The Best Mom in the World

Happy happy birthday, Mema. Thanks for being the best.

Glasses

Well, I suppose it was inevitable. The curse of poor eyesight has been passed to the next generation. Heather has officially been told that she will now have to have glasses. She has, forgive the spelling, astigmatism. Quite strong in both eyes. We hope that this will help her reading considerably. She picked out pink frames and a Disney princesses glasses case. And now she is extramly upset because it will take 7 to 10 days for her to get them to wear!

TWO

Happy happy birthday Kip dear!
Happy days will come to you all year!
If I had a wish a wish then it would be,
For your mother to survive your twos and threes!

RE: Kids eating and stuff

That's awesome, Caren and Samuel (and Kip and Adam)! Although that might be a silly thing to be pumped about, I rejoice in your happiness. I think the only time everyone in our family actually eats the main meal together is when we have spaghetti. Or burritos (do they even count as actual dinner food?). Anyway, Caren, would you mind sharing the recipe with us? It sounds really good from what Telima described to me.

So it snowed last night/early this morning. Although nothing like what they were predicting (for our area they were saying stuff like 8-12 inches or more; we got approximately 3 inches). But I'm ready for spring to be here. Mercy got a trike for her birthday, and she's been on it practically non-stop...until today. Oh, well. At least in the spring the snow melts quickly.

I'm so excited for conference this weekend!

Our boys ate food

So, all of you can probably think to yourselves, "It's about time." I really don't care. Last night, Sunday, Caren made the most beautifully made chicken pillows. We had spent all weekend cleaning, finally, so we sat down as a family for dinner. This is one thing that I hate to say doesn't happen as often as either Caren or I would like it to. But last night it did happen. I had prepared the boys food and placed it at the table for them. Usually this means I dished out baby veggies or cooked some chicken nuggets. Not last night. I cut up half a chicken pillow for each boy. I really wanted them to try some, just one bite. All the times in the past that we have tried Adam and Kip out on our foods they would either refuse to eat or taste it and spit it out. Not last night. They both ate the food. They each had 4-5 bits of it. Caren and I were so glad we refused to mention it to the boys until they had swallowed their first bites. Caren and I were eating too. This is the first time in the history of our little family that we have all eaten the family dinner, that is when the dinner was not pancakes or other breakfasty foods. Like I said at the beginning, you might all think, "It's about time," but to us this was a big deal.

Shopping is not only for girls

With that as a headline, I would like to add my fake 2 cents to this topic. Last time I was looking for a dress, you know that 'wow' dress I used to wear was getting a little out of fassion, I had to look at three different places for 4 months before I found one that matched my eyes. It's so hard to find a dress that matches my eyes these days. But I finally did find the perfect dress. The only problem, it came with pants. I mean, who wants to wear pants under a dress. Not me. So I am still looking for my perfect dress. I will have to check out the website Keryn gave, but that would mean going outside my comfort limit of the three places I already am looking. Until late. SKT

re: Shopping

I have to tell you that Keryn's experience is not all that unusual. I have found this to be true most of my life. If you can wear a size 6 or smaller you can sometimes find good finds at Dillards and the like but since I have never been a size 6 (I skipped over all of those small sizes and went right on to an 8 and then quickly much more) I have found that shopping for dresses that are washable and have all the rest that you want are very hard to find. The dresses I bought for Daddy's funeral and the viewing were both dry clean only and I didn't realize that and I washed them. That's right, I ruined them so once again I am looking for a dress that can be washed and will look good.

Warning: Shopping Ahead

Now that the men have averted their eyes, let me ask you women a question:

When was the last time you found a dress that you liked enough to spend the $50+ on? (And I mean a dress-dress, not a skirt.)

Me? Oh, back in December 1999! (Seriously. It's my black "velvet" dress that I found at Wal-Mart right before the Y2K. I was wearing this dress when I got engaged. Wearing it at Samuel's wedding and David's wedding (not Telima's, I was nursing). At two of my three children's blessings. At Daddy's funeral. It's still in remarkably good condition, considering it cost about $40.00 and is uncrushable and machine washable.)

