Good Times, Noodle Salad

"It will save so much gas on my commute . . ."

2011-10-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

Here is Dirk on his new motorcycle. He is too cool for pictures, so he wouldn't take off his helmet and pose for me.

Many Changes

2011-10-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

This year has been more nuts than usual, and that is saying something. After developing a solid plan to stay in our Maryland townhouse for three more years and use the time to fix it up to sell or re-rent, I am nevertheless writing now from our new house in Virginia.

We are so excited, because we really feel like we have found "it." A house in the country with a little bit of land and great views in every direction. We moved in almost two months ago and we are starting to feel pretty settled in and at home here. I am adjusting to the pros and the cons of not having all my friends and shopping closeby. There will me more posts soon, as I have a lot of catching up to do, and as life settles down I am determined to get it done!

Cool House of the Day

2010-12-31T19:27:00.000-08:00

We didn't even break into this one. It was a really beautiful Tudor, which had been professionally decorated by several groups as a fundraiser for the BSO. We called the listing agent and went to see it with her. It is far enough out of our price range that we will not be buying it, especially as it needs a whole lot of work, according to the realtor. She seemed to think it would still come down quite a bit in price. However, we did have a great time touring it.

After the realtor left, we were heading out and decided to walk around the grounds a bit. We found an old chicken coup with pens for other animals. It was amazing. I was naming my chickens and picking out my goats. It even had electricity already wired out to it. Unfortunately, I was so captivated by my agricultural fantasies that I didn't notice until too late that I stepped on a nail that was sticking out of a board. It went right through my Uggs and well into my foot. Note to self: must get more appropriate shoes for these activities. We moved our adventure to the urgent care for the rest of the afternoon so I could get a tetanus shot and some x-rays. Even though I have been hobbling around for two days, it was totally worth it. Isn't it gorgeous? Here is the link.

I was listening to a news story about how Baltimore has more housing than people by something like 30 percent. I keep thinking there has got to be an opportunity for a house lover like me there somewhere. If only they were giving them away!

Leaves!

2010-11-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

Even More Halloween

2010-10-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

Trick-or-Treating. Dirk really outdid himself with the pumpkin this year. He should start entering competitions. Isaac, Emma, Gwendolyn, Brody (who is now a bear, with Dash Incredible underneath, just in case), and Gideon head out into the cool night for a record haul of sweet junk.
I am pretty sure this is the best night of his life so far.

Angel Hannah.

Scarecrows Omijo and Bessa.

More Halloween

2010-10-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

School Party

Halloween

2010-10-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

Oh, I just love this little getup. Doesn't it remind you of the old Karate Kid? The bones glow in the dark. Adorable. What a handsome fruit bat! And just in case the world needs a superhero, he is Dash Incredible underneath.

Two Princesses.
Darth Maul. Yikes. My sweet boy looks so scary!

Gwendolyn and Princess Valya in Ocean City

2010-09-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

Primary Scavenger Hunt at the D.C. Temple

2010-05-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

Cute Baby

2010-05-22T18:10:00.000-07:00

We're so glad . . .

2010-05-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

When Uncle Doug comes to town!

Faerie Festival

2010-05-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

My friend Long Lost Linda (used to live a scant one-minute walk away and has since moved. Boo.) invited Gigi and me to join her sweet girls for an adventurous day at the faerie festival. It was so much fun!

Gwendolyn is five

2010-05-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

This year, Gigi had a party several days after her birthday. Pictures to follow. Her family birthday was very sweet. We opened gifts first thing in the morning because, as she says, "Don't you remember how I don't like to wait?" And she got to be queen for a day, deciding what we did and ate all day long. She shares her birthday with her dad, which is always special for her. We love this little girl so much!

She is so vivacious! Our lives would be dull without her. She uses every muscle in her face and body to tell a story . . . it is really something to witness.

When she is saying goodnight, it is always several hugs, kisses, and zerberts, then a promise to keep sending them through the air after we are gone.

