. There was a Will Smith movie out, and I'm not a huge fan of his typical movies, but Jeff convinced me to try it out even though we had no idea what it was about.

We took our seats in the crowded theater and next to us a couple filed in preceded by their young daughter, who couldn't have been more than 5 years old, though I'm pretty sure she was younger than that. First of all I was taken aback that someone would take such a young child into a PG-13 movie. But as the movie progressed I was even more appalled. The movie was "I am Legend." I sat through most of the film with my eyes closed sometimes peeking through my fingers. I am not a fan of horror films. I am especially not a fan of horror films knowing there is a tiny child in the seat right next to me having her mind filled with images of horrific zombie humans huddling and shuddering in the corner of some dark industrial building thing.

The basic necessities of my husband's and my jobs as parents are to provide food, clothing, and shelter to our children. However, I interpret "shelter" to not just mean a roof over their heads. We are to shelter our children from the downpour of filth and poison that would otherwise be fed to them in music, movies, television shows AND commercials, video games, certain friends, literature, etc., etc., etc.

My caveat: I am perfectly aware that to do such is a lot of work and that it may just be impossible to prevent them from seeing or hearing things that their little eyes and ears should not see and hear, but I believe with every part of me that it is my job as a parent to do the hard work and prevent as much as I can. I certainly should not simply allow them to be exposed to everything just so they can "get used to it." I will however be prepared to answer the hard questions when my children do see and hear certain things.

I am heartbroken at the amount of children who face far far far too much in their short years. It sickens me when I hear what 7-9 year-olds talk about at school. Like the 8 year-old who has announced that his or her goal is to "sleep with" another student in the class. Or the 7 year old who wants to "go all the way" with a certain young television actress. Or how the class was able to answer in almost perfect unison the question, "What does CPS stand for?".

For goodness' sake! What is "too sheltered" about these children? NOTHING! Why, there is hardly anything sheltered about them at all. These are just the stories I feel it appropriate to share!

After a particularly disturbing day at work, Jeff came home and shared some of the things that have been going on and I became concerned about what my 7 year-old has been exposed to and if she needed any questions answered. So, the next morning I asked her, "Do people ever talk about things they're not supposed to in your class?"

Salem's face became very serious. "Oh, yes," she responded.

I was getting nervous, "Like what?"

"Well sometimes people shout out, 'Where's Justin Bieber!' and we're not supposed to talk about Justin Bieber in class."

I couldn't help but giggle a little, "But, I mean, do people ever say naughty things?"

She replied, "Well, there are 2 boys in my class who say 'dumb' and 'stupid'."

I left the breakfast table feeling a lot better.

Having children is scary work. It's hard work. But it is such a sacred and beautiful responsibility that it should be given everything we've got. We must love our spouse and set an example of solid, healthy relationships that our children can follow. We must monitor their interactions with the world. We must teach them to be good people and to make good choices even in the face of filth. This doesn't mean we should expose it all to them in their infancy (I still consider 7 and 8 infancy by the way. Maybe even 9 and 10)

One last story. Once I was trying to password protect my computer and was having trouble so I called a customer service rep for some assistance. He asked if I had tried a couple of different things, which I had, and he said, "Do you have kids or something?"
"Yes, " I said.
His answer: "They're just gonna figure out a way around password protection anyway, so what's the point?"
What's the point? The point is that I love my children and I take my responsibility to shelter them seriously. And if someone wants to call me silly for doing it, they can go right on ahead.

Morning Glory

2011-04-06T16:04:00.002-05:00

Just in case I haven't gushed about this naughty little baby enough, I had to share this. Every morning I wake up to love and kisses and I get to watch him eat his cereal. I don't have to rush him out of bed to get him ready for daycare. I don't have to throw a bowl of cereal in front of him while I run around getting myself ready for work. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a stay at home mom. It has been such a blessing. I will gladly struggle on one income for as long as I possibly can if it means I get to watch and enjoy this every morning:

Weekend Adventures

2011-04-04T10:10:00.003-05:00

What a wonderful and adventurous Conference weekend we had! For my friends who don't know about General Conference, it is a lovely event that members of our church worldwide look forward to twice a year. There are 4 general sessions broadcast over a span of 2 days. Each session is 2 hours long and features different speakers and topics. It is a big deal for our faith. It is a time to learn, to lift up our spirits, and to bolster up our faith. It is also a good time for us to re-evaluate our habits and to make adjustments where necessary. Our family has several conference traditions that we enjoy. Most of them involve food, heehee, but we love love LOVE the family time we enjoy on conference weekend. Since the Saturday morning session doesn't start until 11:00 a.m. where we live, we decided to go for a family walk/run/bike ride at the park. Salem is still riding with training wheels on her bike, so we decided today was the perfect day to teach her to ride without them. Bubbers loved helping Daddy use the wrench:

Once the training wheels were off and the kiddos and bikes were all loaded in the car, we headed off to the trail by our house. Right as we arrived and were about to pull into the parking lot, a little (okay big) puppy ran out of the street and in front of our van. Jeff had seen him coming, so we didn't hit him. My husband and I are shameless bleeding hearts. I can't resist at least trying to help a stray dog (after a particular rabies scare that resulted in many hours in the ER and a round of antibiotics I have given up on cats... Sorry). I jumped out of the van and did my "come eeer baaaaaaby. Come see maaamaaa!!!!" The sweet little guy jumped into my arms and nestled his head right on my shoulder. It was settled. We were going to help this baby. Jefe named him Riley to go along with our dogs-with-human-names theme (Our dogs are Megan, Wilson, and Nora).

I later spied Salem petting Riley and whispering, "I'm so glad we found you! You saved me from having to ride without training wheels." hahaha

Riley is SUCH a sweet puppy. He's not a chewy puppy which is very unusual. I estimate he is about 6-8 months. He doesn't shed and he doesn't bark very much unless he's playing. We advertised over the weekend, but got no response from previous owners. Today I took him to the vet to see if he had a chip, but unfortunately, no such luck. We weren't sure what we were going to do if we weren't able to get in touch with owners because obviously 4 dogs is WAY too many for us right now but I did NOT want to take him to the pound. Luckily our neighbors approached us and asked if they could have him, so we were overjoyed about that!

Other than conference and doggies, this weekend I fell in love over and over again with my husband. He got up with the kids at 6:30 on Saturday morning and quietly took them to a donut store 15 minutes away so I could have ample sleep-in time. He did 2 loads of dishes. He made me laugh a lot. Blah blah blah, mushy, mushy, mushy, etc. etc. etc.

So, in review:

Conference. Training wheels removed. Stray Puppy. Wonderful neighbors. I love El Jefe.

The end.

A Friday Smorgasbord

2011-03-25T10:40:00.005-05:00

A variety of random thoughts, happenings, and photographs for your consumption:

Gas prices are KILLING ME!!! My next car will so be electric. (They need an electric minivan!)

Speaking of money... Yesterday Salem's class went to the book fair at school. I only had three dollars in cash and really didn't want to go to the ATM before school to pull out more money. I told Salem if we need books we'll go to the bookstore or library. She was perfectly unworried about the whole situation, something I love about Salem. She's not too concerned with what "all the other kids" are doing, watching, saying, etc. Anyway, a boy in her class noticed she wasn't shopping and asked her if her mom had sent money for books. She told him no, to which he replied, "Wow! You must have a mean mom!" hahahahahahaha. Salem was surprised that I was unfazed by it and said, "I told him I do NOT have a mean mom! If I need books we'll go to the book store. Besides, we're saving our money!"

However, her best friend's mother was there and bought Salem a book as a gift, which I was kind of embarrassed about, and thought maybe I should have gone to the ATM after all. But, as I like doing nice things for other people when I get the opportunity, I figure I won't protest the gift and will simply accept it gracefully. Sometimes it is hard to let other people do nice things for me. Salem came home and, with no prompting from me, made a lovely thank you note for her friend's mother. Sometimes I think maybe I'm doing something right...

Speaking of doing things right or wrong... I love sugary cereals (Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms- well, only the marshmallows, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch), and therefore my children eat them. So there.

Speaking of bad parenting... There was a response to a facebook post written a few weeks ago that just killed me. This girl said that the problem with kids today is that they are too sheltered. Yes, she said that children are TOO sheltered!!! She said that another commenter's ideals of children having two parents that love them, was ridiculous. That, and I quote, "... life is (expletive) hard, and they should learn to deal with it." Oh, man. Just wait. I have had an essay about this one forming in my head for weeks.

Speaking of 2 parents who love their children... Yesterday I texted my friend with whom we trade date night babysitting and asked her, " Are you all healthy? If so, would you like to go out tonight or tomorrow night?" She responded, "Um, it's only Thursday.... " Oops. I guess it's just been one of those weeks where Thursday should have disappeared into a black hole to get me to the weekend faster.

Speaking of painting... wait, did I mention painting?... Anywho. Have I ever mentioned how much I DETEST painting door frames? Oh my goodness. I would rather paint 2 rooms worth of baseboards than to do even one door frame. GAH!!!!

Speaking of mysteries... yeah, I know. They're coming on randomly now... You have before your very eyes a mystery: What will we be doing in a few months? Where will we be? Will Jeff go back to school? Will he magically start loving (or even just feeling comfortable with) his job? Will our home sell quickly (did I mention we're selling?)? Will I survive my son's insane toddlerhood? Will Averlin ever go more than 30 days without running a high fever? Will we make it through the rest of the school year without pulling my 1st grader out of school? Will the National Guard ever send Jeff to the training he was supposed to go to last summer? Will the VA ever, ever, EVER pay us what they owe us???????Ever?
We shall reveal the answers to these mysteries as we know more solidly....

Speaking of nap time...

Blog? What blog?

2011-03-22T09:17:00.004-05:00

What have you been up to, Ashley? You haven't blogged very much this month.

Well, let me get you up to speed:
Kids, kids, kids.
Plans, plans, plans.
Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.
Spackeling, sanding, painting.
Organizing, shoo-ing children outside, reorganizing.
Photography sessions, photo-editing, wanting to throw my too slow computer out the window.

That pretty much covers it.

Oh yeah, and sometimes I sleep.

Life With Boy

2011-03-15T09:28:00.002-05:00

It's not always easy living with a little brother...

Coley Pokey

2011-03-08T13:16:00.002-06:00

(Cole and Averlin Playing Mario last August)

I have a little brother. Or three. The youngest and possibly cutest (Reid and Tim- don't be offended) is Cole. AKA Coley Pokey. AKA Pokemon. Seriously, where do parents come up with their nicknames? Sheesh.

Anyway, Cole is turning 6 today.

For his birthday I am issuing a decree:

Each of my adopted siblings must stay their respective ages until I can move back to California to watch them grow up. I want to be able to babysit them (well, the younger 2 anyway), do crafts with them, and allow my children to grow up with them. For this reason, they shall stay ages 6,6, and15 until I can get there!

Happy Birthday, Coley!!! I love you.

Open For Business- Scribble Art Photography

2011-03-04T12:08:00.003-06:00

Hooray! Hooray!

I finished my photography website today! I am officially open for business. Making a website and starting a business is harder than one would think.

I'm nervous and excited. I put the link up on facebook and it took me about fifteen solid minutes to finally hit the submit button.

If you're around town in the next 30 days, the session itself is free!

Even if you're not around these parts take a peek at the website by clicking the link below:

Scribble Art Photography

A HUGE thank you to Mandy Merrill and Denae Syphus for letting me take pictures of their gorgeous children and allowing me to use them on my website! Also, thanks to my husband for being gorgeous himself and donating his beautiful genes to our adorable children. (I may be a little bit biased)

Jane Eyre

2011-03-02T14:07:00.003-06:00

I just finished reading Jane Eyre for what is probably my 6th or 7th time. Maybe more than that.
Throughout my youth my family would travel almost every summer from our home in California to stay with my grandparents in Alabama for a couple of weeks. My grandparents ran a bookstore many, many years ago, and my grandmother had a HUGE collection of classic books. When I was 14 or 15 years old I decided to move past her magnificent Nancy Drew collection (I believe they were from the original publication) to venture into this unknown territory of the classics. The first that looked interesting to me was "Jane Eyre."
I spent the next long, humid summer day tearing through the novel. I was in love! The quietly passionate and headstrong Jane, the mysterious Mr. Rochester, the somewhat arrogant yet spiritually zealous Mr. Rivers, the beautiful and haughty Blanche Ingram. I found it an easy read, but a story I couldn't easily forget.
In the years that followed I heard many people criticize the story saying it had nothing on a Jane Austen, but for me it has and forever will have a place on a pedestal among classics. It was the one that opened a whole new world for me. Classics were no longer as intimidating as I had thought. For years I have collected copies of the book, and only recently for want of storage I got rid of all but 2, which each have different translations and footnotes.

