A Light Always Before Me

jerusalemshots.co, ce.byu.edu.jc

Ten years ago I had the chance to attend the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies, otherwise known as the Jerusalem Center. If I had to rate it in a life experience category, it would top my list. I learned so much-about myself, about others, about the gospel, and about the "Holy City". It is difficult to describe the experiences I had because the feelings and emotions associated with the smells, sights and sounds are not easily described with words.
We had a Ten year reunion on Friday night. It was so fun to get caught up with old friends and to remember some of the moments often forgotten when thinking of my experience. One can only relate if having been there but here are a few examples: traveling "polygamist style" when going into the city-one guy to every two girls, seeing how many students can be crammed into a sharute, wearing the ugliest "Shaban" pants you have ever seen, eating Nutella on a pita for a snack, and knowing who belonged to the center by seeing navy blue backpacks from miles away.
I knew there were many talented people when I was there. Having time to catch up with them only confirms that. But I was also delivered sad news this morning. A girl, my visiting teacher while there, passed away the very day of the reunion from oral cancer. It is always sad to hear that kind of news. I have received it a few too many times this year.
This song was written by one of the students while at Jerusalem and has always found a small way to relate some of my feelings.

City of Peace
by Cameron Pedersen

Here I stand in this Land
So far away from home.
This whirlwind day has swept me away
And set me down here alone.
It's just me and my quest, a search to get
What others say can be found:
To find my friend the Savior of Men,
And to feel his love all around.

I see new faces of many who just like me,
Came with empty bags to fill
Full of moments to remember,
thoughts to forever,
And answers to questions had still.

We visit the places and examine the traces
Of those who searched long before us.
But no one can find peace of that kind
In something built up from the dust.

Every sunset I see seems to remind me
That I won't be here fo long.
O how I stuggle inside, and cry that I
Might find what I need before I'm gone.

I've spent much time on my knees,
And all those humble pleas
Have prepared my heart for God's Son.
But no lesson has been learned
By a heart that has burned
Without doing the things He has done.

As I serve and as I love,
blessings from above
Seem to fall upon me all the time.
And as I fill the bags of others,
soon I discover
That somehow, someone's filled mine.

Every sunrise I see whispers to me
Of each day I have in this land
To learn more and more of the Savior
So that he may lead me by the hand.

I knew that all this was going to end.
I knew it from the very start.
And as the years go by, every time I look at the night sky
The stars will whisper this to my heart:

Here I stand in this land
So far away from home.
This whirlwhind day had swept me away
And set me down here alone.

Across the ocean are my deepest emotions,
And memories that will never cease.
But there will always be a light before me
In Jerusalem, City of Peace.

Every sunrise I see will always remind me
of a beautiful land in the East.
For I will have a light always before me
In Jerusalem, City of Peace.

Fantasy Flops

Fanatasy Football is over. I took 3rd in the league. . .THIRD. I should have atleast taken 2nd but the week it really mattered how my QB did, he was horrible. He had horrible weather, horrible stats, and a horrible, measily 3 points for me. I made some pretty incedible moves right before, like picking up a kicker who got me 19pts (my highest point player for the week) and pulling Frank Gore out, switching defenses, and picking up Donald Lee as my tight end. What can I say? My husband doesn't understand my "moves" but what does it matter. It helped get me points. Except for Brady. My fantasy is over.

Singing Christmas Here

Kid 1 had his Preschool Christmas Program last week. It was pretty cute. They came in with their noses painted red, wearing antlers in Rudolph style. Kid 1 seemed a little scared, truly a deer in headlights. You could hear one little girl quite well. Her mom must have been so proud. Kid 1 was so excited because he got to do the chimes with a select few students. I think he hit the thing once, but he nailed it!!!

Better Price

Just in, B got his car back and we only had to pay $200 for the fox damage vs. $1000. What a relief.

Spreadin' The Elfin' Cheer

Merry Christmas to All!!! This is a Christmas wish from my little elf family to yours. If the link doesn't work, just copy and paste it.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1366217329

ENJOY!!!