She often wakes up during the night (I think she is nocturnal), but has been convinced by Dirk that waking me up is not a considerate thing to do. So, unless she needs me (bad dream, urgent questions, etc.), she will just make herself a little bed on the floor next to me and sleep the rest of the night. I have stepped on her once or twice, but now I know to always check before I get out of bed.

Her pouts are adorable. Clenched fists, arms straight by her sides, face upturned, and a look that could kill. Fierce.

She loves her friends. She towers over most of them and enjoys picking them up as part of her goodbye after a play date.

She already has a testimony of prayer. When she is scared, we say prayers together, sometimes more than one. She is sure that Heavenly Father loves her, and has no second thoughts about asking for what she needs.

Loves to chew gum.

Loves all things girl: nail polish, lip gloss, froofy dresses, tap shoes.

She assumes she is in charge of our lives! One morning, she woke up and announced that we were having a dance show and I needed to call all her friends and invite them over. She set up all the chairs in the house for her audience and asked me to make popcorn. Another day, she proclaimed all Fridays as "Girl Days" and said we needed to have a tea party. I would resent being bossed around by a five-year-old, except she is so convincing! When possible, I try to help her make her stuff happen. Only one friend came to the dance show, but with the boys and me, we made a good audience. And the tea party was a great success. Fortunately, there are enough girlie girls around and not yet in school to people her parties.

Don't leave a five-year-old in charge of a baby.

2010-05-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

Even if you are just going to unload groceries from the car. "Help Tristan be happy" could have turned out worse, though, so I really cannot complain.

Gwendolyn's Friend Party

2010-05-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

Costume Dance Party!

Children's birthday parties and my sweet husband . . . a sometimes explosive combination. He did very well for this one, though! He must be getting the hang of it, because with four children, our everyday life feels a bit like this.

What I learned with this experience of the joy and anxiety of a pinata: either get a really tough one, or get a couple. The kids at the end of the line will definitely cry if they don't even get a chance to hit the thing. Word to the wise.

Brody is Three

2010-04-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Brodo Baggins! Some fun things about my third:

1. Loves trains. And helicopters. He seems to be in a constant debate about which he likes more and which he needs more of.

2. Quick temper! My goodness, I pity the inanimate object that crosses him. The other day, I asked why he had to punch the door and then his own head when he ran into the doorknob accidentally and he said, "That makes me feel better."

3. So loving . . . He often grabs me around the neck after I've found something he was looking for or given him a treat after lunch and he says, "You the BEST, Mommy!"

4. A very sweet tooth.

5. He loves to know the rules. Once he knows them, he never breaks them. Rules like not eating outside of the kitchen, saying 'excuse me' if someone does something rude, saying 'sorry' when someone gets hurt . . . he enforces these rules like the chief of police.

6. Dad has been calling him Brodo Baggins to be silly, so now he calls himself Brodo Dragon.

Best Friends Dress Up

2010-04-20T03:14:00.000-07:00

Let me introduce you to Sir Jedi Batman. He wears two capes . . . just in case.And here is his crime-fighting partner, Lady Nightgown Mardi gras.
When they cannot find any bad guys, they practice fighting each other.

Cool House of the Day

2010-04-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

Find more pictures HERE.

Today's Cool House is Trevanion in Taneytown, Maryland. Dirk found it (he always finds us the coolest places) and sent it to me. Eight acres of loveliness, outbuildings, stables, even an eight-seater brick outhouse original from 1817. I experienced love-at-first sight and began scheming so we could buy it and move in right away (did you not realize we were househunting? Ha! We aren't! We plan to stay in our current house for at least three years, but we cannot seem to help ourselves . . .).