Needless to say, I am excited for the new movie, though I don't put a lot of faith in it being a great representation of the book. Maybe a good representation, but not a great one.

One thing I love about classics in general is how clean they are. How they can tell a beautiful or poignant story without profanity laden paragraphs,etc. I also love how unabashedly they are able to discuss spirituality and Christianity. One of my favorite quotes from Jane Eyre:

"Conventionality is not morality. Self-righteousness is not religion. To attack the first is not to assail the last. To pluck the mask from the face of the Pharisee, is not to lift an impious hand to the Crown of Thorns.

These things and deeds are diametrically opposed: they are as distinct as is vice from virtue. Men too often confound them: they should not be confounded: appearance should not be mistaken for truth; narrow human doctrines, that only tend to elate and magnify a few, should not be substituted for the world-redeeming creed of Christ. There is – I repeat it – a difference; and it is a good, and not a bad action to mark broadly and clearly the line of separation between them."

You should read this book. If you really really really need enticement, watch the movie trailer, but for goodness sake don't watch the movie before you read the book. That would be a gross disservice to yourself.

Midnight Cinnamon Rolls

2011-02-28T08:42:00.003-06:00

One of the million reasons my husband is awesome:

At 11:00 p.m. on a Saturday night I say, "*sigh* cinnamon rolls," and 30 minutes later I have a plate of freshly made doughy goodness dripping in cream cheese frosting.

Ah, love.

His Hand

2011-02-24T12:52:00.003-06:00

I remember vividly the general conference talk given by President Eyring in the October 2007 session in which he spoke of a time that he had written down each day a couple of lines answering the following question, with the subsequent result:

'Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?' As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.

More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened.

As part of my life-changing resolutions for the year, I have been trying to replace fear with faith, and I have been looking actively for examples of God's love and goodness in my life. This past week has been a trial of this resolution.

First, we found ourselves in a bit of an impecunious (look that one up!) situation waiting for our next paycheck due in part to Jeff not having been able to drill with the National Guard while he was so sick and due in part to a budgeting snafu on my part. Instead of panicking and spending the week as a miserable person, I instead decided to focus on the wonderful things in our life.

Second, news has now been announced that many, many cuts are being made in the school districts surrounding us. The school district we live in has already begun lay off's, though they are minor compared to the district El Jefe works for, in which upwards of $28 million in cuts are needed this year (including at least around 200 layoff's). I am friends with many teachers and administrators mainly in my children's district, and it is a heartbreaking and terrifying situation for many. In this turbulent tossing of things, I have found peace amidst the storm.

Last night I went to a special Young Women's program at church in which the wonderful speaker referred to the talk I mentioned before, "O Remember, Remember." I sat there considering all the places I had seen the Lord's active help and love just in the past 4 days, and I was overwhelmed. He had been everywhere! We had been so obviously blessed.

As far as the first trial, I have been blessed with an income. Though I long ago swore off childcare (except that of my own children of course), I received a voicemail last week from a woman my age who needed immediate care for her 3 daughters. I was hesitant to return her call. I have had horrendous experiences, but I felt very strongly that I needed to at least call her. I was pleasantly surprised by how mature and responsible she sounded, and I agreed to meet her and her children. I couldn't have asked for a better situation. All the girls are around my girls' ages. I keep the youngest, who is my little doll, during the day, and pick up the other two at the same school as my girls in the afternoon.

With the second trial: though I don't know the future of my husband's employment situation, I'm not afraid of the unknown. I simply feel SO unbelievably blessed that I have already decided to homeschool my children next year. I'm not concerned about them being in overcrowded classrooms with overworked and ridiculously underpaid teachers.

In addition to the peace I have felt during these recent trials, I have decided that since God has blessed me with a love and decent talent in photography, I should no longer let it sit "buried," so to speak. It is time for me to develop it further and bless my family and others with this little talent that I know I am capable of improving. I am excited and nervous, and often have to fight off doubt with faith again.

I truly felt such a lightness in my heart as I reviewed these occurrences at that meeting last night. Life is hard, but God is good, and that impeccable goodness is all that I need to get me through the mess (Plus, my kids are cute and my husband is incredible! That helps).

I Like 'Em

2011-02-21T11:08:00.005-06:00

I decided that I needed to take some cute pics of my kids, so I took them to the park and let them have a tea party. They played around and had a fun time and I got some good shots. I took about 150 pictures and I loved lots of them, but I will spare you a few minutes by only posting a few. The top one's not the best, but it's kinda cute anyway.

Not In The Top 10

2011-02-18T12:35:00.003-06:00

Let's review, shall we?

Friday: 3 family members including mom & dad very ill

Saturday: Starting to feel a little better

Sunday: Woke up with Joshua 1:9 in my head. It got me through this week. Tender mercies.

Monday: Rough day for Jeff at work. Salem comes home, declares it the worst Valentine's Day ever, throws up all night. Met with a family the same evening who needed a daycare provider. Kids are awesome, I said yes. (hooray for a paycheck for me). Sometimes I really consider privatizing my blog.

Tuesday: Super lacking on sleep. Jeff inputs grades and does a training thing which got him home later than usual. Salem's still sick. She throws up 9 times Tuesday night to Wednesday morning.

Wednesday: Totally exhausted. 4 amazing emails were received today- I still smile when I think about them. Salem goes to the doctor and gets meds. Averlin comes home from school with a fever. I don't know how Jeff pulls himself out of bed every morning.

Thursday: I'm fed up with grown women who gossip and backbite worse than middle-schoolers. I am also tired to the point of lunacy, plus my tummy still feels weird from my illness last week. Jeff is not much better. Plus he has to attend another training, BUT Simeon fell off the playground set in the backyard and can't put any weight on his left foot. Jeff comes home early to help me out. The kids sleep almost all night for the first time this week.

Friday: Slightly less tired. Take Simeon and 3 other kids (Avi, Salem, and cute 3 yearold I babysit) to the ER, where he is miraculously able to walk again after a 2 hour wait and xrays that I'm going to have to pay for. Hoping the rest of the day is great in preparation for next week, which is gonna be better- in fact, I'm putting my money on AWESOME. Next week is gonna be awesome.

Seriously, you should read this. It's short and makes me happy. So, even though this week was not in my top 10 favorite weeks of my life, I am in good spirits.
Remember, next week: awesome.

Don't gossip...

2011-02-17T12:57:00.000-06:00

... it makes you look ugly.

The Line Up

2011-02-16T13:22:00.003-06:00

Since Salem hasn't held anything down since that ill-fated Valentine's Day, I took her to the doctor. It's the flu. The real flu that makes you suffer for a week. Poor kiddo.
Her meds from left to right: Ibuprofen, Acetiminophen, Tamiflu, Zythrimax (ear infection), and Zofran for nausea.
I had no sooner given her first doses of almost everything than the school called. Averlin's running a fever. Great.

Good things to be found in today:
*Salem wanted me to read to her and we finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
*Simeon didn't throw his breakfast on the floor for the first time in two weeks! Progress.

Sick People

2011-02-15T08:11:00.002-06:00

We have been sick people lately.

Jeff, Averlin, and I woke up Friday morning with all the lovely pleasantries that accompany a full blown stomach virus. While Averlin seemed to bounce back quickly, Jeff and I both still felt weird by Sunday night.

We thought (hoped) it would end with us.

Yesterday I went to pick up the girls from school and saw Salem scanning desperately through the crowd of cars. I knew something was wrong because she usually waits with Averlin's teacher. Sure enough, I jumped out of the car and she came running to me and burst into tears. She felt terrible and was running a fever.

"I couldn't eat any cookies at our Valentine Party!!!" she sobbed.

The rest of the afternoon she slept, and later she weakly announced that this was the worst Valentine's Day ever, but that she was, "glad to have a mom that's so nice." Aww. Yep. That's me. The nice mom.

So, I have been planning for a month now all the cute fun things I would do to celebrate Valentine's Day for our family but the illnesses around here put a bit of a damper on it. Oh well, there's always next year.

The good things going on around here have been very good though. There is hope and happiness and big plans. I have a big fat CENSOR! flashing through my head, so I better stop there, but hopefully I will be able to share before too long. And no, it has nothing to do with another baby. I know a couple of you were thinking that... (I wish it were so, but all in good time).

So, here's to the "worst Valentine's Day ever" being over and also to good things to come.

Break Your Heart

2011-02-07T10:46:00.002-06:00

Today I would like to share some sob stories:

Story #1: I hate going to the post office because it is a pain in the bum. I always run into the rudest people there. Take today for example. I am holding my 30 lb. son in one arm and two packages in the other arm. I am 2 steps or less behind a man and we are walking to the entrance. Does he hold the door open for me? No. In fact he opens in just enough to sqeeeeeeze himself through. He opens that door so little that in the two steps I had to take to get to it, the door had enough time to close completely.
This happens to me every time I go to the post office. Plus my kids always seem to get a sudden case of INSANITY as soon as we walk in the door and all the adults look at me like, "Sheesh, get ahold of your crazy kids, woman!"

Story #2: Simeon is super constipated. Any mother knows what I'm talkin about here. It's so sad.

Story #3: Jeff gave a journal prompt to his 2nd graders. It was: Write a story about someone whose job is to keep people safe, like a policeman or fireman. One of his more "challenging" students wrote this: (I've kept the spelling as the student wrote it)

My dad is in the Army. he is the good guy and the guys who help hem to do his job. he is an E6. I miss my dad but he has to do his job. I want to be like hem. I miss miss miss you dad. I want you to be safe dad. Why can't you be a cop? by I love you!

Sad and sweet at the same time, huh? This reminded me of the time that I told Salem that Jeff's deployment had been extended and she said, "I'm really sad I don't have a daddy anymore." Ripped my heart right out.

Story #4: It's Monday.

Hurry Mom! Before it Melts!!

2011-02-04T09:57:00.003-06:00

10:00 last night: Hail starts falling. Jeff and I are sure they will cancel school in the morning.

5:00 this morning: Phone rings. *yawn* ullo? It's the school.. school.. canceled...zzzzzzzzzz.

7:00 this morning: Kids stampede into the bedroom. "The alarm, MOM! The alarm is going off!" I crack my eyes open and assume that Jeff or I accidentally left our alarm clocks on. I am about to tell them to bring me my phone when I hear the sirens...
It was our security system.
The kids had been so excited to wake up and see the snow-covered ground that they had undone all the locks and thrown open the front door before Jeff or I had a chance to disarm the security alarm. Oops.

After Jeff settled the matter with APX we were all a flutter with getting bundled to see the frosty world outside.
I couldn't find one of my shoes for a few minutes and Averlin was panicking that I would miss the snow completely if I didn't hurry up.

Our fun lasted all of 3 minutes for Simeon and I. El Jefe and Averlin last a couple minutes more, and Salem came inside shortly after that. It's not that we're wimpy necessarily, it's just that last week it was 75 degrees outside and we just don't stock up on winter gear when most of the season temperature fluctuation is balmy to slightly chilly. Averlin is the only one with a set of gloves, and she only has those because she went to Utah with my parents a couple years ago. But, it was a fun few minutes and I got some cute pictures:

Ready to go inside.

I {heart} February

2011-02-03T12:52:00.006-06:00

Hey! It's February!

There is one thing, however that I must blog about before we get so far away from January that I start to look like a slacker:

*January 31st was Jeff's

GOLDEN BIRTHDAY

That's right! He turned 31 on the 31st! Since we were way too poor to have an extravaganza last year, I doubled up this year and took him to the Great Wolf Lodge (we are still way too poor to have gone there, but we paid off 5 debts with our tax return, so I figured we should use a little of the leftover to have some fun). If you haven't been there, save up your money for a long time, and make sure you have a military discount: check it out. He loves water parks (I loathe them) and I knew the kids would have a great time. I must admit, it was very fun even though food and shopping is more ridiculously priced than Disneyland, and that's saying something!!

We decided not to fool with the camera while we were there, but here is what the ride home looked like:

Yeah, it was that fun.