Tag, You're It

I think I have been tagged a few times, a while ago, and have yet taken the time to do something about it. Part of it is I don't know five things to write about myself, the other part is I haven't had time to sit and actually think.
Here are some of my quirks:

1. My family is one of the most important things in my life. Being a mother and wife has changed my outlook and perspective on so many things. Not only has it taught me more about myself than I sometimes care to know, it has given me more faith and belief than I could have hoped for. I have been so blessed with a great husband and kids, wonderful parents, tons of siblings and 25 fun nieces and nephews (this list includes in-laws). It has taken me years to truly understand the importance of family.
2. I am an avid reader. I disappear for a few days when I get into a book. It doesn't matter if I love the book or not, it will be completed usually within a week, if not a couple of days. I love all different genres and love to learn things through reading.
3. I love to travel. I have been to so many places but there are so many more places I would love to go. I have found that it is harder to do international travel with kids, and I only hope someday that they can go with me. I can't say that I have one favorite place to go over another because they all offer something completely different. Here is a list of all the countries I have visited or lived in: Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Mexico, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Honduras and Belize. I think that is all of them and I have visited almost all states-maybe all but 10. I would love to do more travel to the Far East and Middle East. I also would love to visit a few countries in South America, wouldn't mind going to Australia. I hope my next trip though will be to the Ukraine and a few outlying countries (MOM/DAD that is a hint)!!!
4. I need exercise. I haven't been very good about going lately and I can give you all of the excuses in the world right now, but won't. I love the release of endorhpins exercise provides. It keeps me happy and rejuvenated. It gives me a little "me" time, and it helps me feel good about myself.
5. I have not had very many "jobs" where I get paid in my life. When I used to have to fill out my resume, I always had to make things sound a lot better than they usually were. . .like being an OFFICE JANITOR. I cleaned my dad's office-ONCE A WEEK while in high school and got paid a ridiculous amount of money. Then I worked for him as a receptionist/filer. My first job was being a newspaper carrier and of course I always had jobs around the house I could get money out of my mom for. My first real job was at Primary Children's as a Nurse. I love being a nurse and taking care of people. I have the need to nurture others and this is just one way I can do it and reap so many rewards for it. I continue to work there randomly (a couple of times a month). It gives me such insight, a break, and helps me to appreciate my kids health so much more.

Fantasy Playoffs

I made it into the playoffs. But, I am in serious need of a tight end. Not that kind of a tight end, even though I need one of those too (time to get to the gym). I keep telling my husband I am going to try and finagle some players from those who didn't make it into the playoffs. Tell them to drop the players just when I happen to be on so I can pick them up. Won't happen, but I'll let you know how I do.

New Recommendations

I had class yesterday at work, referred to as "Mandatory Class Day". All in all, it is a beneficial way to get updated on changes, learn about new equipment or technology, and reminders for people like me who work very little. My favorite thing is how the American Heart Association (AHA)makes new guidelines and recommendations about every quarter. It makes it difficult to know and remember just exactly how many times I am supposed to compress someones chest before I give them a breath. But now, for all you out there, the new guideline for a witnessed adult collapse is this (meaning you watch an adult grasp their chest and fall over) JUST DO COMPRESSIONS AND GET AN AED (automated external defibrillator) ASAP. Pound on that chest until you are blue in the face and hopefully your victim won't be. And remember that is atleast 100 compressions a minute.

A Costly Hit

It looks like the damage to B's car includes a cracked radiator, a cracked bumper and the under case that holds the insides of his car together is broken. Running over a fox with a car $2100 ($1000 ded), listening to B explain what happened, priceless.

A Run in With a Foxy Lady

B was driving home from the Jazz game on Friday night, cruising along with some buddies, when suddenly he hit something. I should say he CRUSHED something. He was going 70 mph when suddenly he saw something out of the corner of his eye. The best he could do was grip the wheel steadily (luckily, if he had try to swerve he probably would have rolled), and hit it. He said he felt the impact and then about 5seconds later felt it under his back wheels. He pulled up to the next light when his car started shaking violently. By the time he dropped his buddy off, the car was smoking, and smelt like fried animal. They all agreed that it was probably a fox because it seemed pretty little and had a bushy tail. I'll let you know what damage was done to the car when we get an estimate on it. We know it atleast cracked the front bumper grill. We are just hoping it didn't crack the radiator. Kid 2 keeps on asking me why daddy got hit by a fox. I have tried to explain it to her but can't seem to break it to her that the thing was mostly likely killed by her dad. I'll just have to let her keep on thinking the thing is like Swiper the fox from Dora and will reappear sometime later to tease her daddy.