Sadly, even with a price tag of a mere $320k, I cannot figure how we would swing it, as it is currently uninhabitable, chock full of lead paint and dust, roof leaking everywhere, and has no working plumbing, electric, or anything else, really. So, I think we would need about $200k to replace everything that's broken, and it could go well over that. Oh, and did I mention that the purchase price would have to be paid in cash? Financing is not an option when the house is falling apart. Alas, I will have to love it, pure and chaste, from afar. Anyway, here it is:

You see what I mean? A huge 6500 square feet in the main house, it has held up pretty well for 200 years, I'd say. That tower part in the front was added after the house had been around for a few years. I am not sure when, though. There is a staircase that climbs to the top of it with a perfectly charming room up there, which we thought Isaac would like. There are slave quarters right behind the house with a huge fireplace, which I would convert into an outdoor kitchen. Then the outhouse is behind that, with a female side and a male side and four seats on each. Crazy, right? The house is all boarded up now, and locked down tight. Except for one door with a lock box whose code may or may not be really easy to guess for two people with a sense of adventure. We drove out just to see it and walked the property and may or may not have gained access to the inside where I may or may not have fallen even more deeply in love. Woodwork and criss-cross patterned windows and hardwood, oh my. There are a couple of sets of stairs and it is built in the old style, with no hallways, but rooms that just go one to the next. I can close my eyes and imagine Civil War soldiers tromping through with their boots on. Unbelievable. I have a moveable feast, now I have accessed this gem that seems to have been forgotten.

Family Trip to Port Discovery

2010-04-09T02:28:00.000-07:00

Isaac and I enjoyed going to this amazing childrens' museum so much with his school, we bought a pass and visited as a family. We will definitely be returning soon! Enjoy these pictures as I play rapid-fire-blog-post-catchup and make up for three months of not posting:They have a VW beetle in the marketplace section that you can fill up at the gas station and explore throughout.

The water play area was an instant hit.

Potty Trained!

2010-04-03T04:34:00.000-07:00

Brody is finally done with potty training. Holy cow, he was the hardest one yet. But he did it! And I am grateful and proud. And so relieved. And so glad not to have to buy diapers for him. And so so so glad that I do not have to hold my tongue while cleaning dirty pants and looking heavenward hoping to be delivered from poop forever.

Easter

2010-04-03T02:36:00.000-07:00

Easter was wonderful this year. The kids are really starting to get the point as we discuss the historical and spiritual significance of the holiday. We love the opportunity to bear testimony of our Savior and recognize his sacrifice.

Here we are, heading out for our egg hunt. We did not win the White House lottery, so we hunted eggs in the forest near our home.

We emptied some eggs by poking holes in the top and bottom and blowing the yokes out. Then we painted them and hung our ornaments on the bushes outside.
Yay for signs of spring! All the bulbs I planted when we lived here before have begun to pop their smiling faces up and it is so fun to see after so much snow this winter.

I couldn't resist when I was basket shopping and saw this Rainbow Brite doll at the store. . . she was my fave as a kid, and Gigi watches old shows online.

Sweet Baby

2010-04-02T04:50:00.001-07:00

Tristan is almost eight months old. And I get tired of hearing myself say it, but I cannot believe how fast the time has gone. Even though babies do it faster than anyone else, their growth is just a marvel to me. Our little baby son is a pure joy to our family. He has THE goofiest grin I have ever seen: all teeth and dimples. I cannot imagine a cuter baby. But I think I've said that before.

Cherry Blossom Festival

2010-04-02T02:50:00.000-07:00

We got together with some dear friends from Ann Arbor who now live in Northern VA to attend D.C.'s annual cherry blossom festival. In theory, it was a great idea. In practice, I will not be repeating this little adventure again anytime soon. While it was great to get together with friends, Dirk was working, and without him to help corral/carry/coax children with me, it is a miracle we all made it back home alive. My normally energetic children were tired of walking after about fifteen seconds and only wanted food I did not have. Our fatal error was probably beginning at the Smithsonian's Air and Space museum with a plan to walk from there to the Basin. There were SO many people (maybe Good Friday wasn't the best choice of days?), swarms of people, oodles and loads and herds of people. But we went. We survived. And here are the photos to prove it:

Sitting around the Tidal Basin. The cherry trees are really breathtaking here, as they line the Basin almost all the way around. Jeez, they are cuties. Looking at this picture makes me glad we did this.
The Lincoln Memorial.
The Washington Monument.
Lunch and Frisbee on The Mall.
My thoughts exactly; let's go hooooooooome!
This is the view out my bedroom windows right now. I love the seasons of the East!
Our very own cherry blossom festival. Our whole neighborhood has these trees everywhere, and the kids and I love it when the wind blows the blossoms in little warm snow flurries all around us. Spring is magical.