So, now we are moving into February full force! Life is so good right now. Tackling my self-doubt and depression head-on has been the best thing. It is still a little tough sometimes and I find myself having to go to "time out" for a few minutes every once in a while, but we have made some drastic changes and I am really happy. Last night Jeff and I were sitting on the couch after dinner, when I looked over and saw this:

Salem's after-dinner chore is to clean off the table, and the other kids like to help her. This is becoming a regular occurrence and I LOVE IT!!!! They are kind to each other and I think it's precious that my 17 month old pumpkin likes to help his sisters do chores. I just had to get a picture of it for proof. They love each other, and oh my goodness, how I love them!

Happy February!

Drinking From the Dog Dish: Learning In Its Natural Form

2011-01-26T14:00:00.003-06:00

This afternoon the winter sun has decided to shrug off the cover of gray clouds she has been shrouding herself in as of late. She is showing herself in all her glory and it is blessedly warm and beautiful outside. My typically-healthy son has conjunctivitis and double ear infections, and one of the only things that has consoled him the past few days is to go outside. We have bundled him up and allowed him to venture outdoors, but only when it has gotten warm enough that the wind doesn't bite our cheeks with its invisible razor sharp teeth.

Today, though! It is lovely. The sun is toying with the idea of spring already, and I for one have been seduced by the feel of the day. I know I shouldn't entertain such thoughts, for I will only be disappointed when we hit our typical February gloom, but I simply can't help myself, and I throw open the back door and pretend it is May. The dogs wander in and out, in and out, and I sit on the back patio reading and listening to the joyous sounds my sick little one makes as he forgets his discomfort and discovers the wonders of our backyard.

One of the dogs keeps jumping on Bubbers and I get annoyed of telling her to knock it off every few minutes, so I stride across the lawn, pick her up and take her inside to the confinement of her kennel. I walk to the back door again to partake of the sun's trickery and find my little boy on all fours, his bottom raised up in the air, lapping water out of the dogs' bowl. I quickly swoop him up and move the bowl out of reach, but in the fractional portion of a second before I got to him I was touched by his creativity, his curiosity, and his obvious keen observations of his beloved "daaahgs".

I am a student of human behavior and especially that of children. Children fascinate me to my very core. The greedy and slightly irrational part of me wants a million of them. I want to surround myself with all the quirks, the intelligence, and the expansive breadth of wonder that is instinctive in the little beings. Though I would be completely exhausted, my mind would be in constant intake mode, and that would be an awesome thing. I suppose that is in some form how God must feel. He has allowed himself the responsibility of an astronomical amount of children. Each one, while difficult, disappointing and frustrating at times, a joy and wonder to behold in their individuality.

What has been a little disheartening to me however, is how quickly curiosity and intrinsic desire to learn and observe is squashed by the manipulation of adults. We tell them what to think and when to think. We seat them in their classrooms and then, based on the businesses and politics that have an interest in our schools, we tell them what they will learn. In doing so, we miss a very important element of the learning process: One cannot learn and certainly cannot understand that which he or she doesn't want to learn or understand. By trying to teach with a one-size-fits-all methodology and curriculum we miss this vital aspect of the process. We remove the child from the development and planning of his or her own education, and in doing so deem their natural curiosity as unworthy of attention. Or, because there are so many students in a classroom it is simply understood that the amount of children equals an impossibility of finding time to personally mentor each one. I do not think this needs to be the case, though the classroom must be set up carefully and meaningfully in order to do so (and I won't go into that here. This post also leaves out my absolute disgust with No Child Left Behind and the limitations it puts on today's classroom, but that as well is for another discussion).

So, my long-winded explanation is in fact leading up to something.

Last semester as I was reading through the wonderful text assigned for my education class I felt a quiet but distinct impression that said, "You can do this!"

"I know I can do this," I thought in response to my impression, "but it is going to take me a couple more years to get my degree."

Again I felt impressed, "but you can do this for your own children in your own home."
Well, that was preposterous.

I need the daily break from my older kids. My house is messier and things are just... louder when everyone is home. I can't do this.

I was, I believe, arguing with God at this point, which everyone knows is pointless.

God wins.

That's just the way it works.

In the days and weeks and months following that early impression I stumbled upon blog after blog of friends or strangers who homeschooled their children and loved it. They allowed their children to take part in or take over the planning and decision portion, and they were happy. Their children were happy and their brains were nourished in a unique and individual way. And I realized one day, "I must do this. And even if it is only for a year or 2, I can and I must do this." I have allowed this thought into my heart and now I am waiting with great anticipation and excitement to take my oldest out of school next year and to let her plan with me what we will learn and how we will go about learning it.

I haven't decided yet about Averlin. For now, I am happy with where she is. Her Pre-K teacher told me that they attend professional development courses on an almost weekly basis that tell them to let the children play. The teachers make opportunities and materials available and the children go about using them and unknowingly learning in the process. The teachers are simply the facilitators in the classroom as the children play, and in doing so learn. Averlin has come leaps and bounds this year and I am sad that this facilitating, mentoring, and coaching ends after Kindergarten.

How many leaders would be produced if the needs of children were individually monitored and met and if those children were truly inspired to continue to learn. I do believe that it is possible to find these teachers in the public school systems, however parents aren't allowed to choose their child's teachers, and even if we were, do we really know which ones to pick? For now, at least I am not willing to leave that to chance. I can see that Salem is at a delicate turning point. Will her watching videos at school for science the whole of first grade crush her natural wonder at scientific discovery? I hope not.

Though there will be failures and disappointments in my children's attempts at learning, and though I might have to figuratively snatch away the dog's dish because of my knowledge of natural consequences (germs in that case), I hate to think that they would never even make the attempt because it wasn't specifically dictated to them as an assignment at school.

This is my attempt at the translation from Brain Language to written word that I discussed in my last post. It is certainly lacking about 500 pages, and may even seem a bit disjointed but it is my best shot and I don't plan on proofreading, so good luck navigating!

* On a side note, this is my 200th post!

A New Widget

2011-01-25T14:19:00.002-06:00

Want to know what I'm reading and where I get my crazy thoughts and ideas?
I know you've been desperately curious, so I am now going to help you out with that.
My cousin, who is very incredibly awesome and has children with the hugest, most beautiful brown eyes you've ever seen, has a little gadget on the sidebar of her blog from a website called goodreads.com
Probably unbeknownst to her I have been eyeing her little "e-bookshelf" for a couple of years now. Finally, I could stand it no longer, and today I went to the website and got one for myself. You can find it on my sidebar underneath my profile. It contains the three books I am currently reading. (I'm pretty sure you're supposed to just read one book at a time, but who do you think I am? Some kind of conformist?)
Thank you, Michelle!

Wordless

2011-01-21T10:29:00.002-06:00

Two of my brothers and I recently had a conversation via blog comments about our inability to express ourselves- or at least to do so eloquently. There so many thoughts and ideas and bits of knowledge and understanding that look and feel brilliant or wise inside, but trying to translate the blup bloop blip of brain language (which feels a whole lot like English when it's up there) into actual consonants and vowels proves menacingly difficult. This is why I could never be famous. Not that I have anything to be famous for- although I can cleanly change a diaper in the pitch dark with my eyes closed- but if I was famous, I would have to do interviews and that would destroy my credibility once and for all. There would be a lot of "um" and a whole lot of "ya know?", ya know??
So, I think we decided it must be genetic, although it skipped over my sister apparently because she always knows what she wants to say and the right way to say it. She probably even knows the wrong way to say it, but at least she knows. How is this even fair? She's also the one who got the cute little nose and the perfect ability to tan... though now that I think about it I'm the only one of the children (biological and adopted) who didn't get the ability to tan. And yet, I digress...
So, I may have mentioned a few times my obsession with the singer/songwriter Regina Spektor. Forgive me if you've listened to her by my recommendation and found her to be slightly crass, and a little (or a lot) weird. Her more recent music is more refined, but it's her weird songs that I usually end up listening to and saying, " Yes! Exactly! Regina, I know exactly what you're talking about! You, my friend, are the more talented and less- Mormon version of myself! Or not, but I get it..."
So yesterday I found a song I have somehow missed in the past and it starts out with the following words:

The Consequence of Sounds by Regina Spektor
My rhyme ain't good just yet,
My brain and tongue just met,
And they ain't friends, so far,
My words don't travel far,
They tangle in my hair,
And tend to go nowhere,
They grow right back inside,
Right past my brain and eyes
Into my stomach juice
Where they don't serve much use,
No healthy calories,
Nutrition values.
And I absorb back in
The words right through my skin
They sit there festering inside my bowels

The consonants and vowels
The consequence of sounds
The consonants and vowels
The consequence of sounds

What did I tell you? She knows. Girl knows what's goin' on!
Anyway, (Oh- P.S. listen to the rest of the song at your own peril, it may or may not contain the s-word- eek!) so if I had anyway to translate from brain language to English it would include the following well-thought-out subjects:
1. Education (I am far too informed on this subject, and yet totally and completely addicted)
2. Homeschool- I will definitely be attempting the Brain Language Translation on this one
3. Politics (I'm stuck on my own bewilderment of both party's ability to continue existing with their terribly ironic platforms. Ugh, I read way too much)
4. Avacadoes- I know. You would think this one would be easy to put into words, but everything I try comes out silly.
5. My children- ( Who am I kidding, I can totally talk about this one, but I think I might cause a few people some eyeroll-induced damage with the mushy gushy love stuff.)
6. My recent attack of baby hunger that involves the country of Guatemala. (The cannibalistic undertones of that last sentence were completely unintentional.)

And now, I find myself at a loss for words to finish this up and move on with my daily quota of jumbled thoughts on totally random and slightly unrelated subjects. I suppose this will do. See you next week.

Title Too Boring To Post

2011-01-17T13:09:00.004-06:00

I was going to entitle this little ditty "Update."
Wow. Is that where my creativity has gone? Update?
So, moving past the title...

Last week was excellent. We had our nightly game night. I filled my daily laundry and dishes quota. I resisted the pressing urge to jump back into everything else I "should" do since I was feeling better. I reminded myself that I am in the middle of a healing process and need to A.) not be a perfectionist and B.) be happy with my successes.

The best part about last week was how awesome our family time was. It felt like the "old days." I was more patient, Jeff was less grumpy, and the kids were WAY happier. They came home from school ready (excited!) to do a couple little chores, and by the end of the week they had earned their new weekly reward (a pajama party and campout in Mommy and Daddy's room on Friday night).

So, since these updates are super boring and cause me to use titles such as "Update"(blughh), I think I am on the right track and have no desire blog about every time I smile or frown each week. I also wanted to let you all know again how much I appreciated the comments, etc. I've had a lot to think about and have changed my goals for myself (even in my quest to improve I am committed to being more self-accepting and less concerned with fitting the perfect LDS girl image that I have come to find out is simply a myth- and thank goodness for that! Nobody is perfect! Hurray!). I read a funny poem that my friend Lia shared with me, and the sad thing is that my previous goal was to be like the person in the poem and to do it all with a smile on my face. It really put things into perspective for me : Girl in a Whirl

Whispered Conversations and A Birthday Message

2011-01-12T08:45:00.004-06:00

Last night ended wonderfully (but Late!) and today began wonderfully (but Early!).

Last night I read many comments/messages/emails in response to my scarily honest post from yesterday. I laughed, I cried, I was humbled, I was grateful, I was inspired. I began to feel human again. More fleshy or something. I am starting to feel like maybe there is a happiness or relief or self-acceptance or all three(!) tingling in my fingers and toes that will spread rapidly and soon. IhopeIhopeIhopeIhope.

This morning Salem crept into the darkness of my room and asked if we could play Snuggle Chickens. Of Course! was my reply, and she carefully climbed over me to nestle herself into the warm spot on my right. Averlin followed a few minutes later and the party began. My room was abuzz with the whispered conversation I have come to expect from my oldest child:

"Mom, what is God's wife's name?"

"Mom, How did Jesus make my body?"

"What do you mean you and dad made my body? Dad's don't make babies."

"What do you mean they help make babies? How do they do that?"

"Why do some people have different skin colors? Did Jesus paint them?"

"DNA?"

"Can you see DNA with a microscope?"

"Where did Jesus get the materials to make Adam's and Eve's bodies?"

When Averlin could get a word in after Salem's interrogations, it was so sweet and sincere I could have cried:

"Mom, I pray about Jesus everyday. I learned about when he was a baby. That was a long time ago. I love him."