Arguing with a 2 year old

The whole last year Kid 1 has been so excited to turn "5" that we have had a countdown for as long as I can remember. His birthday came and went, and now he keeps on asking us when he is going to turn 6. I can't believe I have another year of this. I keep on telling him to enjoy being the age he is, but he can't. I haven't decided if it is the presents one gets for a birthday, or just him wanting to be older. Which brings me to Kid 2. This little girl is such a spit fire. She has such a fun little personality, but is very independent and bull headed. I was telling her it was her birthday this week and this is the conversation we had:

S: Kid 2, it is your birthday this week, how old are you going to be?
Kid 2: Five
S: No you aren't. You are going to be 3.
Kid 2: Uh uh. I am going to be 5.
S: You are only 2 right now.
Kid 2: No, I am 4.
S: I promise, you are only 2.
Kid 2: (Screaming, and screaming and screaming) NOOOO, NOOO I am not.

She continues protesting and trying to convince me that she is an age she is not. I have no choice to ignore her and let her believe what she wants. Two bull-headed, independent people who like to be right going up against each other, doesn't always make for a pretty fight. I had to back down this time. After all, it was with a 2 year old. I dare any of you to try and argue with this one.

Inevitable Lessons of Traveling to Grandma's House

I recently traveled to my parents for a Thanks-Christmas-Giving Event. It was appropriately named so by my sister-in-law because we had Thanksgiving Dinner and then later that night had Christmas. Sounds a little bit out of sorts, but due to circumstantial timing, it had to work out this way. I have been meaning to post all week, but haven't found the time without Kid 3 clawing me while typing. There is so much to say, many of those relating to what I have learned over the years about traveling. I only hope this enlightens those who haven't been there or done that yet.

LESSON 1: "What happens at Grandma's, stays at Grandma's".
LESSON 2: While traveling in the car with a sleeping potty trained child who suddenly wakes up screaming, is inconsolable, and can't tell you what they want, immediately pull over to use the restroom. Otherwise, the immediate silence, followed by "Mommy, I just went pee pee in my pants" may be more of a mess to clean up then one cares for.
LESSON 3: It is inevitable, totally predictable, that when around 20 other grandkids, you and your kids will come down with at least one illness, if not 5.
LESSON 4: Don't expect to sleep while away. Kids will stay up later, but somehow manage to wake up at precisely 7:00 am every morning. The next week at home will be a very difficult one, as kids will now be whiny, tired, and SICK; as will you.
LESSON 5: Bad habits such as kicking, biting, pulling hair and pushing, that maybe your kids didn't fully embrace before, will now be fortified by the response of cousins, and your kids in turn have learned these methods are their only defense.
LESSON 6: When lots and lots of cousins are around for your kids to play with, your kids will somehow manage to stay out of your eyesight for an entire day, despite searching and searching for them. The beauty of this is that they are somehow more entertained, not needing you to do it for them.
LESSON 7: Kids won't eat when other kids aren't eating. Kids will eat what other kids are eating (even if that means eating straight butter or putting your finger in the cake-again and again and again-who needs utensils, right?).
LESSON 8: There is no traveling "lightly" with kids.
Lesson 9: Despite the fact that you and your siblings were all raised by the same parents, parenting styles will differ dramatically, and so will their kids "acceptable and not acceptable" behavior. This is true with ones' sense of time, ones' standards, and one's ability to clean up after themselves.

