52 Blessings, Week 11: Modern Dentistry

This week my veneer cracked and FELL OFF. I am so thankful for modern healthcare; otherwise, I'd be going through the rest of my life looking like a toothless hag!

Easter Weekend

Mimi at the egg hunt in the park.

Easter weekend (last week) was relaxed and fun. On Saturday morning, we went to the park for the city egg hunt, which was well-organized and fun for my kids. There were different "hunting grounds" partitioned off by age, so I didn't see too much of Max & Sis wildly scavenging for eggs. Mike went with Isabelle & I supervised Mimi. Max went off by himself, which I am still becoming accustomed to. It feels so strange--and liberating!--to have a kid old enough to self-supervise. I had the camera, so most photos are of Mimi. She was so cute!

She threw herself wholly into it, running and darting for eggs.


Here is Isabelle, at the end of her hunt.


I was curious to see if Max, being the ripe old age of 9, would get into it or if this year he would hang back and try to play it cool. It made me smile to see him run around full-throttle, gathering eggs. There is some little boy left in him yet, it seems. Phew!


I gathered them for a picture, during which time Sis tried to snatch a smooch from Max. Typical brother smooch-reflex here.


That evening we dyed eggs. I got a kick out of these pudgy little fingers.


Mimi, waiting for her pink egg to turn "pink enough." She kept checking it and then proclaiming, "It's not pink enough yet!" It was fuschia. But apparantly not pink enough.


Saturday night we watched a movie about the last days and resurrection of Christ, which was the perfect ending to our day. I love our cozy FHE movie nights; I really feel the Spirit strongly with us when the kids are all nested up on the couch and so willing to learn about the gospel. They are much more quiet and attentive during these times than they are when I'm giving a lesson. I am always a little surprised at how powerfully visual media delivers a message. My kids really soak up the church dvd's, paying close attention while we watch and asking questions for days afterwards, at random times.

Sunday morning they found their baskets from The Bunny and we had plenty of time to get ready for church--one of the perks of 1pm church! It was relaxing to have time to enjoy Easter morning together and not be in a rush. Mimi was irked at the Bunny for not bringing a basket for Lima Bean. Oops.

Friday Funny: "Walk Away. Just Ignore them."

"Your mother was a hamster & your father smelt of elderberries!"

It's 1:40am & here's what I'm doing: I'm playing on the computer and eating Cocoa Krispies, the ultimate insomnia food!

Mike & I watched "Atonement" tonight and it got me all kafuffled and now I can't sleep. That is a seriously intense movie. I should've watched "Dan In Real Life."

SPT: *Eggs*stra Special Easter

For SPT this week, Lelly challenged us to find something *eggs*tra special about our Easter weekend.

I had a great Easter with my kids--which I will post about later--but here is my little moment of personal bliss.

We had Mike's family over Sunday for Easter dinner and Laura left me this:

PEBBLE ICE!!!

When I'm pregnant, I crunch ice ceaselessly--much to the delight of anyone within hearing distance. Now I have my own personal stash of the best crunching-ice known to man.

I usually make a run to Sonic to get my pebble ice fix. Laura has a cute little shop with a bistro inside and brought this ice from her bistro Sunday to Easter dinner. She left me with two big bags, which completely made my day; I've been happily crunching from the comfort of my own home for two straight days.

52 Blessings, Week 10: Moments Like This...

...when they don't know I'm watching.
3/4/08, 7:30am

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Tonight with the kids we watched the dvd "To This End Was I Born," and I was surprised by how closely they paid attention. The movie portrays the final hours of Jesus' mortal life. It also portrays His ministry in the spirit world and His Resurrection. Mike stopped the movie intermittently to explain the doctrine, what exactly Christ was undergoing and why--and I was surprised by my kids: Max knew the story precisely, Isabelle asked deep questions and Mimi was quiet and riveted.

As the movie depicted The Last Supper, Mimi said, "I just love Jesus. I love Jesus so much." My heart just warmed! What a sweet baby girl. And I am always in awe of the depth of Max's understanding. Isabelle's furrowed brow, deep in concentration, made me happy to see that she is soaking up the gospel and wanting to learn. She doesn't feel very well tonight, so she was a little subdued. But I could see that she was struck by the enormity of the Easter story.