Port Discovery

2010-03-23T04:29:00.000-07:00

Baltimore has the coolest childrens' museum ever. I accompanied Isaac on a field trip there with his Kindergarten class. I like doing this whenever I can, because I get to interact with him in his school world and watch him interact with his little buddies. I have a lot of respect for teachers!

Boston/NYC

2010-03-21T18:34:00.000-07:00

We took a quick there-and-back trip up to Boston to see my brother-in-law Joel graduate with his Master's degree from Tufts. Boston is a cool old town! We didn't see too much, because our trip was short, but we did go to this cool church for Joel's fancy graduation. On a side note, everyone clapping for the grads was so disappointingly composed, we really whooped it up when it was Joel's turn. I hope we didn't embarrass him. If that didn't do it, though, the goldfish smashed into the floor surely would have.
We also went to the Old North Church of Paul Revere fame and I recited as much of The Midnight Ride I could remember.

The other highlights of the trip were our visits to the U.S.S. Constitution and the U.S.S. Cassin Young. We had so much fun touring these ships. Becca and Joel took pictures for us because we ran out of batteries in the camera. I'll post those when they send them. The kids did really well in the car. Brody had the hardest time. He just loves to move and a five-point harness cannot be comfortable for a two-year-old.

On our way home, we drove through Manhattan on our way to the Statue of Liberty. Isaac had been studying symbols of freedom in school and we told him we'd stop and see it on our trip. He was totally enamored of the city. He kept pointing out buildings and saying "Take a picture of that one!" We have about a hundred of these pictures of buildings, taken out of the sunroof.
Lots of work going on at Ground Zero.
We rode the ferry to Staten Island.
I think when I was younger, and without children, and not driving, I would have loved the energy of the city. It was Sunday evening and cool and everyone was out. But I felt a bit claustrophobic by all the tall buildings and I just kept thinking strange things like, "Where do all these people buy things like beds and toothpaste?" "Where does their trash all go?" "How long can this small bit of land possibly maintain all these people?" Deep, I know.
It took us forever to get through traffic, but I think I got pretty good at what Dirk calls "combat driving." And the city was beautiful from the ferry. Just beautiful.
Lady Liberty was pretty too.
We had time to kill while waiting for the ferry on both ends and the kids ran around taking pictures of everything.

Brody-man and I have been at odds lately. I think between the potty training and the pesky habit of crawling into my bed at four a.m. and asking me to make him breakfast, we have been having trouble seeing eye-to-eye. He also likes to punch me and kick me in the shins when he is upset. As feisty as he is, though, he is so charming! He sometimes hugs and kisses me spontaneously and says, "I love you so much, Mommy!" And he loves his siblings and his cars and his trains with such passion and energy. And his eyes are round enough and blue enough to convince me that he is guileless and that he will not always be two.

I joined a CSA.

2010-03-04T10:49:00.001-08:00

I sure did. That's community sponsored agriculture, also called a food co-op. After reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, and talking to my friend Melissa in San Diego, I was sold on the concept. Basically, you get together with some friends and you each pay some money to get produce each week based on what crops are plentiful and in season (except we are big cheaters and our supplier has agreements with some international folks and we get bananas and stuff. I have guilt about this, because one of the main reasons is to support local farmers, but sometimes getting started is the most important thing. I figured for my first time, I wouldn't be too fussy.)

So, my first week was this week. For my $10 half share, I got 5 sweet potatoes, four turnips, two beets, six zucchini, 8 bananas, 20 oz. of spinach, 8 tomatoes, two bags of carrots and a bunch of apples, oranges and minneolas. I think there was more, but I cannot remember. Isn't that fun?

All my menus have been focused on how to not let any of that goodness go to waste. I used the turnips in beef stew at my sister's suggestion, and they were tasty!