And then it was that dreaded moment of the morning when we must somehow extract ourselves from the warmth of Snuggle Chickens and force ourselves out into the frosty, cold morning. (Jefe is making us save money by keeping the thermostat at 68. It's brutal.) We were up and I kissed them and thanked them for the wonderful job they have been doing on their new chore system and they reminded me that they also haven't fought at all this week, which is true, and I praised them heartily for that, because I know it has been a valiant effort for both of them.

Family Home Evening last night (we usually do FHE on Tuesdays) was great too, and it felt so nice to see my small and simple goals for this week be successful.

I also need to add that today is my grandmother's 88th birthday! Grandmama, as she is affectionately known, is a very cool woman. She is spunky, hilarious, and such a loving and nurturing grandmother.

Some of favorite memories of her are from my early childhood when she took care of my brother and me. After we moved from Alabama to California it was quite an affair when she and Grandaddy would come to visit. They always brought gifts and they would sneak us $5.00 bills randomly throughout their visit. They would pay us mega money to make their beds for them in the morning.

When Jefe was in Iraq, I went to stay with them for a month. When I got the flu really bad for a whole week, Grandmama did her best to care for my two little ones. That was not an easy task as Averlin was 8 months old and Salem was in an "I Hate Everyone" stage. I will be forever grateful to her for that.

Grandmama, I love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday.

What Could Make Us a Little Uncomfortable

2011-01-11T11:41:00.003-06:00

Brace Yourself- this is a long one. And no pictures to make it easier. Sorry!

Week 2 of earning back my crown has gone much more smoothly so far than week one did. Apparently if you try to jump right back in to everything you were once able and willing to do, you will drown in misery and inadequacy, so I'm starting over again. We're going to go with baby steps from now on.

Week 1 Goals (and obviously why I failed from the get-go): be organized, be an attentive mother, be 100% available to my husband for what he needs me to do for work, have a shiny clean house 6 out of 7 days a week, get up at 6:30 to be completely dressed and ready for the day, cook a healthy well-balanced meal every night by 5:30, family scriptures and prayer every day (we actually already have this one down- woohoo!!), read the books I've been putting off, work on Simeon's speech, don't freak out when the DOD or VA or Tricare screw up important paper work AGAIN, ummmmmm I'm sure there was more, but I pretty much lost my mind by Tuesday night and the rest of the week was pretty rotten.

Last week was a great learning experience, however. Jeff and I spent date night in the Walmart parking lot discussing what needs to be done and what needs to change. It was very romantic. Especially the part where I was crying and cursing the incompetence and idiocy of every bureaucratic office affiliated with the military. (I'll be working on that eventually, but remember- baby steps.)

So, my goals for week 2 are much different and much more reasonable.

Goals for Week 2: Try to do one load of laundry and one load of dishes a day. Every evening, no matter how late it makes bedtime, play some kind of game with the kids. Make our interactions with the children more positive- even the discipline.

That's it. That is all I am aiming for this week, and by golly Sunday and Monday were fantastic! Even with an trip to the ER and Jeff drilling with the National Guard on Sunday, the girls were more kind to each other and I felt so much lighter inside. There is a long way to go still, but I feel good about the fact that things are looking up.

Here's the part that may make some of us uncomfortable. I am about to admit what I have never read on another blog and it kind of scares me. Though, I understand completely. The blog has usually been my happy place. And I try to live by "If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.," but I think it is only fair for me to admit to myself and especially my children when they are adults and reading this, that things aren't always easy.

I am depressed.
Really, really depressed.
I don't need anyone to say, "Ashley, I'm so sorry you're having a rough time."
What I need is for people to say, "I've been there, and this is what helped," or "I am there now, let's swap improvement tips," or "I've never been there, but I'll offer up a quick prayer for you."

For the past two years it has been almost immobilizing, and I am ready to get rid of it!!! It is time to crawl out of this rut and start seeing what I am supposed to be learning from all the crud we have dealt with. It has been tiring to overcome an obstacle only to be knocked back down a couple of weeks later (Mostly by the incompetent military offices I mentioned).
What I hate is to teach a lesson at church and say things like, "If you are true to your covenants, everything will be okay, you will be happy."
I don't think it conveys to the youth the actual truth. The truth is everything WILL be okay, in the end. However, there's gonna be a whole lot of tough times along the way. The important thing is to stick it out. Things will get better, and then they may get worse, but no matter what it will be okay in the end. I never picked that up from my youth experience, and I have spent a lot of time wondering why good and faithful people experience serious trials in such rapid succession. Mine have been easy and trivial compared to some that I know about.

Life wasn't meant to be easy. That's why it's called a test. Anyone who says otherwise is in denial. Sometimes we hit parts of our test that we are prepared for, and sometimes there are problems on our test that we need a little time to work through. All the positive thinking in the world can't help either, unless we put some effort into it.
Right now I am going through one of those test questions. I plan on taking my time to work through it too. I am inviting you to come along for the ride. I'm excited for what this year means for me and for our family.

In the meantime, here's an update on our first game night: We played "Twister." I realized that I am no longer the flexible young cheerleader I once was, and I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. The ironic part was that even after a game, scriptures, prayers and bedtime stories, the kids were still in bed at the exact same time as they used to be. I just wasn't so frustrated afterwards.

Also, just for documentation purposes, El Jefe and I decided that even if a child has been particularly naughty one day or is having a rough time, we will still cheerfully invite them to game night. We decided not to punish them with the withholding of one-on-one time with us. We haven't decided what to do if one of them is being particularly rotten DURING game time, so I will have to update on that. Averlin was being a poo after a while last night and we just kept encouraging her to join in, which she didn't want to do. So, we're still working out some kinks. Baby steps.

Quite a Process

2011-01-10T14:17:00.002-06:00

Turning yourself into the old you that you liked a lot is a hard process. But, I think we're making some progress.
Maybe I should walk around with yellow tape thrown across my shoulder like a Miss America sash, except it would say : UNDER CONSTRUCTION. PARDON THE MESS.

Friday's Recap

2011-01-07T13:34:00.000-06:00

Quick, the baby is going to wake up from his nap any minute!!

Awwwww. Remember back to the old days when I was energetic and cute and funny? C'mon, just nod your head yes. I used to do Friday Recaps and I liked it! But when I got tired and uncute and irritable I stopped. Such a shame. So, in honor of my New Year's Resolutions to A.) be energetic, cute, and funny again, and B.) to blog more consistently, I am going to do a Friday's Recap!
The reason I haven't put many pictures up recently is because Blogger takes FLIPPIN' FOREVER to upload my pics and because Blogger also does this weird thing where you have to upload the one you want first, last and the one you want last, first. I forgot this time and that's too darn bad. So, we will have to enjoy Friday's Recap in reverse order.

Bubs- Well, he's just cute isn't he.

Mini Royals Numeros Uno y Dos- Fought constantly all week long, woke up before 6 am every morning, fought as soon as they woke up, drove me to the brink of insanity, and then were so sweet and huggable that I felt guilty for ever getting frustrated, Salem got the Principal's "Top Dawg" award again, and I had a very favorable parent-teacher conference with Averlin's teacher in which I was assured that she is on target in everything even though she can only (sometimes) count to ten.

The queen- decided this is not the right outfit to wear to a photo shoot, and is right now eating peanut M&M's and thinking about how sore my bum is from all the exercise I did yesterday. I worked out for like 10 whole minutes! I know! I'm so proud of me too! Except, for real, I can't sit down. No, exercise is not one of my New Year's resolutions, it's just that sometimes I think, "It would feel sexy to be more toned," but then I exercise and feel like a ninety-seven year old when I walk, and there be nothing sexy about that. So, I may not do that again for awhile. But for heaven's sake- how I want my old muscle tone back! So I might just exercise again. But again I am reminded of my sore bottom. So, maybe not...

El Jefe (AKA The Amazing Zambini)- Had a GREAT week at work!!!! Halleluiah! I can hear the angels sing! He got 4 new students and lost 1 (you gotta love military towns), and has a very interesting looking weekend as he is supposed to be in 2 equally important places all day Saturday. He cleaned the entire house for me including the bathrooms (can I get another angel chorus?), and wore a new shirt to work, which made me a jealous woman because he looked amazing in it. Not amazing as in The Amazing Zambini, but an amazing that involves no shoe polish side burns. Now that's amazing!

Oh! The baby's awake, so I must conclude this week's Friday Recap. (Sure to improve as I work on my energy, cuteness, and comedy)

The World Has Need of Willing Men (and Women and Children...)

2011-01-03T12:02:00.000-06:00

Have you seen this?
It is awesome. It is the nine key principles of having happiness in a family. It helped me decide on our 2011 Family Motto at about midnight last night during a bout with insomnia.

You see, today is El Jefe's first day back to work after Christmas break. We've done a lot over the past 2 weeks to get his classroom ready so that it would run more efficiently giving him a smoother day and less work at nights during the week. Even with all this, I could see that he was getting nervous to go back. Nervousness makes him lose sleep. And too much sleep loss is like a giant monster that rides around on your back all the next day planting hateful thoughts into your mind.
So, I did the only thing I could think of to do.

I prayed.

Please let me have all of his stress tonight. Let him sleep. I will take it if You will give him rest.

And, what do you know. God thought this was an acceptable deal I suppose, so though we went to bed at 9:30, which is unheard of early for us, I didn't actually sleep until around one.
I lay in bed at first feeling panicky, my stomach in a knot, my throat tight. Not wanting to disturb my darling with my tossing and turning and unable to endure the jumble of thoughts flying around in my head, I crept out of bed and into the playroom to distract myself with a late night movie or computer session. There were so many things I could do, and I didn't feel a stitch of exhaustion.
Time has definitely been closing in on the first Family Home Evening of the year (tonight!), in which we reveal our annual family motto and goals, and since Jeff and I had not decided upon a motto I thought I could spend my late night wanderings searching lds.org for some answers. That is when I found the Happiness in Family Life page, and also the slideshow bar on this Family Home Evening page.
The nine principles of Family Happiness are: Faith, Prayer, Repentance, Forgiveness, Respect, Love, Compassion, Work, and Activities.
Can you imagine what the world would be like if every set of parents adhered to these 9 principles?
I looked through all of them closely and decided to focus on Work this year while of course giving meaningful time to all of the others.
The girls recently have been acting more like spoiled rotten princesses than the nice Cinderella or Belle types. Every evening I say, "Okay guys, cleanup time," and I'm telling you the room clears faster and faster. Now I barely get to "Okay, guys-" and I'm suddenly standing alone. I may or may not have heard actual crickets on a couple of occasions. Then it becomes a veritable wrestling match and some nights I am so exhausted that I just don't even begin and relinquish myself to the knowledge that I will do it all alone tomorrow. But all that is about to change. I have a plan.

AND..... The big reveal:
Family Motto 2011 is.......

CLICK HERE

I am excited for the new year and the prospects of our new Family Motto. I am also so excited to teach my children about this very valuable principle. Happy Working!!

Dear 2010, You Were Kinda Poo-y

2010-12-31T20:00:00.000-06:00

In honor of embarking upon a whole new year (and decade!) I recently looked over my posts from 2010 and found that I sounded remarkably upbeat for how I was feeling the majority of the time. Whew, what a relief.
What is that law of physics or some other science-y like subject that says for every action there is an opposite and inverse reaction? Am I close? Anyway, that was exactly what this year felt like. For every extreme high there was an extreme low. I, for one am ready to get off the roller coaster. Smooth sailing for 2011, please.

The highs: Jeff graduated, got into a teaching certification program, got a job, and we began to get paid after 2 looooooooooooooong years- and I do mean every one of those o's. We spent a lovely 2 days in Corpus Christi, and another wonderful couple of days by ourselves in Northern California. Jeff wasn't deployed, and that is always a plus.

The lows: I don't even know if I want to relive them. It was just a generally difficult year. Student loans began to taper off before paychecks started coming in. The same student loans needed repayment before paychecks came in. We lost a friend in Afghanistan, and another to her own inner suffering. Jeff's job started out very stressful which put a strain on our marriage and family (Oi! Can I admit that the Queen and El Jefe the Brave and Magnificent are not perfectly happy at all times? That was a painful revelation). I took waaaay too many classes this semester and felt utterly selfish. I also learned so much about people. Humans. Humanity. The sadness, loneliness, poverty, inequality, and injustice in the world. I became wrapped up in problems I can't ever hope to fix and that leaves one feeling powerless, hopeless, and just plain sad.
It was so much easier being naive and silly.

But, on to a new year. A new me. A new us.