So, anyway, I've gone looking for a new dress here and there over the years. Never ever found ANYTHING I wanted (that I could actually wear--there are some mighty cute sleeveless dresses out there, but oh well). Then came today.

I love noodling around on the web (duh), and this shopping site called "Want Not" is always fun to click through and look at deals. Today I found this: Coldwater Creek is having a big sale--BIG sale meaning 40% off your entire purchase with the coupon code WLP1225. (It ends April 8th) And just look at their dresses! Okay, more than 50% seem to be sleeveless, but that's far better than the 75% sleeveless/25% sleeved ratio at most shops around my home! And there are some way way cute dresses (and some dresses that I laughed at. But, takes all kinds, you know?).

Two downsides: (1) You have to have SOME money (most of the ones I liked were $90.00, 40% off would mean $36.00 off...oh, you do the math). I, however, don't have any money (pesky medical bills and a new sprinkler system!). But you might! And (2) most of the dresses are dry-clean only. So maybe I'm only talking to LaDale and Mema right now, because I don't know about the rest of you, but by the end of the day I'm usually covered in at least three different kinds of gunk.

But anyway. My search hasn't ended...but maybe yours can! Good luck and happy shopping!

RE: King Samuel

Bummer, Samuel. I am really sorry about that. Good luck with all the studying and cramming you have in the month ahead. I know you can do it!

Samuel is Dead, Long live Samuel

At times I hate trying to publish something. This is now the third time I will be writting this out. It was hard enough the first two times. My exam did not go well. I was given a conditional pass. This means that I will have a month to prepare to do it again. I have some direction now in that they will ask me the same areas of topics as they did yesterday. I will then give a brief overview of each topic and they have the opportunity to go deeper if they want to. Yes, I have been hit hard in my pride. But I look at this as a good thing. Until later. SKT

Re: Firing Squad

Samuel, how did it go? I hope it went well. I'm sure you did great! Also, sorry that I didn't call on Monday. I did check to see what happened and they told me they didn't know what was taking it so long. They tracked it for me and said it should be there soon...so if it's still not there by Saturday, let me know! And Caren, I'm so sorry it's taking so long...this honestly doesn't usually happen.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day! I love you all!

The Firing Squad

Good luck, Samuel!

24 Hours left to live

24 hours seems like a better title then the reality of 30 some-odd number hours from the time that I am writting this post. Tomorrow, 21 March, at 3pm I will be drilled by the professors on my committee as I attempt to pass the next great hurdle in my life. I am only now feeling how heavy this is. Up until this I have not been that concerned because the weight is more on the written exam that I passed last August. I hope all will go well. At least I know of one thing. If for some odd reason I fail I will be allowed to take it again. I hope that I do not have to do that. Love you all. SKT

General Conference

I like when my birthday is on Conference weekend. I think it is because I love conference anyway and when my birthday is on conference it is just a reminder that this life is not important and so birthdays are not important. The only time that this happens is when my birthday is on Saturday so it really doesn't happen very often. The only thing better is when my birthday is on Easter. I love that.
My book would also be The Hero and The Crown. With the way that they can do dragons and all the rest, I think it would be wonderful. I also think that Circle of Magic books would be fun to watch. I am having a hard time thinking of anything else but I think it would be fun but very different to have Amelia Peabody books done but I think of them more as TV movies that on the big screen.

QOTW and Calendar

I think the Cirle of Magic books would be really good, if they could do it right. I would say Alanna, but...there's just too much in them that I don't think would translate well to a movie...at least, not a G or PG movie. But the Circle of Magic books would be really fun. I also thought of Hero and the Crown, so at least we're all agreed there. And I love The Giver idea and Dealing with Dragons. Those are excellent choices.

So, our calendar is missing some key events on it. Easter is April 8. And I don't know if it's not there because it doesn't cover that date yet, but Brad's birthday is April 14, isn't it? Could someone who is able to please add those? =) I would add them myself, but I don't have that capability. Thanks! Love you all!