Here are some pics of our recent trip. We had a fun time. We had Thanksgiving Dinner at the church since we are now of extremely large numbers. We played some lightening basketball while there. We then went and had Christmas. Later that week,we had a birthday party for a number of the grandkids followed by Santa Claus coming to the house. My parents also had their "Farewell" talks, but don't leave for their mission until Jan. 7th. It hasn't fully hit me yet that they are leaving. I am better of not thinking about it.

Relief

It is absolutely amazing how quickly I have forgotten what it is like to get 5-6 hours of sleep in a row. Kid 3 has slept well the last few nights. She has slept from 8 pm until 5 am. I can't complain. It makes me realize how uncomfortable she was and how much pain she was probably in with her ear infections. The last couple of mornings she has woke up kind of yelling out instead of standing at the side of the crib in a full out battle cry. No tears rolling down the cheeks with snot dripping all the was to her elbows. I guess I didn't realize the extent of it all. I am just glad it is over.

26.2

Usmagazine.com
www.nydailynews.com
I read these articles on the Internet last week and the more I think about it, the more ridiculous and irritating I find them. It has to do with the NYC marathon. The winner, Paula Radcliffe, finished the race in 2:23:09. The big debate arises with the fact that she did this just 10 months after having a baby. Let's not forget that Katie Holmes, also giving birth less than a year ago, ran this same marathon in 5:29:58. It irritates me that this professional athlete got grief for her training while pregnant. They say she ran up to an hour a day, until the day she delivered. Kudos to her. I can't imagine that she did any of this training without close supervision on her baby. I guarantee she wore a heart monitor and took the necessary precautions to ensure the baby was "safe" and that she also ate better during this time, monitoring calories and eating healthier than any one of us who has ever been pregnant can lay claim to. I know there is some controversy surrounding excersing while pregnant, but she was in shape before she got pregnant. It wasn't like she started going to the gym, running for an hour, doing extensive training so she could win a marathon when she had her baby. This is her 7th WIN. Don't think she didn't pay the price for thinking she could get moving too soon either. She started running just 8 days after having the baby and ended up with a hairline fracture in her back. I can relate (ok, not to that extent). I know there has been times after having a baby I do more than I should, thinking I am right back to my prepregnancy state. It is easy to forget joints and ligaments are still loose from those hormones floating around. I just found the fact that not one thing about Katie Holmes running the marathon was said other than, hooray, a Hollywood star ran a marathon (not to mention all the media coverage). I am not taking away from the fact that she ran a marathon. It is way more than I have ever accomplished, and I know that she did it with only 2 months of training. I am just stating that a professional athlete got criticized for working while pregnant. I think of all the times I hear of someone from Hollywood exercising/working during pregnancy and right after having a baby and no fuss has ever been made. The media is sick. I think of all the things that Paula Radcliffe could have been doing: sitting on her haunches gaining weight-not exercising, smoking, drinking, eating unhealthy, etc. etc and all the media can focus on is the fact that she actually exercised, while she was pregnant, gasp. I just didn't feel like they gave her credit where credit was definitely due. Congratulations to Paula Radcliffe for winning the NYC Marathon.

It Continues

I have started a few posts at various times this past week and have run into a slight problem. Kid 3. She has continued to run a fever for the last week and has required me to hold her whenever on the computer. It makes it difficult to type when she feels the need to throw in a few letters of her own. I took her back to the Dr. yesterday and her ear infection has progressed, and not only is it in one ear, it is now in both. She has not been sleeping good, I even resorted to co-sleeping last night. I think the fact that she also has a new trick, pulling herself up, doesn't help either. She thinks she is so cool that she finds the need to pull herself up when she wakes up in the middle of the night. So, we pulled out the big guns yesterday and gave her a shot of antibiotic instead of doing another round of oral medication. I have to take her back tomorrow for another shot, but I am hoping it will do the job. I could use a little bit of freedom, and sleep.