Christmas break has been so good. Jefe and I sat down a few days ago and got all our finances together and made a good, sturdy plan to save and move home to California in about 3 and 1/2 years. I can't stand being so far away from family anymore. I kind of laughed as I typed this though, because when Jeff gave me my blog as a book for Christmas I read back to somewhere in 2007 when we had made a "plan" for our life and oh how differently things turned out. My brother Tim told me a quote once, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." Too true. There's always hope, though. Maybe this one will align with His plan for us.

I am looking forward to taking a long break from school to fully devote myself to the wife-y/mommy thing, because really that is where I find my greatest happiness and satisfaction.
When there are less worldly distractions and more chubby baby, giggling little girls, and handsome husband, I am happy. I have peace at those times. And right now that is exactly what I need. I need to quiet the defeatist and feel the calm that comes from living with and loving my darling little family.

So, tonight to celebrate our Happy New Year, Jeff and I put the tiny-guys in bed early, I am blogging, he is finishing up lesson plans, and in just a moment we will play games and watch a movie.
What could be a better way to start off 2011?

Oh yes, and I am brunette once again. It feels like home.

Happy New Year.

Kids on Christmas

2010-12-27T13:11:00.000-06:00

Christmas is way more fun as a grown-up watching your kids be excited.

Baby in footie pajamas riding on his new rocking horse = I'm in love

It's so fun having two little girls.

My Book

2010-12-26T21:17:00.001-06:00

I find myself at a loss for words today. I've been dying to blog about this past week and our family's amazing Christmas, but I simply don't know where to begin.

I am an "Eat Dessert First" kind of person, so I guess I'll start with the best gift that I opened on Christmas morning.

I am laughing in this picture because Jeff told me my fake smile looked like someone sitting on the toilet. Nice, huh?

Jefe has been telling me for about a month how much I was going LOOOOOVE my gift. I believed him, but I didn't really think too much about what it was going to be. I knew it had to be some kind of book because the charge to our bank account was from a company called Shared Book, but I didn't know what that meant.

On Christmas morning I opened several wonderful gifts. A cute little ring from Salem, a pen from Averlin, and the ENTIRE Regina Spektor collection from Jeff (save one disc that is apparently so rare it wasn't even available on the endlessness of Amazon). I was pretty darn thrilled with these gifts.

Then, I opened THE gift. My blog in book form. I had scarcely looked at the shiny cover when I became very emotional. There it was. Years of time, pain, happiness, loneliness, reunions, annoyances, indescribable joys, and overwhelming love all in one book that I can hold in my hands and keep forever for my children to cherish. I know it may sound silly, but even now I still get a little choked up when I think about it.

I began this blog in the throes of lonely despair. It was a way for me to get myself through the wretched Iraq deployment- A survival strategy, so to speak. It was also a way for my husband to connect with his two young daughters for the 13 months he missed of their young lives. It was and still is the way I allow (sometimes force) myself to see the positive in life. No one wants to read about someone who is complaining all the time, and so the blog is my listening friend that I have to give positive reports to.

Today, I read my book cover to cover. All 162 pages of my thoughts and experiences. I was surprised at how I have changed since the summer of 2007. Sometimes I was disappointed in the changes, and sometimes I was glad of them. I have certainly grown up a lot. I am stronger in some areas, while other areas need a little work. But overall I came to the conclusion that I am a very very blessed person and I like being me. I am grateful for the trials God has blessed me with, and for the opposition that I have faced. He has given me the tools to overcome those trials, I only need to remember that the tools are there.

So, what began as a Christmas post has finished up as a blog post about my blog posts. I suppose I will have to fill you all in on the rest of our festivities another time. Before I finish up tonight, I want to say thanks to my friends and family who have been along for this ride with me. I occasionally have had people tell me "I love your blog!" when I didn't even know they read it. Or, especially when I was pregnant with Simeon and was too sick to post often, I have heard, "You haven't posted in a while!" again from people I didn't even know read my posts. It has been motivating, and I appreciate it.

Also, I want to thank my husband for this gift. The time and effort he put into creating it is astounding, especially considering how hard he has been working for the past 4 months. I am so grateful for it, and also for his love and support in all things.

So, here's to another 162 page book in 3 years ( hopefully sooner!).

Slow

2010-12-17T09:49:00.000-06:00

I was about to email this to my Jefe, but I decided to blog it instead.

My gosh, could this day go any slower???? It is only 9:50. I have been pacing back and forth from the kitchen to the playroom for what feels like a lifetime. I pick a toy up off the couch and take it to the playroom. I pick a dish up off the playroom floor and take it to the kitchen. I find a shoe in the kitchen and take it back to the shoe basket by the playroom. And so on and so forth. I could stay in one room and clean it fully, but I've convinced myself all week that Friday would go by so fast. I thought to myself, "Everyone gets out of school so early and I've got "a million" things to do... cooking the fudge, taking a shower, maybe I could squeeze in brushing my teeth. But just maybe."
But I forgot that I can't do any of those million things until our sweet little hellion goes down for his nap.
Oh! It is painfully slow!
I've done a load of laundry, I've read Bubbers a book and let him ride on my back for far more time than was reasonable. I keep handing him those butter cookies your student gave you for Christmas. I noticed the doggies were shivering so I let them all come in, and I have paced and paced and paced, and it is still only 9:57. 9:58. 9:59
Hooray! It is 10:00! I can put him to bed to start on my huge list of tasks for this day that will go by so quickly! And right on cue he is fussing and pulling at my pant legs. Goodbye, dear. I have far too much to do to be emailing you right now!

Seven. Siete. Sept. Sette. Zeven. Syv. Sju.

2010-12-16T12:59:00.000-06:00

I absolutely did just waste fifteen minutes looking up the number 7 in different languages. For the love of the blog. Ayayay.

Birthdays. You all know how I dread the age change of my babies. Too fast. Too fast. And here it is again. My Salem is seven. siete. sept ... you get the idea.
Since we are not a family to pass up an opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry (but without all the negative scriptural connotations), we celebrated her day in colorful and delicious style.
So, here are 7 photos from her feast and festivities:

I personally feel that there might be a couple of party animals missing in our family. 5 hats just does not seem enough. Jeff doesn't agree. At all. In fact, do me a favor and don't tell him I brought it up. Oh, shoot. He reads my blog.

Here she is! The birthday girl with yours truly, the Queen.

I am trying to raise two little queens-in-the making. Jefe, on the other hand, is raising two little goofballs-in-the-making. Who will win? Check back in 15 years.

Best picture. Ever. Kinda makes me wanna go kiss my own sister.

I gave Salem some menu options.

Her choice:
Garlic-Oregano Turkey cutlets

Steamed Mustard Greens

Roasted Honey-Ginger Acorn Squash w/ Parmesan

Clementine Izzes

AND

A lovely homemade (not really) Oreo cake!!

Happy Birthday, Salem! I love you.

And here's one I just had to throw in:

I've Been Thinking Some Thoughts, I Think

2010-12-14T11:58:00.000-06:00

I really really hope I can remember all the places I've hidden Christmas gifts.

(My sincere apologies to my male readers for this one) Is it wrong to get a boob job *ahem* I mean "breast augmentation" after your three children have destroyed your first set? I mean someday we'll replace the sofas and carpet that they've ruined... so why not the boobs?

Should I be concerned when my 4 year-old comes home from school and says, "Today we had an assembly and there were two gentlemen on the stage. One was a boy and one was a girl." How crazy do Pre-K assemblies usually get??

My family goes for months every year without any parties to attend or gifts to buy, and then WHAM- December rolls around and everybody is either celebrating their birthday, anniversary, wedding, or baby shower, and not to mention that Santa's workshop is not government funded people, I donate to his cause heartily every year. Yes, Jeff and I were dumb enough to not only get married in the month of December, but also to have a December baby. I am deeply ashamed for my contribution to the end-of-the-year-money-flying-out-of-your-pocket phenomenon.

Should I eat more than skittles for lunch today?

California Dreamin'- Our New Little Piece of Heaven

2010-12-09T10:47:00.000-06:00

Remember that little vacation I mentioned a couple posts back? The vacation that El Jefe and I took alone to Point Arena, California? I have finally found a moment to sit down and put up the pictures. And really, pictures are all that you need to get a feel for why we are already planning our next trip to this sweet little spot. However, as my commentary is usually just so entertaining and enlightening to boot, I won't leave you alone with just pictures. You're welcome.

Yes, this is a massive jacuzzi tub in front of a very warm fireplace. I positively shrieked with joy when I saw it. The owners of the B&B had bath salts right there waiting for us that smelled like the most wonderful mixture of everything that is good and lovely. Piece of Heaven #1

The bed in the master bedroom of our cottage was right up against this window which overlooked the beautiful sloping hillside and the ocean beyond it. We woke up every morning to barking seals and the gentle clangs of fishing boats being rocked on the water. The blankets were warm, and the mattress unbelieveable. Piece of Heaven #2

After the wife-owner brought breakfast to our door, we stuffed ourselves silly on mushroom, tomato omelets and her incredible cranberry pumpkin bread. Then, we met the resident poochy named Winston who loved us very much and took us for a walk down to the beach by our place. Um. Gorgeous. Piece of Heaven #3.

Later that day (Thanksgiving, no less!) we rode down PCH (Hwy 1) until we saw a sign that said "Trail head: Beach Access." Well! A hiking trail and a beach all in one! Count me in. We hiked through a dense forest and popped out at:

The Beach!! Pieces of Heaven #4 (forest hike) and 5 (cool beach). I didn't even mind all the sunspots in the pictures because the whole trip there was just pure, unadulterated sunshine. It was so wonderful!

While at the beach we sat on this rock that was really long and jetted out into the water. About 10 feet from us a head popped out of the water and I just about died because I thought it was a dead human body, but to our amazement (and my great relief) it was actually a seal. He was super curious as to what was going on at the beach. There were a couple of families there with about 5 dogs amongst them. I suppose he heard the barking and came to take a peek. It was so very cool. Extension of Piece of Heaven #5.

We spent the afternoon infront of the woodburning stove watching a movie. I took a nap and Jeff read a book (I know! A nap, movie, and reading, all in one day!!). I woke up missing the kids terribly, but as there was absolutely no cell phone service, I had to wait until later to call them. We got ready for our Thanksgiving dinner and walked outside to leave when we were overcome by the incredible sunset right outside our door. We got to the restaurant called "Top O' The Cliffs" and watched from our window-side table the rest of the glowing orange brilliance sink over the far side of the vast ocean. Piece of Heaven #6.

It was hard to leave except that I couldn't wait to love on my babies. Seriously, you should go here. Coast Guard House Historic Inn, in Point Arena, California. It is phenomenal.

P.S. Best Thanksgiving dinner I've ever eaten.

A Little Clarification

2010-12-08T10:13:00.000-06:00

The funny thing about a blog is that it takes the inner workings of a complex mind and puts them into words, which in turn are published, and at some point shared with others. While I try to use my mental filter to block out things I will later regret having shared, sometimes the holes in my filter are a little too large, and more gets published than should.
A month ago I posted about the team meeting at Jeff's school that had to do with him and his struggles as a first year teacher. I had long since forgotten about the post, though not the meeting, until it was brought to my attention yesterday. I regret only one item that I wrote in that post. I do, in fact, have respect for other teachers in the grade level. I was angry with some, but anger heals, and respect is once again had. I do however regret one thing that I didn't write. The post was written in an entirely negative tone, leaving out room for mention of the incredible support system at the school that he has had to get him through this challenging first semester.
I have chosen to remove the post from the public nature of my blog, because the last thing I wish to do is to hurt feelings or cause misunderstandings.
Jefe is an amazing person. Under his quiet demeanor is a wise, knowledgeable, and loving person (and sometimes a crazy goofball- I tease him that he never really moved past age 13). It hurts me to see him hurt, just as it hurts anyone to see a family member, and especially their spouse, hurting.
So, over time, the inner workings of a complex mind change, grow, learn, and understand. We adjust to the shell-shock of experiences and become better people from them.
Had I the time to blog more frequently, maybe a more solid picture of our thoughts and experiences could be formed, but for now I will just be sure to repair my mental filter. :)

Sick Note

2010-11-30T09:34:00.000-06:00

Salem's note to her teacher this morning:

ime sick. i only throo up like 5 times. i dont think its fare that i dont get go to school

Norway, My Mom Smells Good, And A Tiny Beach Town In Northern California

2010-11-18T10:48:00.000-06:00

I am leaving tomorrow evening.
I will load up my children and husband in the car and head out West.
This has been a long time coming and I can't wait. In fact I am very emotional from stress and I wonder how am I going to get through one more 24+ hour period before I get to leave it behind me for 9 whole days.

