"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us...If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers." --Gordon B. Hinckley, from the funeral program for Marjorie Pay Hinckley-2004

This evening I read this quote again (it's tucked into my scriptures) and felt so comforted. I could just hear President Hinckley saying the words in his distinctive, loving voice. It is just what I needed to read.

Mimi's Family Party

The day after her Princess Party, Mimi woke up bright & early on her REAL birthday (9/20) and we went to Annette's for a Birthday Haircut. Isn't it cute? Mimi twirled and flitted around all day, feeling beautiful.
We opened presents that evening with just our little family.
Here is Isabelle feigning excitement as Mimi opens Barbie clothes. (I'd asked Isabelle beforehand to be really fun for Mimi, even though the presents wouldn't seem fun to her. Isabelle is not into Barbies or dolls or dress up.)

Look at her expression as she opens the pretty tea set that Grannie gave her.
She loves it!
After presents we went bowling.
Check out Isabelle's intensity.

Max looks like a pro!

Later that night I found Mimi like this. She's climbed into her princess ensemble and begun a tea party with her doll & Island Princess Barbie. We've had a tea party at lunchtime every day since.

Bedtime

Last night I went to kiss the girls goodnight and this is what I found. Both of them "reading" the scriptures! Aren't they cute? Mimi told me she was "teaching the scriptures to my Barbie."

Isabelle seems to be really studying hard!

I'm Also an Episode of "Law & Order"

So yesterday we met with our attorney (LAW) and today Mike's been talking to a police detective (ORDER). Our fun neighbor has a rap sheet and has been in jail for 2 years.

First my life is a Jerry Springer show, now I'm a reflection of "Law & Order." We seem to be running the gamut of tv shows--maybe my next blog post will be titled "I'm an episode of "24." Actually, that wouldn't be a bad thing; I need Jack Bauer right about now!
"Jack Bauer is the fictional protagonist of the television series "24," in which he has trained and worked in various capacities as a overnment agent, including US Army Delta Force, LAPD SWAT, and finally the Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU). He is a key member of the latter and has helped prevent major terrorist attacks on the United States throughout the series, saving both civilians and government leaders. On many occasions Jack has done so at great personal expense." (from Wikipedia)

I'm a Jerry Springer Show

On Tuesday night around 3am I was awakened by the sounds of Mike scruffling out from under the bed.

"What are you doing?" I asked groggily.
"Oh I was just under the bed." (in a nonchalant tone)
"Oh. Okay," I said, and fell right back into REM mode.



For some reason, Mike being under the bed made perfect sense to me at 3am. Not so much at 9am, when I recalled it.

Turns out he was, yes, as you see, stowing his rifle under the bed. An AR-15 semi automatic ASSAULT RIFLE. Poor Mike heard some bug or something hit the window and was freaked out and searched the entire house and couldn't sleep for 3 hours. Suffice it to say that I am enmeshed in a drama with someone who makes Mark Hacking's double life seem a tame one.

And if I can't post pictures of a RIFLE UNDER MY BED and laugh about the absurdity, I will cry. I am firmly

clinging to laughter as a coping mechanism!

It'll make a great story. Someday.

Tuesday Tell All

What is your favorite quote?





"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

- Mark Twain

Nirvana

Here is this morning's run.

I don't actually run down this little lane (above & below photos) because it is much too narrow, but it's so pretty that I snapped a few phone photos.



This vista (below) always inspires gratitude that I live in our beautiful country. Isn't this just Americana epitomized?

Mimi's Birthday Party

In My Daughter's Eyes Lyrics
by Martina McBride

Mimi had a few little girls over for a birthday party last Wednesday. We painted fingernails and had a tea party...

...We made jewel boxes...
...We opened some fabulous presents (Cinderella purse set, 2 Barbies, & a Soda Pop Doll--what more could a girl want?!)....

...and we watched Barbie Island Princess! This was my first-ever friend party I've thrown and it was so much fun! The little dress-up guests were darling and nice to each other and I felt like one of the gang in my very own dress-up gown, which Mimi helped me to assemble from my closet. (no photo included--I cannot reveal those flabby triceps for all & sundry. She made me wear a skintight shade shirt under a lacy cami.)

...and here is a photo of the party girl at exactly 6:30pm. She was OUT for the night. Incidentally, I looked exactly the same in my own bed at approximately 8pm. I was zonked asleep by 8:30. Delightful! A perfect end to a perfect party day.