All Smiles

A Mother Knows Best

Kid 3 has an ear infection. I must admit, I have never been up all night with a sick kid, other than what I take care of at the hospital. I have been truly blessed. Kid 3 has had sleep patterns the last couple of nights consistent with a newborns, up every couple of hours. She even was awake from 3:00-4:00 am the other night, bouncing between me and B, slapping each of us just enough in the face every few minutes to surface us from the light sleep we were drifting into.
It has always been hard for me to decide when to take my children into see the Dr. I have always been taught to identify the source of infection, so when I had Kid 1, I was quick to rush him to the Dr. to "identify" what it was. If it was viral, great, I knew it; if it was bacterial, even better because there would be an end in sight. With each kid, I have come to learn that most things are viral. I no longer see the need to take them in with every little fever. I can play the waiting game. Maybe it has something to do with the fact I have played that game before, waiting with each child for their unpredictable entry into the world.
My dilemma comes when I think they have an ear infection. I think it all stems back to when I was a child and suffered ear infections frequently. I can still remember two of them quite vividly. Both of them were when my family was on trips, and both of them brought so much pain on my little body that I can remember laying curled up so tightly in the fetal position with warm washcloths on my ears, crying. I even ruptured an ear drum with one of those infections. I think if I can help my kid to avoid any such pain, I will. I know the current literature on ear infections states that treatment is not necessary, but I beg to differ. If I had to make any comparison to the kind of pain I had when I ruptured an ear drum I would have to compare it to that of my post-op tonsillectomy course. And that is pain I don't want my own children to suffer.
So with time, I have come to trust my "maternal instinct". Every mom knows when there kid doesn't feel good, and they want to make them feel better, by nature. If it requires a little extra TLC, so be it. If it requires a trip to the Dr. or ER, it will happen. If it requires asking a mother at the bedside of a patient what she thinks is going on with her own child, I will listen. But more than anything, if it requires trusting that inner feeling, that is the source I will be trusting. They don't call it "A Mother's Intuition" for nothing.

Goose Flesh and Fantasy Football

http://www.mostbeautifulman.com/athletes/tombrady/pages/pic03.shtml
susanbartlett.ca/photos/tomBrady.jpg

It seems every couple of years I get suckered into playing Fantasy Football. I must admit, I enjoy watching football but know very little about ALL of the players. I know enough about the top guys, but when it comes to knowing which ones to pick come round 9 for my back up running back, I just take a name that sounds good. We did a live draft this year and I had the last pick. Can't say that it really mattered. My team is currently in 2nd place, but I don't know how long that is going to last. My saving grace has been Tom Brady. I must admit, I don't know that I took him based on just his football skills (ladies, you all know what I am talking about). He has the most fantasy points thus far out of any one. It feels good to make such a great pick. If I can only keep it going enough to make it to the play-offs, I have a feeling Tom Brady won't let me down. As for my team name, Goose Flesh, it was the first thing that came to my head, and B says it is a must for fantasy team names, hence his team name: Toe Nail Fungus. We might just be a little twisted.

My Absolute Very Favorite Dancer

This was requested by one of Kid 1's fans. He loves hip-hop and loves to "break it down". It makes me laugh and was difficult to film. Hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do. It was inspired by our B's brother and his wife's blog. I was checking it out one day and "Sexyback" was on and Kid 1 was quite disappointed when I turned it down. I must admit, he gets his rhythm from his dad.

Trick or Treat

'Tis the night for witches and cats,
Ghosts and goblins, monsters and bats.
It has been a fairly slow night for trick or treaters. I thought that might happen this year, but second guessed myself today and decided to buy 2 more bags of candy. Just what I need. Candy, Candy, and more candy lying around. I should just dump it all into the next trick or treaters bag, but I don't think there will be one. The kids had fun tonight going out. Brett took them while I answered the door. Which brings me to tonight's soapbox. . .I'm apologizing in advance if you are in it. Many of our neighbors went out with: husband, wife, and kids. Which is great and all to go out as a family, but what if everyone did that? No one would be left to answer the doors. They said they left their bowls out with a note, "Take One". Great. What is the point of going if no one is there to open the door when you say "trick or treat" and see you in costume? It must be awfully fun to watch your kid pick a piece of candy up off of someone's porch and put it in their bag. I may have to join in the party next year.