It is going to be wonderful though.

My vacation to-do list:
1. Give Grandma Molly a great, big hug and watch adoringly as Grandpa Bob jokes with the children and Jeff and I. (Molly and Bob are Jeff's grandparents)

2. Sing Regina Spektor's brilliant music whilst my genius of a little brother accompanies me.
You can hear the songs we will entertain the masses with (okay probably just ourselves) here and here and hopefully this one as well. He has also informed me that I will be singing the miniscule harmony part to Neon Trees' "Animal," which is quite different from Regina Spektor but with their own value (plus a female drummer- woo!).

3. Hug my mom who smells incredible all the time. No seriously. My goal in life should be to smell as good as she does. I like to wear her clothes because they smell like her. Did I mention she smells good? And she has seven kids. I've only got three and sometimes I smell like... well, not as good as her.

4. Watch Baby Momma with my brother and sister. Because they said I HAVE to see it. So I will.

5. Look at all the cute decorations my mommy-in-law has all over her house. And listen to her soft, staccato voice say, "Oh, Ashley, I just love you so much! We are so glad Jeff found you." That really never gets old.

6. Listen to my Father-in-law's stories from his childhood in Jersey.

7. Tease my darling Daddy about having surgery and picking the cocktail waitress cards at charades that one time. Dang, that one never gets old either.

8. ANDDDDDDDD FINALLY.......... Go on a mini-vacation all alone with my husband!! We are going here, a tiny little Bed and Breakfast in tiny little Point Arena, California. Our cottage overlooks the beach. Oh yeah- I am excited for this one. We have saved up penny after penny in our attempt to have this little adventure alone. We have agreed there will be no talk of his lesson plans or his students or his classroom. We will be silly and in-love. We will walk on the beach and have a picnic with goods purchased at the local organic market.

How You Know It's Time For An Adult Only Vacation>>>
1. When you find yourself rocking out to Justin Bieber in your mini-van.... and there are no kids in the car. That was kind of a horrific moment for me. One fateful romantic encounter almost 7 years and nine months ago, and I was unwittingly dooming myself to dorky-mom syndrome. If you or someone you love has caught themselves jamming alone to a prepubescent singer talking about his 13 year-old true love, have them call me. We can form a support group.

2. When you are having an actual intellectually stimulating conversation with your husband about marketing practices and you realize that you just shouted "DID YOU KNOW THAT NORWAY AND SWEDEN HAVE BANNED MARKETING AIMED AT CHILDREN?" and your husband shouts back, "ALL I HEARD WAS NORWAY BANNED CHILDREN...?" And you are shouting because somehow the baby on your hip started screaming at the exact moment that the older children ran into the kitchen you were standing in and they were shrieking and singing and cackling at the top of their lungs AND the pot of pasta was boiling over onto the stovetop.
As much as I love the joyous cacophony of sounds my children issue, at times it is just that- loud, grating noise.

And there you have it. Some of the things I will do and some of the reasons why I will go on vacation. Tomorrow. I still haven't packed.

P.S. In case you're interested:
http://www.newrules.org/information/rules/curbing-commercialization-public-space/ban-advertising-children-norway
Fascinating stuff. I'm considering moving to Norway.

Note: Sorry about the misspellings and terrible grammar. I have slept a whopping total of 12 hours in the past 3 days... Hence the vacation

Just Count It As Early For Next Halloween?

2010-11-05T21:11:00.000-05:00

Yeah, so Halloween was a week ago. But my kids were cute and I had to post pictures even though I'm late. You know, for posterity!
Our ward had Trunk or Treat on Friday night. They handed out prizes for some of the costumes:

Award for Fattest, Most Delicious Thighs and Cheeks: Simeon dressed as Bam Bam (okay, so I made that award up. The girls got real awards, but Simeon definitely should have won that one.)

Most Colorful Costume: Averlin dressed as a birthday girl (her hair was pink and the bun was red like a cherry on top.)

Overall Best Girls' Costume: Salem as an Ice Princess. (These photos really don't do her costume justice. Her hair was spiked up at the top to make an icicle crown. She looked awesome!)

Okay, I feel so much better now that I've gotten these up. Closure! Now I can take down my Halloween decorations and move on to Thanksgiving!

Snuggle Chickens and Hurting Ca'rears'

2010-10-28T13:02:00.000-05:00

My children have been unusually hilarious lately. They are often hilarious, just not usually such a concentration of hilarity in such a short amount of time. Here is a clip of what has been going on recently:

(I listed this one on Facebook)I was about to leave a parent-teacher conference when Salem's teacher said, "Oh! Wait there was something I wanted to tell you about. Last week we were making pumpkin pictures and writing one thing we were thankful for. When Salem turned hers in, I was shocked because it said, 'I am thankful for everything but Satan and Hell.' It was so funny and I just never expected something like that from a first grader."
I just shook my head and laughed. That is so Salem. Apparently the principal thought it was awesome.

This morning the girls and I were playing "Snuggle Chickens" to try and stay warm (it was 73 degrees. brrrr.)while Daddy was getting ready for work. Snuggle Chickens is where I am the mother hen and the girls snuggle close to me, one on each side, and I wrap an arm around each of them and pull the blankets up tight. It is a giant ball of arms, legs, feet, toes, and fluffy warm blanket. Where did I get the name Snuggle Chickens? Who knows. I'm weird like that. Anyway, Salem was accusing me of snoring and I was vehemently denying the possibility of such a thing(I DO NOT snore). When Averlin reached over and started prying my lips open.
"Do you have letters in your mouth?" she asked.
"Letters?" I was confused by her odd but sincere question.
"Yes, when you snore do z's come out of your mouth?"

Then, about an hour later, we were climbing into the car to get the girls off to their educational adventures for the day, when Salem tripped and fell on her bum.
"Ouch!" She cried, "That hurt my career!"
Hahaha. Oh my goodness I could hardly stop laughing to explain that she meant she'd hurt her rear NOT her career.
Where do they come up with these things? I love being with my little ones. They crack me up.
And, P.S. I don't snore.

The Bubbers

2010-10-13T09:13:00.001-05:00

My son is affectionately known around our house as "The Bubbers", or "Bubba Chubbas" or "Bubba Tubbas," or... well, you get the idea. He is the child I deserved after a certain child who screamed for the first year of her life and then switched to whining instead. I rarely post pictures of Bubbers on the blog because he is a blur. The kid never stops moving except to sleep or occasionally snuggle with his mama.

HOWEVER, I was able to get some pictures of him this weekend at the pumpkin patch!

This is the epitome of Bubber-ness. He is such an eater. He eats breakfast with the girls before school and breakfast with me after taking the girls to school. He eats 1st dinner at 5:00 sharp every night (otherwise he holds on to my legs screaming) and he eats 2nd dinner with the rest of the family at 5:30 or 6:00. He likes frequent snacks (bananas and canned apples are his favorites) and often opens the pantry, pulls something out and brings it to me saying "More! More! More!" until I open it and feed it to him. (Are you beginning to see where he gets his nicknames?)

He brings such joy to our family. He breaks up any tense moments between the girls with his cute antics, although he is obsessed with pulling their hair, which is sooooo not cool. The picture above is of Bubbers picking out his pumpkin.

*Additional Bubber logic:

-Light switches are the coolest things EVER.

-Everything (including computer and TV) must be pounded on a few times to test the durability of the item

-Why walk when you can run?

-Smile really big for the camera, then right as Mother pushes the shutter, I will run away or reach my hand out to grab the lens.

-Crayons have the most wonderful texture and feel sooooo good on incoming teeth

-Wrap arms and legs around Mother at nap time, and she will rock me to sleep until I'm 5 years old, because I am warm and soft and snuggly and delicious.

I'm with George

2010-10-01T08:54:00.000-05:00

Anybody wanna be outraged? Are you sure? Read on if you do. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

Ok. I know I swore off blogging about politics, but this is so great I just had to share it, and I hope it gets really big. Like HUGE.
After this past election I have thought that somebody needs to write a book called "WWJVF: The Dark Side of Conservative Christians at Election Time." I have rarely been so disappointed in my fellow men as I was the first time I voted in an election. When I announced that my husband and I had decided to vote for a liberal President (even though we also voted for conservative issues) there was so much hate mail and false filth in my inbox I couldn't go into my email with bursting into tears. Yeah, I'm sensitive like that.

Didn't people understand that I didn't agree with ALL liberal issues? That I didn't consider myself a Democrat? Guess what, even growing up when I was a "hardcore Republican" I didn't agree with ALL conservative issues. Some of them are just plain wrong and unjust.

Anyway, on to the main point of this. I have been frustrated with party politics and the terrible attitudes that stem from them since the 2008 elections. People didn't seem to understand the concept of read up and vote for what you feel is best. You won't go to Hell for voting liberal every once in a while. (*This is just my opinion. Maybe God really does have a favorite party... highly unlikely, but I'm just throwin' in a disclaimer.) So, today on facebook a friend of mine advertised a really awesome site about people who are sick and tired of party politics. What did ever happen to "We the people..."? It was never "We the ruling party..."
So, here are some quotes from this website. If you are tired of partisan politics check it out. I will include the website after these quotes:

In his parting words to the Nation in 1789, President George Washington called the “spirit of party” the “worst enemy of the people,” for its tendency to “agitat[e] the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms [and to] kindle the animosity of one part against another.” In 2010, President Washington’s fears have been realized, and our Nation finds itself polarized between left and right, “us v. them,” Democrat v. Republican, locked in a political whipsaw that serves no one well.

It’s time to take our Nation back from the spirit of party and to rededicate ourselves to political independence and the ideal of the citizen legislator embodied by President Washington: to elect men and women of character and integrity, who owe their allegiance not to any particular party, interest group, or ideology, but to “We the People.”

What’s so bad about political parties anyway?
It’s not that political parties are “bad” in-and-of-themselves or designed to deceive, but that they can encourage undemocratic results and bring out the worst in us. As George Washington predicted, the parties, in an effort to secure electoral victory, tend to divide us as a Nation and to define every election in the starkest terms: freedom vs. tyranny, socialism vs. “trickle down economics,” rich vs. working poor, etc., even when competing candidates may differ only slightly in terms of their actual policy positions. Party politics tend to focus voters on labels rather than substance. In that way, political parties obscure and confuse, create false distinctions, and divide our society just when we need to come together as a Nation to solve real—and pressing—problems.

Interested? Partysover.net
You should check it out. If you aren't interested, that is totally your right. However, please don't send me any hate mail, facebook messages, etc. I've gotten enough for a lifetime, thank you. And it's my blog I can post whatever I want to, Post whatever I want to, Post whatever I want tooooooooo.
I love you all whether you are Rep., Dem., or Ind.
Just wanted to throw that out there too!!

Okay, Okay, Here It Is

2010-09-24T14:35:00.001-05:00

In our family, the things we do best are party and eat. So, here are the pictures of our lovely and scrumptious Back to School Feast (okay, so we started school a month ago- but you still love me.)

Salem peeking through a glass of sparkling apple juice.

Tortellini with Mushroom Sauce. I was sooooo craving this even though it didn't go with the apple theme in any way shape or form.

And what apple-themed feast would be complete without caramel apples and apple pie- which I happen to kick butt at cooking (if I do say so myself- and I do.)