QOTW

Before I even finished your questions Keryn, a book popped into my head- The Hero and the Crown- so now I need to think of another.

How about the Giver- in black and white until the apple and his friends hair change color or during the times when the Giver is giving him the memories. Or maybe Dealing With Dragons- wouldn't that be wonderful if they could get a good Kazul.

QOTW and other stuff

On a lighter, less-serious note, that is cool about the new Disney character from New Orleans, Jen. Did you hear about the new Winne-the-Pooh series? Instead of Christopher Robin, it's a GIRL. And she wears a bike helmet. Not sure what I think about that.

Oh, and I thought this was a funny list of famous movie "spoilers". I didn't get them all, but I got enough to think it was hilarious.

New QOTW: Peter Jackson and Walden Media did a fabulous job on the LOTR and The Lion, and Witch, and the Wardrobe, respectively. If you could choose a book or story (like a fairy tale, fable, etc) that could be done as well (i.e., not ruining it), what would you choose?

I would choose The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword. Wouldn't that be amazing?

P.S. One more day of the incubation period of strep throat. Apparently we were possibly exposed to it last Thursday. No sign of trouble yet.

My life

LaDale, your post about the richness of life is so beautifully written. I've spent the last day or so thinking about my life, and how it fits into what you wrote. I've come to the conclusion that I am so amply blessed that it sometimes scares me.

I've had my share of tears, especially in the last year. Things like Gideon's first smile have made me miss Daddy so much--how he loved (loves) his grandbabies! I actually dissolved into tears the other day while polishing up an illustration for my thesis--I was looking up an area that Daddy and I had explored, and I suddenly missed him SO MUCH. But how blessed I am (we all are) to have had him for a dad!

When we first found out about Gideon, it was quite a blow. I remember sitting in the car after our first perinatalogist appointment and sobbing--I was angry, sad, scared, bewildered. And those four months of uncertainty before he was born were probably some of the hardest months I have ever experienced.

Now that he is here--and there is much less uncertainty--the joys of having him in our family far outweigh the worries and stresses. Yes, I'm still occasionally blue, and occasionally I'll wake up from a horrible nightmare about Gideon in the hospital, but there's something wrong and nobody will tell me what is wrong, but those things are few and far between. I am so happy and contented--and humbled. There are so many people around me with greater problems than mine, and less support and resources to deal with them. That has made it hard sometimes to accept the generosity of others, because we know people who "need it more." The only thing that makes that bearable is trying (in our own small poor way) to lift others up when we can.

I know that there will be hard times in the future--no one can love as many people as I do and not realize all the "hostages to fate" that I have. And there are times of utter frustration in raising these wonderful, strong-willed children into reasonably decent adults. But even as I look into the (uncertain) future, I know that our Savior's grace will be sufficient.

He has already proven it to me.

Random stuff

First of all, do all of you realize that in 40 posts, we will be at 1000 posts for this blog? Is that cool, or what?

So, here are my random facts about Katy: there is absolutely nothing wrong with my girl's hearing. I turn on the radio and in about two seconds flat, she's sitting right next to the speakers, pulling herself up and tapping on them to see where the music is coming from. She's also decided that screaming is a fabulous way to pass the time. She gives this really high-pitched screech when she's happy, sad, frustrated, excited....it really doesn't matter what she's feeling, she just loves to scream. She's also decided she really likes Macaroni and Cheese. She ate about half of my bowl the other night. But the really exciting news is she has a tooth! Her first, which I think is the reason she's been such a pill lately. Tyler actually discovered it when he got back from Vegas on Sunday. He put his finger in her mouth and there it was! We had to wrestle her down to actually see it and she wasn't very happy with us, but it was exciting. =)

Keryn, I totally agree about DST. Katy's been a little out of it yesterday and today and I think it's the hour difference...it reminds me of when we go to Vegas for a weekend. Not so fun.