I have such a strong testimony of this gospel and the plan of salvation. I know that the Savior came to Earth to live and die for us, so that we may find our way back to our Father in Heaven. I am thankful for His atoning sacrifice. I am overwhelmed this week with gratitude that He would suffer for me, so that I can someday be made whole--in spirit and in body. My heart has been full this week as I have been thinking of Easter and why we celebrate. What a reason for celebration! I often wonder about Celestial celebrations, and what it must be like on the other side of the veil during these holy occasions.

I have had a few experiences where I have felt very close to the veil, and I would like to challenge myself to more consistently pursue the Spirit so I can be worthy of that closeness to the Savior that I've felt at other times in my life.


Excerpt of talk given by Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (his final testimony), delivered Saturday April 6, 1985.
Film: "To This End Was I Born."
youtube clip found here.






Music from the cd "The Missionary Project"
youtube clip found here

Friday Funny: "Oh, the Humanity!"

(This Friday Funny dedicated to Lelly and her label for this post--the best label ever.)

I've Hit The Puffy 3rd Trimester. Henceforth I Will Answer to "Puff Mommy."

Oct. 2007

This is a reminder to my current pregnant-self that I used to have cheekbones.

Tuesday Tell All: Collections

I don't really have a collection...it's more of a problem.
The word "collection" implies some sort of artful assembling of beloved objects. When I hear "collection," I think of objects found through travel--perhaps a collection of silver spoons from every place visited--and things carefully found throughout the years...things that truly represent an aspect of who a person is. I think of interesting assemblages, prettily displayed.

Me, I just really like sprinkles. And I don't collect them; I hoard them. I don't carefully accumulate them with forethought. I grab them off store shelves with the arrival of each new season and holiday. And then I throw them into a plastic bin with the other sprinkles of that season. Valentines! Spring! Halloween! Christmas! Any season! At least they are organized, if not displayed.

I really like cake platters, too--but that's another story.

FHE

We practiced how to look up scriptures for Family Night tonight. Isabelle received her baptism scriptures early--due to MUCH badgering of poor Grandma Hanson, who couldn't stand it any longer, broke down & took her to pick them out 9 months early. So we sat on the couch and Mike showed the kids how to find a particular scripture.
I was surprised to hear how well Max & Isabelle can read those difficult words! Max can whip through the verses. Isabelle muddles through, but does better than I thought she could. Am I actually at the stage in life where you read the real scriptures with your kids, and not just the Scripture Stories? That feels a bit surreal. I have big kids! Weird.Incidentally, Mimi was the winner of all scripture chases. She'd flip open her scriptures and yell/announce, "Found it!" No matter that the scripture was Alma 32:14 and she was in Helaman.

It was a simple little Family Night and I felt the peace of the Spirit in our cozy room with my little family. Lima Bean even made himself known by kickboxing me from the inside out the entire time. We said a prayer and kissed them goodnight.

Then, a half hour later, I ruined it all by yelling, "Will you just go to BE-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-D!!!!" Actually, "yelling" is a rather mild turn of phrase; it was more like screeching. Yeah, way to go, Mom...that's the way to cap off a cute Family Night.

But in my puny defense: I began Family Home Evening way later than I should have--basically at bedtime, 8pm--it was 8:30 when we finished, and it took them 25 minutes to brush their teeth and get their patooties to bed. Twenty five minutes!!! After years of living with me and witnessing The Transformation Into WitchMom occur promptly at 8:30, you'd think my kids would be afraid of me at Witching Hour. But no. Instead they artlessly ask for more kisses, and even a snuggle.

The nerve.

It's time for A Cold One.

Bah Humbug to St. Patrick's Day

It is without shame that I state for the record that today I sported no green garb. I didn't whip up a festive green dinner. I didn't speak in brogue. There was no sighting of miniature green leprechaun footprints winding through my house. I did not color the kids' breakfast milk green. I went to help in Isabelle's classroom and when a cute little 1st grader pinched me, I glared at him.

I don't even own any green sprinkles.

What can I say? I'm Scottish. Bring on the haggis.

This blatant disregard for festivity is very unlike me. I love holidays! I love to build anticipation and celebrate and bake festive desserts! It just never enters my mind to do so on St. Patrick's day. I'll redeem myself at Eastertime.

Then again, maybe not; I don't even have an Easter dinner planned. Nary a course. Me! The compulsive list-maker, party-planner, food-whipper-upper, grocery list queen! No Easter food!