Definitely. . .OLD

I don't know when it happened. It must have been sometime between me dreaming that I am 16, young, vibrant, active and having 3 kids. I guess I will have to blame this one on "Mom Brain". I am OLD. I am not even 30, yet, but it sure is creeping up on me every day.
So, why this sudden feeling of mortality? I started playing Church Volleyball. Ha, ha. I know. We have an alright team, comparable to an 8th or 9th grade level. Not the level of play I would like to be at, but like I said, I am OLD. We actually made it to Regionals. We lost last night but are still in the tourney.
The problem is today. I am so sore. My knees hurt (I even thought about icing them, but can only think of OLD men doing that), my back hurts and even my butt hurts. I haven't used most of these muscles in 10 years. . .10 YEARS. Do I really have to say it again? I am OLD. Playing volleyball has really made me feel that I lost a lot of things in the years gone by. And one of them is my athletic ability. I think I can dive for balls, which I will try, but fall short because my reaction is a little bit slower than it used to be. Then there are the times I think I can play the net and I get turned around and my court sense is lost and I am not quite sure what to do with the ball. But it isn't so much of what is going on in the court, because let's face it, it is just church ball, then what is going on today. The day I feel OLD. I have to peel myself off the floor because my knees are sore, and carrying Kid 3 is difficult because my wrists are weak. I have pains in places I forgot existed. But the scary thing is, I don't know that if I played volleyball consistently that these pains would disappear. I think my knees would always be sore, my ankles stiff and my wrists weak. The flexibility and agility I once had is long gone. That is why it has happened. Somewhere between it all, I got OLD. And to think, I will only feel that much more dated when Church Basketball starts in January.

Do You Measure Up?

Weird, my pictures are showing up as a bunch of letters instead of pictures, so I can't arrange them as I would like, sorry. Anway, we went to the zoo today and had a nice time. The weather was actually all fall like, wonderful, in the high 60's with a cool breeze. The kids were well behaved and the animals were fairly active. I know there are some of you out there who don't believe in zoo's, but they exist and the one way I feel that I can make them any better, is to support them. The Hogle Zoo has done some really nice things. Instead of the animals being truly in just cages, they have made some nice living spaces for them, somewhat comparable to their natural environments. I know, sounds like an oxymoron, but whatever. It is what it is.

Ghost of the Bayou

Here are some pictures of an alligator with a rare genetic mutation that has been at the zoo for the last couple of months. He leaves next week. He was somewhat territorial today and stared Kid 3 and I down for a bit. He is pretty spooky.

Permissions

I have decided to take away that extra step that allows others to view my blog. I guess I suffered from a certain degree of paranoia. I will trial this and see if I like it. So, if for some reason, you have to start signing back in, I am sorry, my paranoia has returned, or maybe it is "that one" personality.

Photo Fun

My brother-in-law did this with his kid on their blog, so I thought I would give it a try. Kind of fun to mess around with, Kid 1 pulled up mostly girls, so I had to play around with some different photos. Enjoy.

Celebrity Look A Like

It's true. Tom Cruise pulled up with a high 78%.

Celebrity Morph

%1

Celebrity Look A-likes

My Celebrity Look-Alikes

Night Owl

I returned to work last week. Well, that is, if you really call it "working". I worked a night shift and now struggle with deciding when the next shift will fall into my schedule. It isn't that I don't have the opportunity to work. Work calls me everyday to see if I can pick up a shift. It makes me feel really bad sometimes. I have the luxury of working whenever I want. When I started out in nursing, I wasn't too keen on the shift work and the schedule. Working full time is very demanding on the body, not to mention the night shifts, weekends and holidays that no one can escape. I struggled with the lack of respect that nurses deserve and struggled with the fact that I should have gone to medical school, but deep down inside knew I couldn't. It wasn't conducive to the lifestyle I eventually wanted and now have. So, why do I have this guilt when I don't work? I know it has to do with the fact there are sick kids out there who need me. I feel bad there are nurses who are working full time and then some to fill in for the lack of nurses. I feel bad that there is a "shortage" and think, "what if that was my kid up there, who would take care of them?". It makes me feel like I should be working more. It is something I have struggled with ever since I have had kids, even though I know what I am doing know, is what I should be doing. I find it interesting know that I think nursing is a great option for people to go into because of the flexibility of the schedule, the very thing I despised for so long. Even more so, I find it interesting that I will be doing "NIGHT" shifts only. I hated nights (PERIOD, END OF QUESTION). I have never been a night owl, always a morning person. But now, I find myself realizing that is what my work life has become. A mere shift to give me a slight break from the kids, excerise my brain, and to help those in need out, for just a brief time. I don't know that I will ever return to work more than this, because I am a mother, and that is the most important thing to me right now, and for always.