Anyway, sorry it's been so long since I've posted. I've been really, really busy trying to get my business going. For things to work out the was Tyler and I want them to with his schooling and experience in Engineering, we decided that I need to be a Director by August, so I'm working toward that now. It's going to take a lot of work and committment and support, so please keep us in your prayers.

I love you all and I love hearing about your lives. Samuel, good luck on your big test! I know you'll do well, just as you do in anything you set your mind to. Have a wonderful day!

Living

I am scarcely scratching the surface of life.

Recently, I listened to a couple of woman describing their bouts with cancer and wished I understood more about Daddy's experience, wished I'd talked to him more about it when he was still here. All around me, people are living with that horror. Joni, the other fifth grade teacher at Rockrimmon, quietly leaves her classroom at lunch to attend chemo treatments and returns every morning to 29 fifth graders all who need her attention. A sister in my institute class is going in Wednesday to have a peculiarly placed tumor removed. She will then wait a week to find out if it is cancer or not. She has young children.

Lives being lived by heroes who are under the assumption they are ordinary people.

I just finished a book on the experiences of a woman who adopted one girl from Russia and another from the Ukraine. I realized as I read that I truly do not understand what Kaylene and Steve went through to adopt Christina and Mike- not if their experiences were at all similar to those of this author. The kind of emotional roller coaster that must have been- and still is- amazes me. Why did it not amaze me before?

I suddenly have no adequate words for life.

I have always thought, when you are introduced to a new subject, it takes a while before you understand enough to ask questions. I was wrong. I have waited too long to ask and in doing so have lost so much. There is a richness, an abundance to living I have not been taking advantage of. There are so many quiet people who live extraordinary lives.

So, I am anxious to learn.

Tell me about your life?

Disney

I think we can all agree that Disney lost out on a pretty big gold mine by not having Princess merchandise for 50 years. We know that all of us girls, Mom included, would have been Princesses. I know that Heather, Erica and all other little girls are big consumers!

Well, Disney announced today the start of a new movie. They have vowed to return to traditional annimation techniques, no computer annimation. The new movie's name is The Frog Princess. Their new princess' name is Maddie and she is from the French Quarter in New Orleans. Oh, by the way, did I mention that Maddie is black? Their first black princess, it's about time! Disney would not give any clue on storyline but, oh well, I guess we can wait!

My next hurdle, this time located where you will find it

I thought I would let you all in on my life a little more. As most, if not all of you remember I took a big written test at the end of last summer. I am now preparing for my next hurdle, the oral exam. This exam will take place before the end of the month of March. I am waiting to finalize the day and time as I wait to hear back from one of the professors on my supervisory committee. My supervisory committee is made up of 5 professors, headed by my advisor. These are the examiners. They know I passed the written exam. This exam is to test my knowledge in a more specified field, material physics. Last Monday my advisor gave me a practice run for an hour. He only asked me 3 questions but I realized there are things I could not remember and things that I did know but was unsure how to present it to him so he knew that I knew. Fun stuff. I just thought you all would like to know a little about the stresses in my school orientated life. Love you all. SKT

DST

Is anyone but me dreading Daylight Savings Time this Sunday? My feelings about DST have changed since having children--once I merely disliked it, now my feelings border on pure loathing. So I'm trying to decide if I can turn it to my advantage, or if I need to move to Arizona so I don't have to endure it.

Spring forward--so that means that at noon on Sunday, it will feel like 11 am. Hmmm. That means it will be practically impossible to get my kids to take a late morning nap before church, because if I put them down at 11am, it will feel like 10am, and I don't think that's gonna work. Great. Okay, so this means that they will have their afternoon church breakdown at 2:30 instead of 1:30--great for me with Mercy, because then she'll be in nursery and they'll have to deal with it, but not so great for Ezra, because that's just when the sharing time lesson is ending and the music (the hardest part for him because he wants so bad to be up with Mommy) is just beginning. Oh, that's just fabulous.