I always seem to lose my personality sometime during my 3rd trimester. I walk around like some sort of hollow-eyed zombie. So I think my usual personality is gone for now...not to be recovered until sometime in July. Maybe.

52 Blessings, Week 9: "Curly" Keep

I am grateful for Sarah Keep Buttar, who gave me my heritage.

The Week in Review

Monday
* My mom was here visiting & we went to school lunch with Isabelle. It's fun to see how much this means to her--especially with Grannie as her lunch guest!

* I spent that evening running around getting supplies for Wednesday's combined Young Women activity, which I was in charge of. I'm 1st counselor and I'm not in the groove of YW yet. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed.

Tuesday
* Mimi had dance and then my mom & I zipped off for a brow appointment at Nordstrom. Mimi & I admired the shoes, looked at lipstick (she insisted on applying a bright orange) and rode the escalator a few times while my mom was the recipient of brow magic.

* Yet more running around for Wednesday's activity.

* Max had scouts & I skipped book club and took a sleeping pill. I'm in the midst of a rough year & sometimes a girl can fight only so hard to stave off depression! Thank goodness that Unisom is pregnant-safe.

Wednesday
* Watched my friend's girls during the afternoon & got stuff organized for the big activity. Made a mental note to keep activities simple with the Young Women. But is that even possible???

* My mom went and fetched Cafe Rio salads (yum--thanks, mom!) and made copies for me (bookmarks for the activity).

* The activity went very well; the girls all seem very sweet and on the right track. No major issues to worry about that I can see--it will be a pleasure to be in the program with them. We did a "PJ'S Night"...Snacks that start with "P", Journal, Scriptures. We decorated journals and marked scriptures that correspond with the YW values. It seems simple, but I went overboard with the details. I tend to do that because I like to throw parties, but I need to remember that parties can be fun without all the froo-froo.

Thursday

* Went out for Nacho Therapy with the girls (for Wendi's birthday). I had the blues all day because my mom left, so this was a good outing. (And why can't I remember my camera???)

Photo taken as Grannie was about to leave. Please note Isabelle's feeble attempt at a smile. Mimi's face speaks for itself. We love you, Mom!

Friday
* Mike, Max, Isabelle, Mimi & I went to "Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," directed (and basically produced with magic and enchantment) by my BFF Kara, jr-high-teacher-extraordinaire. The kids LOVED it! So did I. Mike said on the way home that he never remembers that level of production in junior high. It was like Mini-Broadway. Kara is amazing.

* Afterward, Kara's daughter--part of the cast--took Mimi on the stage to see the cast up close and she came back with stars in her eyes. Mimi was so funny during the play; she was riveted! She was shaking her shoulders to the beat, asking, "can I do this when I'm bigger?" (be in a musical) During the finale she asked Mike several times, "Can I go up there?" (Meaning onstage to dance during the big finale) She wanted so badly to run up onstage and be part of the huge finale number!

* I've had the "Go, Go, Go Joe!" song in my head, non-stop, for 24 hours straight.

"Go, go, go Joseph you know what they say
Hang on now Joseph you'll make it some day
Don't give up Joseph fight till you drop
We've read the book and you come out on top."

If I were a vindictive sort of person, I'd cue the music on a playlist so YOU ALSO would have this song stuck in your head.

Saturday
* Mike & Max went shooting. I prayed hard for Heavenly Father to assist the man-supervision.

* I took the girls to see my niece's "big girl" (Mimi's term) dance competition. These Jr High girls can shake it! Mimi soaked up every minute of the dances. She turned to me at one point and said, "Mom! Did you see that move?!" and mimicked it. Hilarious! She's a showgirl.

* Left at 5pm to go to dinner with my Visiting Teachers and the other girl they visit. (I wonder why I still refer to myself and my contemporaries as "girls?" We're well into our 30's!) It was a good time. I really, really love this ward.

So! These are the highlights of the week, to the best of my memory. I really should make an effort to journal my day as it actually happens so, as my mom puts it, "I can prove that I was alive."

Including my nighttime forays on Mon & Tues to gather supplies for Wednesday's YW activity, I went out every single night this week. Oh, except Tuesday night--when I gulped a sleeping pill to escape from reality. But really, that is too many nights away from home and away from the kids' nighttime routine. I like to be home at bedtime and facilitate a structured bedtime; I feel like this is really important at this stage in my children's young lives. Not only that, but it's important for them to have me there--snuggling on the couch reading books, having a minute or two of scripture time, tucking them in, smooching them goodnight, etc. Busy weeks like this make me want to slow down next week.