Technological Geniuses. . . or just Lucky

Yesterday, Kid 2 decided to call Grandma J. Both of my kids know how to call a few people on my cell phone because they are programmed into speed dials. Conversation between B, Kid 2, Grandma and S:

Kid 2: Hi Grandma
Gm: Hi Kid 2
Kid 2: We're having a Strawberry party, with ice cream
Gm: A what?
Kid 2: A party

In the meantime, Kid 1 decides he wants to talk to Grandma and Kid 2 doesn't want him to so she starts running and screaming

Kid 2: Hold on Grandma, I'm calling daddy
Gm: Bye Kid 2
Kid 2: Hi Daddy
B: Hi Kid 2
Gm: Hi B
B: Oh hi, when did you get into town?
Gm: I'm not, where are you, you're not at home?
B: No, I'm at work, Kid 2 go get mommy
S: Hi mom
Gm: Hi S
B: Hey hun
S: How are you on the phone?
B: I don't know, your daughter got us both on the phone
S: Do we have conference calling?
B: I have no idea, but she did it.

Still don't know how she did it but she did.

Six Months

one week, one month, three months, six months

Kid 3 had her 6 month birthday a few days ago. Today was her six month check up. She came in at 19 lbs 2 oz and almost 28 inches long. She remains about 97% in both. Right where my other 2 kids have been. Huge. I can't believe she has been part of my life for so long, yet such a short time. I really can't remember not having her as part of this family. She has brought so much joy and happiness into our lives and I love watching the other kids interact with her as well.

The Best Witch Show in the West

Gardner Village has to be one of my very favorite places to go in the month of October. It is one of the most unique places around to begin with. It is an old mill from the 1800's that was owned by a man named Archibald Gardner. Archibald was a polygamist who had 13 wives. Because of the size of his family and farm, he had a house for each of his wives. Gardner Village has taken each of those houses, plus the other "houses" that were used for various things around the farm, and turned them into shops. They are mostly all original, renovated for current times. Each store there is truly unique in and of itself. Some of my very favorites are "Posh Frippery" (a store with random stuff but mostly way cute wrapping paper, owned by one of Brett's high school acquaintances), "The Christmas Village Store" (Christmas all year round with every type of ornament, village, nativity and stocking you could imagine), and "Elsa Belle" (a baby boutique with the best baby bling that has a touch of French). But, the best thing about Gardner Village, is what they do during different holidays: Eggs and bunnies for Easter, Witches for Halloween, Elves for Christmas. Hands down, my favorite holiday they do is, obviously, Halloween. The witches come out, and they are everywhere. They are cute, they are funny, they are scary, they are hairy. They have every kind of witch you can imagine. A witch in an outhouse: witchy-poo. A witching well. A witch on top of a roof: can you hear me now?. A witch who will cast spells for chocolate. Witches making brew. Witches playing spook ball. Student Driver witches stuck in trees. Witches directing broom traffic through Spookwest, etc. I could go on and on. I didn't get pictures of them all, just a few. Enjoy them as much as me and the kids do.

Stroller Books

Kid 2 seems to have this knack for self entertainment that Kid 1 never has had. I don't know if it is the difference between boys and girls, or oldest child vs. younger child, but I love it. Yesterday she filled up her stroller with books, brought them into my room where I was getting ready, took the books out and flipped through each book. She makes these piles as she goes along. She stacks them in the order she wants them, flips through it and puts them in her completed pile. There seems to be some sort of compulsive science to it for her. Then she would leave the books and go and fill up the stroller again with books and bring them back into my room and start all over. I think she did it about 4 times. It is one of my favorite things to watch. I often wonder what is going through kids heads as they look through some of their favorite books. I am sure she has some of the stories memorized and breezes through them in her mind. And the best part about it was she took all the books back to her room when she was done. It seems some things actually do stick!!!