Dang Tooth Fairy

2010-09-23T07:45:00.000-05:00

Salem has lost 8 teeth.
That's right, 8. She is not only the youngest child in her class at school, but she has also lost the most teeth. Yanking out teeth no longer makes me as nervous as it did the first time.
So, on the eighth tooth Salem came up with a plan.
She decided that she was not going to put that tooth under her pillow. She decided that she was going to save up lots more teeth (She's got 4 loose at the moment) and put them all under her pillow AT THE SAME TIME. She was going to cash in all at once and feel totally and utterly rich when that Tooth Fairy traded all those teeth for ALL THAT MONEY. You see, being 6 years old, Salem does not understand that the Tooth Fairy just passed the deferment period for a certain student loan from Tooth Fairy University and is now completely broke. Like COMPLETELY. And the going rate for a tooth around these parts is $1.50 in quarters.
However, Tooth Fairy, figured this plan would be okay. It would be months before all those teeth fell out and in the meantime she would be able to defer a quarter here and there from the "The-Tooth-Fairy's-Gotta-Eat-Ya-Know" Fund to the "Salem-Is-A-Rich-Person-In-The-Making" Fund.
Then came the problem. A while back we implemented a chore chart in which chores=rewards. It has worked beautifully (thanks Denae!). The reward for cleaning up toys every night for 7 nights is a sheet of stickers. Salem reached the top last night. We heartily congratulated her.
"So, when do I get stickers??" She asked eagerly.
"Well, we hope Daddy gets paid on Friday, so we'll go this weekend," I promised.
"Why can't we go today?"
"Because we have no money."
"Oh!," The lightbulb came on in Salem's eyes (do you see where this is headed?), "I am going to put the tooth I've been saving under my pillow tonight!! Then, you will have some money to buy me stickers!"
"Wow! What a great idea, Salem!!" I smiled, then turned around and cursed that blasted Tooth Fairy under my breath. Luckily Miss Fairy really does keep a box of spare change on top of her fridge.
That night Jeff and I spent our evening as we always do: tuck the children in bed, do homework, grade papers, and fret about all the crazy crap going on right now.

THE NEXT MORNING...

Salem comes into my room at 6:15 looking very forlorn and announces that her tooth is gone but there was no money under her pillow.
"Holy Crudmuffins," I thought. "That stupid fairy forgot to come last night."
"Well, honey," I said, "I bet your tooth just fell on the floor and the Fairy couldn't find it. We'll put it in a baggy tonight and tape it to your bedpost so it won't get lost."
She seemed placated by this and went about her way.
That's when it dawned on me- I'm sure the Tooth Fairy did in fact find the tooth! I bet the money just got knocked under the bed. Salem can be a bit of a thrasher in her lighter sleep.

And that's what happened. Salem was very excited when I announced that I had checked under her bed and sure enough, the money had fallen down there.
So, today we will be buying stickers, a crisis has been averted and my children think that all is right with the world- as they should.

Yeah, Well, What Can I Say

2010-09-07T16:14:00.000-05:00

So, yes, I am the one who hates poetry. But I guess I should clarify that I don't like poems that are impossible to understand. My recent dabbling in poetry (seen here and here) is due to the fact that I realized that poems you can understand or relate to are not so bad. Okay? A queen is entitled to change her mind thank-you-very-much.

Rain Hair And Crazies

It is raining
And the school parking lot is crazy
And the crazies are mad that the parking lot is crazy
And the crazies won't get out of their cars to get their kids
Because they don't want rain in their hair.

I'm in line
There is a woman 2 cars ahead
She's mad that the woman 2 cars ahead of her won't move
That woman is mad because the teachers won't bring out the kids
Because they don't want rain in their hair.

Everyone is waiting
The woman ahead of me is crazy
She puts on her left turn signal but there are cars to her left
Then she turns on her hazards and I start to think that she, herself, is a hazard
Because she's desperate not to get rain in her hair.

I don't mind rain in my hair because it feels nice and cool
and I've got nowhere to be
No one to see
So I walk up to the school
And I retrieve my daughters and we all have rain in our hair
Which feels lovely

As we walk back to the car I bump Mrs. Hazard Lights
She is flustered,
has rain hair,
So I apologize for the bump
And she forces a scary laugh and says not to worry "sweetie."
Which feels crazy

Did she just call me "sweetie" with her scary voice?
I am disturbed
and perturbed,
So I force a smile
And it is a "you-just-called-me-sweetie" smile
Which is awkward

We get in the car
My daughters, my rain hair, and I
We buckle up and the crazy traffic begins to move.
At home the girls run around laughing at the fat, juicy raindrops
Because they don't mind getting rain in their hair.

A Shopping List of Unusual Proportions

2010-09-07T07:52:00.000-05:00

My husband is a dear, dear boy. Sometimes he gets funny ideas though. Like yesterday, for instance, when he decided to make the grocery list for me and it included 4 cornish hens and 4 lamb shanks.
I guess I just cook so well he thought he'd challenge me.

Excuses, Excuses

2010-09-01T10:21:00.000-05:00

The children did, in fact, go back to school.
We had a fantastical Back to School Feast.
I did take pictures, really, I did.
But then I started 4 incredibly insane classes and my sweet, darling little netbook succumbed to the wild adventures of one of our children and Oi!! had to be replaced, and my angel baby boy turned into something (far) less than angelic, and my husband is still needing every ounce of my assistance in getting his job under control, and I go to bed past midnight every night and wake up at 5:30 the next morning, and my eyes are bloodshot, which is nuts because my eyes NEVER get bloodshot, and our student loan never came in so we called and they said Jeff has to sign up for one more graduate course, so now he is taking 2 graduate courses and working 5,007 hours a week, and I am just plain out of sorts at the moment (though very very very happy and LOVING the cooler temps- low 90's!), and I've been cooking homemade dinner every night (except last night... free kids meals at Chik-fil-a, you know), and my laundry has been washed, dried, and folded, though not so much put away, every single stinkin' day this week and yesterday I woke up and couldn't remember if it was Thursday or Friday until I remembered that holy heck! it was Tuesday.

So, that is why I haven't finished off the B2S Extravaganza Posts. But I will! Just maybe next semester...
And now that I have posted all of this I realize I could have just gone and posted the B2S post anyway.

B2S Part 3: Summer Recap

2010-08-24T15:12:00.000-05:00

What I Did Over Summer Vacation

by: The Queen

I snuggled my sweet babies:

We were patriotic:

We had visitors who liked Mario and Luigi too:

We did FHE Bowl-o-Rama:

I kissed these lips (and cut his hair eventually):

We got dirty at the park:

We had fun in the sun

in beautiful Padre Island, Corpus Christi:

We got salt water in our eyes:

And we had a pretty good time. But now I am perfectly happy to say goodbye to the triple digits and move into

beautiful, magnificent, inspiring fall.

ps. tomorrow is the big day- The first day of school. Our feast this year is gonna be awesome!!

p.p.s. today I turn 27.

The End

Back to School Extravaganza Part 2

2010-08-24T08:19:00.000-05:00

Today's interview comes to you from Averlin, my cute little mini-queen who will be going into four-year-old Pre-K. (And hopefully her health will permit her to stay in this year!)

1. Favorite Color: Pink!

2. Favorite Food: Chicken Nuggets (Cringe from Mommy)

3. Favorite Music: Cinderella

4. Favorite Things to do With Friends: Play Barbies

5. Favorite Animal:

6. Favorite Scripture Story: Jesus

7. What was your favorite thing about this summer? I liked reading books. Especially "Going On A Bear Hunt".

8. What are you most excited about in Pre-K? Writing on the board.

9. What is one thing you want to learn this year? I want to learn to do exercise.

10. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Mama! (I'm so proud!)

After the interview Averlin informed me that I should ask her what her favorite thing to do outside is, so:

11. What is your favorite thing to do outside? I like picking flowers. Especially pink and blue ones.

Stay Tuned Tomorrow For Our Summer Recap!!

Back to School Extravaganza!

2010-08-23T10:42:00.001-05:00

Because we love our Extravaganzas, we couldn't pass up this week of School Starting Fun. Jeff began teaching 2nd Grade today, and our girls start school on Thursday. We are devoting this week to a build-up to our much anticipated 1st Day of School Feast.

Today's Back-to School Delight is brought to you by our lovely Salem who will be in 1st grade this year.

Salem's 1st Grade Interview:

1. Favorite color: I love the rainbow colors and pink too.

2. Favorite food: Well, I guess spaghetti and meatballs.

3. Favorite music: Miley Cyrus. Also, Ali and AJ's roller coaster song

4. Favorite thing to do with friends: Make stuff and play video games

5. Favorite animal: fish

6. Favorite Scripture Story: When Nephi builds the boat

7. What will you miss most about Kindergarten? My teacher

8. What are you most excited about for 1st grade? My friends are there that I know from Kindergarten.

9. Favorite Subject: Art

10. One thing you hope to learn this year? science experiments

11. Advice to future Kindergartners? It's fun and has games. Don't be scared.

This Queen May Quite Possibly Go Nuts

2010-08-13T07:34:00.000-05:00

Last night I dreamed that I had found a very important item that we are currently missing. I was disappointed to wake up to the reality that we haven't actually found it. Jeff dreamed that he was itemizing on taxes.
Exciting stuff, eh?
I am a nervous piece of work at the moment. There are a million kajillion things jumping around on the walls of my brain, and unfortunately, that makes me nervous. What if I forget one or two or fifty of them?
All this nervousness makes me lose my appetite. The thoughts jumping around on the walls of my brain have strings that are attached to my stomach. When they are all jumping around at once it ties my poor little tummy into knots. There is a small cry of hunger that escapes the knot of nervousness occasionally, but most of the time it is quickly overpowered by the nausea of confusion, concern, and those blasted jumping thoughts in my brain.

I am a chronic worrier. It runs in my family. I was tested for ulcers in high school.

The only way I know how to properly deal with the nervousness is to write. Just write it all down. Cause when you write it all down, it doesn't seem so crazy. When it's out of my brain and on paper - SURPRISE!- it's not really a million kajillion things, just 27 or 32 or, if I'm lucky, 12.
So here it is. I present to you: Crazy List of the Jumbled Thoughts of a Queen Who Feels Nervous, Anxious, Confused, and Not Just a Little Bit Crazy:
1. Jeff is stressed out of his mind getting ready for his first year of teaching. His jumbled, jumping thoughts find their way into my brain

2. I ran Jeff's brand new ID card through the laundry last night. He acted exasperated for 10 minutes. Later, before we went to bed I told him, "Babe, you are sorry that you were upset at me." And he agreed that he was indeed sorry... but I'm still stressed about it.

3. We have minisculity (I know that's not a word, but I like it) leftover from the student loan we got at the beginning of July. We get our first actual paycheck on August 31st. Yipes!

4. My YW calling at church is in insanity mode right now as we are doing a giant stake youth activity in September AND I am in charge of all the weekly activities for August.

5. They just called me to homemaking committee.... and didn't release me from YW.

6. I got in trouble for not doing visiting teaching last month. (and I still haven't gone this month)

7. Did I mention my husband is the Elder's Quorum President? Hello. That is crazy in and of itself.

8. The kids are bored. School doesn't start for another 13 days.

9. The baby is almost 1 year old and I am going to have to wean him from the bottle. This one actually scares me to death because I have never met a baby that loves his "bwa bwa" as much as my son.

10. El Jefe can't find his fingerprint card that lets him into the school he teaches at. He initially thought maybe I ran it through the laundry too, but Yay for me- I didn't. It still makes me nervous.

11. My husband might have skin cancer.

12. Jeff is drilling with the National Guard all weekend. Ugh.

13. My classes start soon and I have not bought books yet. Plus I am burned out of doing school.

So, there you have it. Each of these 13 jumping thoughts has subcategories that are either too boring, too personal, or both.
But now that the major things are written out I feel better already. Thanks, Blogger, for listening.

Passing Cute Boys In The Hall

2010-08-10T13:37:00.000-05:00

When I was in high school my best friend and I would go completely out of our way to follow cute senior boys to their classes. We were a little stalker-ish to say the least. Somehow we managed to find out exactly when said boys would be passing a specific spot in the hallway, and we were always right there hoping for a brush of an elbow. Eye contact was golden and a smile was like the downhill side of a roller coaster, where your heart leaps into your throat and all you want to do is shriek in delight.

Aaaaah. Those were great times.

These days are even better though. Now I'm married to one of those senior boys, so when we pass each other in the hall I can pinch him on the bum and he can wink at me with full fledged innuendo and we don't have to worry about what our friends think or if we'll get caught kissing by the grumpy proctor that roams the math wing (although our kids giggle and say stuff like, "Look at Mommy and Daddy. They're kissing!")

It is having substance and history together that makes the hallway passes at home still fun. We love each other, we know each other, and we can laugh (carefully) at each other.

I began thinking about "then-and-now hallway passes" the other night, or should I say morning, at about 3:00 a.m. All 3 of the children woke up- no joke- at the exact same time. This has never happened before. One was burning up with fever, one had wet the bed, and one was hungry for a bottle. I recruited El Jefe's help, as I set a limit at assisting 2 children at a time. Three is still out of my league at 3:00 a.m.

On my way to the girls' bedroom to administer Ibuprofen, I passed my darling in the hallway on his way to fix the bottle. His eyes were mostly shut, his hair and pj's were rumpled, and he turned to me and said, "Did you know that Marie Calendar's was founded in 1511?"