The beets were another matter entirely. I happened upon this recipe for beet hummus and gave it a try. It wasn't inedible, but it did taste like beets. And hummus. Which was disconcerting because I really like hummus, and really don't like beets. Dirk ate it. Having a Dirk in a situation such as this is extremely handy because he will eat almost anything, especially if it seems like it should be healthful, and he hates to waste food. If I get beets again, I think I will explore other options, like making ink with them. They have a very pretty color. Or maybe I could boil them and mash them up to feed to the baby. He eats anything, just like his dad. My friend also sent me a recipe for beet bundt cake. If pressed, I suppose I will try that. If I ever get a juicer, I could use them there. My brother-in-law makes juice with beets in it and it tastes good.

With the zucchini and sweet potatoes, I made a delicious hash with some kielbasa thrown in. Oh, so good. The spinach became seafood lasagna. The best part of this thing so far is that it has caused a menu shakeup for me. I had all but lost my desire to cook, but now I have to look at my supply and then go hunt a recipe that uses as much of it as possible. So, I think I will start posting some of the recipes that have worked out so that I can remember them, and maybe inspire someone else to go the co-op route.

I keep telling her to stop, but . . .

2010-03-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

she keeps growing up. Way too fast. I registered her for Kindergarten today. Lord help me. I am ready, but I am not. All I can think about is my teeny tiny baby who let me dress her however I wanted. The one I always called Thumbelina because she seemed impossibly small, even though she was a perfectly average birthweight. The child who, for years, screamed and sobbed if I left her sight, is now getting ready to head off to school for six hours a day. How did this happen?

She seems excited, but she told me today that we needed to go shopping because the kids at school (six months from now) will definitely be nice to her if she has beautiful clothes. What? I promise I haven't taught her this.

Moved

2010-02-23T06:15:00.000-08:00

We are all moved into our old townhouse and I am overflowing with ideas of how to update it. It's just too bad I am not also overflowing with cash to do so! Anyway, the move went great. We are grateful that Dirk's dad Gerald was along for the drive in the moving van to keep Dirk company and to keep Dirk awake! The kids all did amazingly well on the flights from Vegas to Baltimore. I was just giddy about having no meltdowns the whole time; me or them. I think the dum-dums helped, and all the airline staff who were so generous and patient with a mother traveling with four small children. Gerald stayed on for a week to help us and spend time with the kids. They love their grandparents. He read Book of Mormon stories to them every night and listened patiently to all of their made up stories and news. We are so happy to be in our own place again, but miss Grandma Ellen too.

Presidents' Day

2010-02-15T06:14:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be fun to take the kids to see Mt. Vernon to celebrate today. It was fun, but still cold and snowy. I definitely appreciate the place more in the spring, when everything is blooming and cool and green. But, we loved meeting George Washington (who looked strangely familiar to Dirk and me . . . does anyone else recognize him?) and seeing the animals and the new museum exhibit. Plus, I enjoyed sharing some American history with my chickadees. Isaac loved hearing about the Revolutionary War and the crossing of the Delaware.

Dirk was really interested in the smokehouse.

Valentine's Cookies

2010-02-14T15:28:00.000-08:00

I finally gave in to my children's holiday cookie pleadings. I am ashamed of myself, but I am really annoying when it comes to baking holiday cookies. We have had this huge box of cookie cutters in every shape that you can imagine since before I was married; a gift from my mother. The kids have always wanted to break them out, but I never let them because there are all kinds of nooks and crannies in the shapes and I don't want to clean them. And don't get me started on the frosting and sprinkles. This cookie bit is not a holiday tradition I have enjoyed at all over the years because it is such a lot of work. No more! This time, they mixed, they measured, they rolled, and they cut with anything they wanted -- not even holiday-related! They made as many frosting colors as they could dream up. And you know what? It was actually kind of fun, and the cleanup was just a normal messy cleanup. I hope I haven't stifled their creativity so much that there is no going back. I hope that the memories they have don't include me sneaking off to mix and roll and then call them one by one to cut out their allotment ("Cut them out close together! We don't want to reroll it more times than necessary!") Eeegads. I hope I have made up for this cookie thing in other ways.

My Last Snow Post -- I Promise!

2010-02-12T07:45:00.000-08:00

We made "snow cream" with a big bowl of snow, a cup of sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla, and a can of evaporated milk (only I just had regular milk -- I think it would have been better with canned). Thanks Becky for the recipe!