Okay, so I can't come up with any reason why this is a good thing. My kids won't sleep in beyond the first day, because Daddy getting ready for work wakes them up pretty regularly. They'll be harder to put to bed at night, because they won't feel like it's bedtime with it still light outside. Ugh!

Yes, I know that it will only last a week or less till we all get used to it, but that doesn't stop me from complaining. At least spring is almost here--I love the winter, but I get tired of all the indoor time right about now. So, yay for spring, boo for DST, and have a nice day, y'all.

Re: Casts

We kept the whole first cast, because it will be cool to remember how little he was. I think we'll keep the other ones, too, because it's easy to throw them away if we decide that we don't want them; but hard to get them back if we do want them.

Mema, I'm having a ton of fun decorating the casts--I really like the minimalist look for two reasons: (a) you don't have to worry about the ink rubbing off on your hands and clothes as much; and (b) it's easier to draw small, not-very-detailed things and have them look good, especially on a wiggly two-month-old. The cast itself is not as hard to deal with it as I feared. He's not that much heavier with a cast (13 lbs 4 oz at his pediatrician's appointment yesterday), and since it's only on one leg it isn't hard to work with. I can even put pants on him if I work at it, but most of his jumpers and feety pajamas don't work. This second cast has bothered him more than the first--he's been more uncomfortable with it and a little fussier. And he got his two-month vaccinations yesterday, too, so he's been a bit sad.

Hey, Jen--Sunbeam teacher! Woo-hoo. That's going to be an interesting calling with Jeff in the clerks office and still six weeks from Lillian in nursery. How is that going to work? I don't envy you even after Lillian is in nursery--Sunbeams are HARD.

Caren and Samuel, do you have callings? I think I know everyone else's callings, but I can't think what yours are.

Cute Casts on a cute boy. I like the minimalist decorations. I hope you are thinking about keeping at least a piece of each for future. They could go in his baby book or a photo album. By the way, Amy's birthday is not September 9. It is August 9th.

Cast Take Two

Yes, that's Slinky from Seasame Street on the ankle. I think that I'll do fish on the next cast.

My next hurdle on the road of life

I thought I would let you all in on my life a little more. As most, if not all of you remember I took a big written test at the end of last summer. I am now preparing for my next hurdle, the oral exam. This exam will take place before the end of the month of March. I am waiting to finalize the day and time as I wait to hear back from one of the professors on my supervisory committee. My supervisory committee is made up of 5 professors, headed by my advisor. These are the examiners. They know I passed the written exam. This exam is to test my knowledge in a more specified field, material physics. Last Monday my advisor gave me a practice run for an hour. He only asked me 3 questions but I realized there are things I could not remember and things that I did know but was unsure how to present it to him so he knew that I knew. Fun stuff. I just thought you all would like to know a little about the stresses in my school orientated life. Love you all. SKT

Yesterday

Yesterday was a very busy day. It was Jeff's birthday, fast Sunday and then there was everything else! Both Jeff and I got new callings yesterday. Jeff is the Assistant Ward Clerk, and I am Erica's Sunbeam teacher. We'll see how everything goes.

One year older and wiser too!

Happy Birthday, to Jeff!

If...

If I were the president of the Church, one o'clock church would be banned.

Shopping

I deposited my first check (subbing and piano) in the bank and had money burning a hole in my pocket. So, I go to Target. I look at clothes- nothing. I look at jewelry- nothing. I look at books and movies- nothing. I finally walk out of there with two new towels- on 70% off- $5.00 a piece. Funny how life works.
Now, don't cheer- because then I walked into Latter Day Chapter and Book (the LDS store here in Colorado Springs) and practically everything was on sale- Trouble- and I can't say I walked away only spending $10.00. They were getting rid of all of their tapes- fiction and non-fiction- 80% off. Now I have one of each and two new C.D's- oh life and technology!!!

re: kids room

I went into Skyler and Ephram's room earlier and what did I find? Every draw empty and all the clothes on the floor. Not only that, both beds had been stripped and the sheets added to the mess. So. Keryn, your children aren't too much different. Skyler and Ephram were banned to their room until they had cleaned ever bit of clothes and then they were helped to make the beds. It was a very frustrating afternoon for all. Amy, is not feeling well and I was watching kids and all I could think about was Ezra and Mercy and the same thing. I guess the biggest difference is that with Skyler I could say. "Clean up this mess, now!" and have a reasonable expectation of the job getting at least partially done.