I say that every single week and it never happens. Sigh.

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***Added later, in response to crazymama's comment (accompanied by evil cackle):

52 Blessings, Week 8: Love Notes

I find little scribbley notes like this everywhere. Isabelle jots them on scraps of paper, my lists (of which there are many), on the tile with bathtub crayons, on post-its & then sticks them in random places for me to find....everywhere. And when I see my love notes, my heart just sings.

Friday Funny: Mahna Mahna

Just watch this today--all day--and you'll be in a good mood!

The Goodest Good Mail Ever

A week or so ago, I received a big juicy envelope from Mique. I knew I had a goodie coming because of this post on her blog (definitely my hottest picture ever...scroll down on her post & see). So here is what spilled out of the big envelope! It was such a fun little pile of parcels that I kept it all on the counter and gazed at it intermittently throughout the day.


Hmmm. Addict? Me? I admit nothing.


Here is what spilled out of my burgeoning package. Please note the giant-sized sprinkles. I cannot WAIT to get those on some spring-themed cupcakes. In a non-addictive way, of course. And that is a hand-embellished dishtowel that, incidentally, which matches my kitchen perfectly.
And then this. My eyeballs literally popped a little bit when I unwrapped this goodie. A happy, funky apron made by the Apron Queen herself! And would you please just LOOK at how my pregnant tummy boofs it out. Beauty.
Thank you so much, Mique, for sending some cheer my way.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday
Panda Express (it's Family Home Evening & we're going to the bookstore!)
Love that spicy Orange Chicken. Ahem. Where are the Tums?

Tuesday
Broccoli Cheese Soup (it's lowfat if you tell yourself that it is...)
Homemade Breadsticks

Wednesday
Asian Beef Stirfry
** (my latest pregnancy craving...so far I've been pining for it & haven't had the energy to actually make it. Will I ever return to my former love-to-cook self???)
Green Salad

Thursday
Chicken Enchiladas
Rice
Salad

Friday
Leftover buffet

Saturday
Out to dinner with my Visiting Teaching Ladies (pa-a-a-a-rty!)

Sunday
Mike's Crepes (dad's day to cook: love you, Mike!)
I've also wanting to try some of THESE. Maybe next week? I love Kate's recipes.

Thanks to Laura, our beloved orgjunkie, for hosting Menu Plan Monday each & every week. Go check out her Menu-Fest.

"God has known you individually...for a long, long time (see D&C 93:23). He has loved you for a long, long time. He not only knows the names of all the stars (see Psalm 147:4; Isaiah 40:26); He knows your names and all of your heartaches and your joys!"

Neal A. Maxwell, "Remember How Merciful the Lord Hath Been," Ensign, May 2004, 46.


I came across this quote today and it gave me perfect happiness. It's comforting to know He understands me--probably better than I know myself--and is right there, walking beside me on the path of my life.

Wordless Wednesday

SPT: Extra! Extra!

Lelly's SPT challenge this week "...is to photograph something that is extra special about you. it might be a physical feature, a talent, or an unknown secret. this spt is all about you!"

Alrighty. This was difficult for me. To be completely honest, I got a little depressed trying to think of something special because I couldn't think of anything; I usually only pick out negative things about myself. That's pathetic! Seriously, though. I've thought & thought since Friday and....nothin'. (insert mental image of my grumpy face) Although, Max made my day when he heard me grumbling aloud about my lack of special traits and offered up, "You're the best Mom!" as a trait. I love that kid.

Phew. Just getting that out of my system and writing it down all officially made me realize I really should work on finding things to appreciate and love about myself. So here's what I finally came up with:

* I talk REALLY fast
* I'm open-minded & accepting

* I love people...being with others, listening to others, talking with others, sitting around a campfire and shootin' the breeze with others...you get the picture

* I try really hard to be organized...but my house usually looks like this:
* I love to cook and experiment with recipes, and I LOVE to feed people
My natural disposition happy and upbeat and I love to laugh
Nana says I'm like a ray of sunshine (the best compliment anyone has ever given me & I've treasured it for the 11 years since she first said it).

Sheesh! That was not easy. Lelly, next week can you give us a no-brainer, like...."what's your favorite toenail polish?"