We made paper snowflakes and hung them above our pretty bay window.

Before the snow really got going and the kids could move outside without getting buried, Isaac made a snowman on the deck table. I think he looks like Jabba the Hut.

The Dark Side of the Snow

2010-02-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

As much fun as we've been having, I can certainly recognize the negatives of uncharacteristic precipitation.

Here is our deck before:

And after a bit of snow:

And after a whole lot more snow:

And here is our neighbors' deck after, totally collapsed:

Yikes.

We lost power the first day of the big storm, but it was fine. Dirk pitched a tent in the living room to help kids stay warm and fired up the propane stove. It was an adventure and power was returned within 24 hours. However, many people out here lost power for a week or more. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have had these kinds of expensive, inconvenient, and sometimes dangerous troubles.

Snowpocalypse

2010-02-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

Snow-staters, prepare for the irresistible urge to start rolling your eyes and marveling at the profound wussiness of residents of our nation's capital and its surrounding areas:

We have had an historic week of snow here on the East Coast (is that supposed to be capitalized? I can never remember. I could look it up, but I would prefer someone just tell me.) Honestly, I have never seen anything like it, and I was here for the last big one, in 2003. Our county seems to have got the most in Maryland, too. I couldn't resist snapping lots of pictures. The kids and I have been absolutely loving it, though I try not to say that too loud because Marylanders can be cantankerous. I accidently mentioned what a fun week we were having to the cashier at Costco as I was stocking up in between snowstorms and a lady behind me said loudly that if her kids didn't go back to school she was going to kill one of them. Someone else reminded me how much this is all costing the State (capitalized? No? Somebody help me.) I am trying to be sensitive to that fact, but my kids are really at an age they can enjoy the white stuff. Remember, we arrived here from the desert, thinking we'd missed winter this year. Surprise!

Dirk and I are pretty tired of shoveling snow, but Brody isn't! He likes to destroy our little mountains and push the snow back onto the driveway. He thinks it is a game. To be fair, Dirk errs on the side of macho and the only shoveling I did was when I could sneak away and work while he was otherwise occupied. It's great exercise.

When we started reading the forecasts for, no kidding, "potentially paralyzing" weather, we went out to buy sleds and snow shovels. Sold out! Remember, we just moved here not three weeks ago. We borrowed a shovel from our neighbor and used our boogie board as a sled. I am proud to report that it was among the fastest on the neighborhood sledding hill.

This has been the only time I took Tristan out. It was the day after the blizzard and the weather was warmish and the snow was melting.

Luckily, we had recently visited our family in Utah and they had given us a bunch of hand-me-down boots. We would have been lost without these.

Bowling with the Burnhams

2010-01-04T10:21:00.000-08:00

We had a surprise party for Gideon while visiting the Burnhams and afterward, we all went bowling.

I love this expression on Gwendolyn. She lost interest in bowling pretty fast when it became clear that getting all the pins knocked down was tricky.

Bessa was great about helping all my kids bowl, especially while I was tied up with diaper changing, etc. And Brody was good about helping Bessa help everybody else.

New Year's Trip

2010-01-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

Before moving out to Maryland, my mom and I took the kids up to Utah to see family. Dirk flew in to hang out with us for the weekend. I didn't have my camera out enough, as usual, but here are the highlights we documented:

The first order of business was sledding, and lots of it. I don't know when I have had so much fun.

Gwendolyn

Joel, Emma, Omijo, Gwendolyn

Bessa

Hannah

Isaac and Gideon

The girls did makeovers on each other.

Joel has the best hats. This one was so hot, though, it made my head sweat.

Las Vegas Temple

2009-12-28T12:31:00.000-08:00

We took the kids to romp around (reverently) at the temple before church a couple of weeks ago. It is still so nice here and we thought it would be a good way to get in the mood for church and not be rushing around at the house right before church. I am not totally sure it worked. The temple was of course beautiful, but we were still late to church and I found myself hurrying after the kids everywhere trying to shush them so they wouldn't interrupt the various youth groups meeting there on the grounds. The second picture captures the mood perfectly. Dirk is trying to take a happy family picture while I am probably saying something like, "Would you PLEASE get your dirty feet/sticky fingers/drooly face off my skirt??"