Birthdays

Keryn,
Jeff's birthday is March 4th. Amy's is Sept 9th

Hours Since My Children Completely Trashed Their Room

.50

Miscellaneous

So our weather has been of the "wait-a-minute" sort--you know, "Don't like the weather? Wait a minute and it will be different." Right now it is snowing really really hard--huge flakes, bad visibility (I can barely see the library), but wait a minute. The sun will be shining this afternoon and it will be warm enough to go without a coat, I'll bet. We'll see. That's the way it's been all this week, anyway. Luckily for me I was able to drive up and back to Primary yesterday without snow--a small break in our storms.

Gideon got a new cast yesterday--this one seems to make him a little more uncomfortable, he had a restless night last night. The cutest part of yesterday was when the nurse was sawing off the old cast. The saw makes a loud noise, and it scared Gideon. He started to cry, and Ezra hopped up on a chair to peer over the table at Gideon, his face about six inches away from the baby's. Gideon immediately stopped crying and stared at his brother. The only time he started crying again was when Ezra got distracted by Mercy and looked away. It was very precious! (And made me determined to bring a camera next week.) I haven't decorated Gideon's cast yet--I haven't decided if I want to do trains in color or stick with the minimalist black and white like the ants--maybe kites? ABCs? Who knows?

LaDale, that's awesome about the $500. I have to admit to a bit of apprehension about the Goffs' move to Spanish--hee hee. Oh well. How has your weather been?

Jen, when is Jeff's birthday? I know it's in March, but I can't remember the date and I need to add it to our family calendar. And ditto Amy's birthday--I can't remember when it is, either. Other than that I think I got everyone's.

$500

I just had $500 handed to me. Well, not exactly handed. In the end it might be easier to spend if it had been handed to me and then again, it would be easier to spend if it had been handed to me. Brother and Sister Goff (whom many of you know) are moving to Utah in about six months (get ready Keryn and Brad). Until then, they are trying to sell their house. They called me on Sunday wondering if they could come look at my apartment because they were looking to rent a smaller place until they moved. The next thing I knew, the apartment complex called to say the Goffs had taken a place and I had a $500 rebate on my March's monthy rent for recommending the Quail Run to them. $500!! Usually it is $300 but they were running a special during the month of February so it was $500!!!! I think I'm going to go buy a book and I think I will need to call Telima (because I actually really do like what Mary Kay does for my face:) Of course, as it is me, I can't actually spend everything on nothing and the rest will be helping tide me over the summer when I will not be teaching- but WOW!!!

indoor plumbing

I love cars, electricity, watches, internet etc. But, frankly, the first thing that popped into my head was indoor plumping. The thought of running out in the middle of the night in the middle of winter in the middle of a snowstorm to go to the bathroom- or worse yet (actually it might not be worse as I've never run out in the middle of the night in the middle of winter in the middle of a snowstorm to use the bathroom) using a chamber pot in your bedroom in which the pot remains all night with its newly aquired contents until morning when it can be thrown out the window. I guess it was that or hold it (for an uncomfortable and sleepless night)- so there- indoor plumbing!

re QOTW

I have thought about this for a long while because there are so many things I don't want to do without. I thought of electricity (for cooking and everthing else especially hot water), plumbing, cell phones, regular phones and everything else. But the one I settled on was the Automobile. That's right cars. I get very frustated when they are not working but are great when they are. I was thinking about the pioneers and when they left somewhere they left for good. They never saw the people and places they left again. Sometimes they didn't want to but most of the time they just took it for granted that they wouldn' t see family or friends again. I think of the times that I have jumped into my car and taken off to visit any of you and how easy it is to do that. So for sure, I pick cars.