We both began to laugh and I felt the rush once again. The downhill side of the thrill ride. My heart in my throat. And the best part is that he's mine.

Oh Why, Oh Why?

2010-07-30T10:53:00.000-05:00

(I shall not reveal the identities of the 2 siblings who participated in the shameful performance indicated in the following story. But I do have a message for them: You know who you are. And if anyone knows our family very well, they probably know too.)

I don't know why I even feel the need to admit this, as it is so horrific, but admit it I shall.

Once upon a time, 2 of my siblings and I performed in a church talent show.

That doesn't sound so bad, right? Kids perform cool instruments, or singing talents all the time- and the audience loves it. Why, oh why, could we have not just played a simple piano piece or sang a cutesy little sibling song? Why on earth did we choose to do what we did? I only know that I was super dramatic at age 10 (I pray I wasn't older when we did this- that would be inexcusable) and loved to do, well, dramatic things. Why, though, did my siblings go along with this particular bit of drama? And WHY did my Daddy, my wonderful, loving Daddy, not only allow us to perform this silly bit of awfulness, but ENCOURAGED it?

We danced.
Not a single one of us had attended any kind of formal dance instruction, unless you count learning to square dance in 5th grade, which really doesn't count. At all. Especially considering we didn't do a square dance. It was more of a..... you could say.... lyrical ballet. Oh why, oh why?

It gets worse, though.
We were lip syncing as we danced.

It still gets worse. I know, by now you are thinking, "How can it possibly get worse." But I swear to you that it can.

My siblings and I were dancing and lip syncing to a song from the cartoon movie Thumbelina that came out in the early nineties. I don't even need to admit which song, because any of them being danced to and mouthed at the same time would be enough to make it necessary for the performer to apply for a new identity through the Witness Protection Program.
How do I even have friends still? Maybe after posting this I won't. There's a good possibility the siblings in question will disown me after I send this out into the blogosphere (I would hardly blame them), and yet I am urged forward. Maybe this is some kind of penitence. Perhaps, after my confession I will be free to allow my children to watch Thumbelina without recoiling in humiliation and doing one of those little mini-throwups every time THAT song comes on.

So, dear friends and readers. Now you know.
I think soon I will make my children enroll in piano lessons. Because you never know when a church talent show will pop up. *Gulp*

No, That's Not Weird At All

2010-07-26T07:40:00.000-05:00

Friday evening I came in from watching Jeff water the plants and simultaneously get devoured by mosquitoes to find my two sillies running around the house in their swimsuits. Salem had fingernail clippers tied to a string and hanging like a necklace around her neck. I raised an eyebrow and asked what that was all about.

"Oh, this is just my Epi-Pen."

"Excuse me?" (Pretty much all I could manage, as I could never have seen that answer coming.)

"We're pretending we're going to the beach and I'm allergic to crabs. So if a crab bites me, I'll just poke myself with my Epi-Pen."

Well, reader, this is totally reasonable right? I mean when I was a kid I know I pranced around pretending to give myself EPINEPHRINE INJECTIONS.
Oh wait...
Baby Dolls, Barbies, Pretend Grocery Shopping, Disney movies, Daydreaming about boys...

Nope. Looking back on it, I can honestly say I never pretended to give myself a shot from my imaginary Epi-Pen. You?

Pokemon is Like Pot

2010-07-17T10:25:00.000-05:00

It's not my fault.
We are bored.
Jeff takes our only car to school everyday. The deflated pool in the backyard is a tiny bit swampy. There's a frog living in one of the folds, but it's waaaay too hot and sweaty to go outside, evict the frog, and clean out the pool.
So, for a while we entertained ourselves with movies, Barbies, and, when the heat was not in the triple digits, sidewalk chalk.
But Salem recently became enamored with Jeff's old Nintendo DS and has morphed into somewhat of a Mario and Luigi nerd. This bothered me at first, but then I remembered that my siblings and I were also defeaters of King Koopa and his evil minions, so I turned a blind eye. We all ended up normal, right? Right?
So now comes the part of my story in which I have to confess. I often sit next to her and shout out advice, "Go around the evil turtle. Jump on him. Run! Jump! Jump! Jump!!!"
At lunch time we sit around the kitchen table coming up with plans of how to defeat the end boss in the Level 4 castle.

But remember: It's not my fault. We are just bored.

Jefe does very little to hide the fact that he is thrilled to see his children going down the path of eternal nerdiness. In fact, yesterday he thought he just might speed up the process by bringing up a topic that has been banned in our household: Pokemon.

Jeff: Salem, have you ever heard of Pokemon?

I whipped my head around so fast that I doubt my neck will ever be the same.
Ashley: (Glaring) No! She has not and will not.
Jeff: Why not?
Ashley: Because it's for LAME-O's. And we will not be turning our beautiful 6 year-old who has so much potential into a lame-o.

Salem: What's Pokemon?
Ashley: It's a game for dorky people
Jeff: I played Pokemon.
Ashley: (Raised eyebrow) You also once wore a cape to high school. When it wasn't Halloween.
Jeff: Well, I liked my cape.
Ashley: You are not helping your case.
Jeff: Bu-
Ashley: Lame-o
Jeff: Wai-
Ashley: Lame-o
Jeff: Jus-
Ashley: Lame-o. Lame-o. Laaaaaaaaaaame-ooooo
Jeff: *Scoffs*
Ashley: Listen. Pokemon is just the beginning. It's like the gateway to total nerdiness. Some people like you, my sexy husband, have the strength to pull themselves out of it and go no further down the path of video game addiction. But others have to move on to something stronger, and next thing you know they are 35 living in their parents' basement and when they do come out to see the sunlight they act like ________ (I throw out the name of a sad, socially mal-adjusted, video game addicted person we know)
Basically, Pokemon is like pot. It's the gateway drug.
Jeff: *Scoffs, again, but it's the scoff that says he knows I'm right*

Really, this post and the whole above conversation was had in a spirit of silliness. I know I'm hardly one to talk about dorkiness. I am, after all, the one who reads textbooks for fun and shouts out interesting facts and statistics to my husband who sits on the other side of the room doing the same thing. I am also the one that can't resist matching song lyrics to pretty much any situation and I come up with awesomely dorky nicknames for my kids, such as "Shmava Blava" (Averlin) and "Sadie Hawkins Glockenspiel" (Salem).
So, since my children have no chance of being completely nerd-free, I have to preserve some semblance of coolness, right?
Now, I must go teach Averlin to get Mario through Level 1.
But, it's not my fault. I'm just really bored.

No, Really. You Shouldn't Have.

2010-07-08T10:53:00.001-05:00

I really, truly with every fiber of my being wish that I had pictures to accompany this post, but, alas. I do not. You will simply have to use that wonderful imagination of yours. And if you have children, this won't be too difficult to picture in your mind's eye.

Friday morning last, I awoke at around 9 a.m. (my husband- a brilliant, amazing man) to El Jefe and the girls surrounding me and presenting me with a donut and a cup of milk. I was pleasantly surprised and sat up to thank them with hugs and kisses. The girls moved out of the room to commence their summertime sisterly adventures and maybe more TV watching as well, but Jeff stayed behind with a concerned look in his eye.
"The girls wanted to do something nice for you," he began.
Thinking he was talking about the donut, I wasn't quite sure where the concerned look was coming from, so I replied,"okkkkaaaayyyyy... The donut's great thanks."
"No," he said, "It's not that. Ummmm. They tried to make cupcakes this morning at about 6 a.m. while we were still sleeping."
My smile faltered, as you might imagine, "Cupcakes?"
At this point Salem had re-entered the room and she heard my question.
"Yeah, Mommy! And we didn't even get any eggshells in the bowl!"
My whispered response of, "eggs??" went unnoticed as she proudly listed off the other ingredients the Cupcakes of Love had contained:
"After we stirred the eggs around, we added a tiny bit of sugar, and mixed that with the eggs. We put some flour, some cocoa, 3 pieces of butter, and a little water in it. Daddy said we did a great job, but it made a mess, and we need to clean it up and next time we should ask for help because we need a recipe."
I 'm sure I probably looked a little pale, but not wanting to squash such a heroic and sincere effort I gave the girls a hug and told them thanks for trying, and next time they can help me make dessert.

When I finally did make it to the kitchen that morning I couldn't help but laugh at the whole scene. There was chocolate EVERYWHERE. Each well of a muffin pan was filled with the most atrocious looking mixture I have ever seen in my life. Here is where pictures would come in handy. It was a murky brown water mixture in which you could clearly see chunks of butter and egg yolk floating around.

My husband, being the champ that he is, headed up the cleanup crew and they had the place spotless in no time.

We had forgotten the whole incident until last night when Jefe decided to make brownies. He opened the carton of cocoa powder, got a shocked look on his face, and pulled out a dog hair. I couldn't resist a peek inside, and WOW! there was more dog hair.
"Salem????? Did you happen to spill cocoa when you were cooking cupcakes?"
"A little."
"Salem????? Did you happen to scoop the spilled cocoa from off the floor and put it back into the container? "
" Oh, NO, mommy! But when I put the cocoa carton on the floor the dogs kept sticking their faces inside of it trying to lick the cocoa out."
Lovely.

Pomp, Circumstance, and Key Lime Pie

2010-06-14T08:34:00.000-05:00

We like to party.
10 points if you read that sentence and got this song stuck in your head. (Be warned: The video is about 100 times cheesier than the song)

Anyway, we really do enjoy our extravaganzas, feasts, and celebrations. Our end of the school year feast was made even more exciting this time around because Salem graduated from Kindergarten!

Not only did she receive a Kindergarten diploma, but she also received the Class Artist Award, AND the Principal's Top Student (Top Dawg- because we're in the South and they say stuff like that) Award.

She picked Spaghetti for her graduation dinner.

Later we had our End of the School Year Awards Ceremony, in which we listed the top 10 accomplishments of each child and gave out silly awards like Goofiest Laugh (Salem) and Highest Ear Drum Piercing Shriek (Averlin).

Then we had Key Lime Cupcakes with an Oreo Cookie Crust, which I have to say, looked lovely. Jeff said they looked worthy of Starbucks dessert counter for $3.90 a piece. (Notice I've said nothing of how they tasted. Weird. There, I said it.)

Happy Graduation to my new First Grader.

And to Time, who is constantly flying past me- I hate you. Slow down, please. That is all.

Children and Marshmallows

2010-06-08T12:46:00.000-05:00

Camping with the Syphus family this past weekend involved lots of fun, lots of children, and LOTS of marshmallows (also lots of mosquitos, an episode of stomach illness, and hot hot hot sun- but we enjoyed the marshmallows and children a whole lot more...)

How To Install Google Reader

2010-06-08T11:08:00.000-05:00

Look at the google toolbar near the top of your browser. If you don't have a google toolbar, then you'll have to figure out how to get one (Google it!)
In that row there should be a fat blue plus sign. When you hover your mouse over it, it will say "Add buttons and gadgets to your Google Toolbar!"
Click it.
There will be a list of buttons you can add. Go to page 3 of the list and at the top is Google Reader.
Click it.
Then on the left of the screen that comes up once it is installed, there is a button that says "Add Subscriptions".
Click it.
A little box will pop up for you to type in a URL. For instance: leafontheriver.blogspot.com
This will show you any new posts you may not have read.
One by one you can add subscriptions. Everytime you get online, check the little google reader icon in your toolbar. If it is light blue, no one you subscribe to has posted anything new for you. If it is green- CLICK IT! It means you have something to read, and it is so very exciting!
Have fun Google Reading!

June

2010-06-07T23:07:00.000-05:00

It's JUNE! Time for summer, bbq's, camping, and my favorite smell in the whole wide world!!!! (For those of you who are new around here- it's the tropical creamy coconut concoction of sunscreen)
Last week was incredible. I took 168 pictures. Now I am trying to decide how to blog and NOT post all 168 of them. It took me about an hour just to upload and then rotate all of them, so, alas my time tonight has been spent. You will all simply have to wait in suspense for tomorrow. Or possibly the next day...

P.S. Google Reader has changed my life. It is this nifty little button you add to your google tool bar. When you "Add Subscriptions" to it, it lights up in green whenever a blog you follow has added a new post. No more checking for new posts, only to be disappointed! I know I am probably soooo behind the times, but I thought it was an awesome find. Woohoo, for technology.