Happy Birthday my little Mimicakes!

Father Son Campout

Until my guest blogger (Mike) adds the captions to these photos, this post is merely a photo essay! These are photos of the Father/Son Campout on September 14th. They camped at Silver Lake.

Quick Note

I actually found myself SINGING to wake my kids up this morning. I am alarmed. This is the true sign of aging; I've laughed that my grandmother did it ("It's time to get up, it's time to get up, it's time to get up in the mo-o-o-o-o-orning!"), I've laughed that my mother did it ("Everybody up and 1 & 2, everybody up and 1 & 2"), and now I've done it ("In the leafy tree tops the birds sing good morning!")

Oh please somebody help me.

Homage to Julie

In case you have not visited my cousin Julie's blog (on my sidebar), I have to share the opening line of her post last week:

"They always say you should wear clean underwear so if you get in a car accident you won't be embarrassed. Well, I am here to say you should also shave your legs."

What a writer! I laughed so hard & then read the next paragraph, only to learn that she actually had been hit by a car while on a crosswalk! Thanks to the protection of a loving Heavenly Father, she is fine. The way she handled it all with humor sets an example for me that I hope to always follow. Anything can be dealt with if you're able to keep on laughing. Thanks, Julie, for showing me how to behave with grace.

I think she's going back to school today. Go cross that crosswalk bravely!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Asian Beef Stir Fry (p. 83 of Eating For Life
Tuesday - Zesty Italian Chicken (p. 80 of EFL)
Wednesday - Fish Tacos (can't get enough of these)...also the day i plan next week's menus
Thursday - Pureed Navy Bean Soup
Friday - Dinner Out for Date Night...FREE DAY!....also the day i grocery shop early after the gym
Saturday - Real Spaghetti & Meatballs...also the day I prep next week's meals & put them into meal kits*
Sunday - Leftover Buffet

*I haven't actually done the prep-ahead & meal kits for several weeks, so here's to hoping I can start up my habit again this week! I'll take pictures!

Bring a Friend to Church Day

Today as we were walking (rushing) out the door to church Isabelle asked,
"Mom, can I bring a friend?" I looked at her impatiently & said,
"Sis, we're going to church. You can play on Monday with friends."
"No!" she said, "can I bring a friend?!" I started to get annoyed.
"You can be with friends TOMORROW." She was beginning to get frustrated and marched over to my desk, grabbed something & marched back.
"MOM. This."
"Ohhhhh, you mean a Friend....sure!"

Poor Isabelle. I really should try to slow down, stop & actually LISTEN. And, as I write this and am feeling more reflective, I'm thinking, "Why shouldn't she bring a friend to church?" That would actually be a great idea. If that had been what she really meant, I should have given it more credence. I mean, the time to think of it isn't right as we're walking out the door....but still. I totally dismissed the idea at once and maybe in the future if the idea is presented I shouldn't be so quick to say no. Anyway, the whole conversation was pretty funny. My poor kids; it really is tough trying to get my full attention.

Mimi went to Mike after I had done her hair and had her all girlied up for church and announced to him, "Dad! I look rabishing!" (ravishing) That poor girl really has the wrong mother; she should have some crazy pageant mom--she'd love the runway.

Max's pre-church moment was that, as I was mousse-ing up his spikey hair and trying to get the lid off the can, it popped right off and bonked him in the nose.

Here We Are Together

Here is another little dance class clip!

Squash That Bug!

Don't you just want to be in this class?? !!! Mimi is the one in red.

Mimi loves Miss Wendi (and so do I).

Family Night with the Star Wars Maniacs

Tonight for FHE Mike gave a brief lesson on being kind to each other and how families are supposed to lift one another up and how the home is a sanctuary. (that was a run-on sentence, i know, but i am exhausted)

And then we turned on Star Wars Episode III (my kids are obsessed with Star Wars), intending to allow the kids to watch only for 1/2 hour. Yeah right.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN EPISODE III ???

It's so gripping that we simply had to watch until the very end. So at 10:30 we finally put the kids to bed. Tucked them in so that they could have visions of sugarplums, er, Darth Vadar, dancing in their heads. I will get back to you tomorrow on just how many times they all come down to our bed tonight, utterly terrified.

What kind of parent does this?! Certainly not a responsible one!

***have YOU ever allowed your kids to stay up later than they should on a school night? (watching scary movies???)

***what did you do for FHE this week?