Pumpkin Patch

I was so excited when my friend called and invited me to go to this little pumpkin patch right by my house!!! I had no idea it was even there and it was so cute. A couple of my friends have gone to apple orchards and I kept on thinking how jealous I was because we don't have anything like that around here. And then, there it was. It had a little corn maze for the kids to go through, plenty of tractors for them to play on, oh, and of course, lots and lots of pumpkins. The kids were so excited and had so much fun. It was right by the highway, but you couldn't hear any of it. It wasn't out in the middle of nowhere to truly give it character, but it is what it is. It was fairly quaint and well done. The lady who ran it had all the spots for pictures and knew just how to make it kid friendly without losing any of its value. The weather couldn't have been any better either. The Famerall Pumpkin Patch definitely had it all.

First

It is snowing here in Utah today. The weather here is fairly unpredicatable and likes to take wide variable turns within a fairly short period of time. Yesterday it was 77 degrees. Today it is 35 degrees and snowing. Kid 1's soccer game was cancelled because of it. Bunch of wusses. It was 45 and barely drizzling when they made that call. If we would have been in Idaho, we would have played and half of the players would have not been wearing protective clothing. The cold blistering weather is nothing short of what Idahoans are used to. And to think, the snow isn't even sticking. I don't know if I can really consider that a true snow or not. Atleast the leaves in the mountains will all be beautiful for our Conference Weekend Drive.

Ready to Rock, Already Rolling

Kid 3 and her many personalities. She really is a fun little girl, although a little needy at times. She started getting up on all four's a couple of weeks ago, and is about ready to take off crawling. She gets frustrated because rolling just doesn't quite get her everything that she wants. She has learned to push off of all four's and slam her face into the ground. That doesn't make her very happy either. As much as I am not looking forward to having her crawling around, I wish, for her sake, that she figures it out soon enough.

Kiev, Ukraine: In Case You Were Wondering

A slight change in plans.

Last Season, Kid 1 playing Soccer

The Big Moment

Kid 1 started his second season of soccer on Saturday, his first being in the spring. I don't know if he grew a ton over the summer, or if the rest of the kids are just that much younger, but he looked huge compared to the others. Then there was the total domination that he had. I really don't want to sound like I am bragging, but that is exactly what it was. He played the half of each half and had 8 goals. It was pretty embarrassing. Every time the ball was kicked off it would be in the middle of a pack and he would emerge with it and go and score a goal. After the 2nd goal, we tried to tell him he needed to pass. Hard concept for a 4 year old. It was fun to watch one kid get so excited after he kicked the ball once and throw his arms up in triumph, and then stop. It wasn't until about goal 7 that the coach finally told him to pass the ball, thanks coach, we needed some help in the listening department. I went and stood down by the goal and every time he got down there, yelled at him to pass. And then we had the big moment. The one where I was so proud. He passed the ball right down by the goal and the other kid kicked it in and scored. After that, every time he could of scored, he tried to pass the ball. It didn't always work, but at least he wasn't scoring. I don't even know the final score of the game, but I do know the other team had at least one goal. It didn't matter that it was a wide open shot and our coach told the kid to kick it in the goal and he picked it up and threw it in. At least it wasn't a shut out.

Mission Call

My parents retired this summer and have been busy visiting grandkids, coaching soccer, having family visit, and cleaning their house out. That alone could be the most daunting task they face. Years and years of stuff, collected over a lifetime, not to mention 8 kids and 21 grandkids later whose stuff inadvertently has ended up there as well, has left them with a "few" things.
Today they received their mission call. They have been called to serve as the area medical director of the Moscow, Russia region. They will be leaving on January 7th. I don't know if they go straight to Moscow or have a few weeks in the MTC, but the countdown has begun. Only a few more things to do.