Christmas in Henderson

2009-12-25T02:24:00.000-08:00

It was so fun to spend the Christmas season with my mom. She is usually not one to fuss over decorating and such, especially while living alone, so we got her a tree and decked her halls appropriately. The beautiful spirit of Christmas is even better with little childrens' excitement.Tristan is ready for Christmas pancakes.
Santa had a real time trying to find Gwendolyn's Pegasus. In the end, he fashioned some homemade ones out of purple lamé fabric, boning, and glitter paint. Well done, Santa.
After breakfast, we rode bikes to the park and Isaac got to try out his new bow and arrow.
Brody went down a steep hill on his scooter and stayed on it the whole way down. This child has oodles of natural athleticism.
This is Gigi's tough face after she fell down attempting a similar maneuver on Brody's scooter.

I wish I had more pictures of the day -- it was just wonderful.

Christmas Recital

2009-12-15T08:24:00.000-08:00

For Gigi's ballet recital, her class did a dance to "Do You Hear What I Hear." It was lovely. We had a near disaster when she found herself up in front of a big crowd without her little lamb prop, but I ran it up to her just in time and all was well. It is so fun to watch the children get into their own hobbies and interests. She was so brave and did a great job.

An Update

2009-12-03T15:39:00.000-08:00

Good grief, my life is flying past me. I went to Jazzercise last night, my second class ever and it is really fun (I realize I may have just solidified my nerdiness), but I just kept thinking, "I could really do these moves better if she would just slow down a tiny bit!" This is how I have been feeling about life in general lately. I suppose I am mostly to blame for the pace, though, so I should just do my best and be grateful, even if I jiggle and don't look like J.Lo. I think this metaphor has gone too far, but you get the idea.

Anyway . . . Dirk's security clearance came through finally and he has a signed offer and is headed to D.C. on Monday to start his job in Maryland doing top secret fancy computer stuff. Very exciting, right? So, he will be commuting back and forth for the next few weeks until our tenants move out of our townhouse in Maryland and we can all move in. Yikes! We will all spend Christmas here and then we will crisscross the country for what feels like the millionth time on what promises to be a fun-filled, snow-filled road trip. I should be thrilled. I AM thrilled. But to be honest, I have started making some good friends here, I have loved getting closer to my mom, and living on the cheap sort of grows on you. . . especially the rent-free part. Henderson is really a fantastic place, except for the occasional extreme heat, but that just doesn't happen very often. So, even though I am happy to be contemplating being an adult again, I am sad to leave.

And what am I most looking forward to, you might ask? Well, I will tell you. I am most looking forward to remodeling and decorating our house out east so we can someday sell it for lots of money. New floors? Definitely. New kitchens and baths? A girl can hope. I have never really, really decorated a house before, but I know I have it in me; I just know it. So I am becoming a student of fabulous ideas so I can turn our oldish, blah house into a home that I like to look at. That's it. May the force be with me.

German Pancakes

2009-12-01T21:28:00.000-08:00

***OOPS!! I typed up the recipe wrong the first time! It should have been one cup of milk, not 1/2 cup. It's correct now.

My wonderful sister Rebecca always made these for us growing up. I finally called her and successfully got the recipe! I don't think she means to be engaging in a misinformation campaign, but I think she is secretly and maybe subconsciously protecting her title as Best Cook Ever by leaving out details here and there of her delicious recipes, but this one was right on. The most important thing is to do these in the blender; they need the air.

First, preheat the oven to 450 and put your glass 9 x 13 into the oven with 2 tablespoons of butter so that the butter will melt while you prepare the batter. Then, into the blender, put:

6 eggs
1 c. milk
1 c. flour
1 t. salt
2 T. melted butter

Blend 'em up very well, for maybe 45 seconds. Then bake in your 9 X 13 for about 15 minutes. They will get all big and puffy. Be ready to eat them as soon as they are done . . . that is when they are tastiest!

Reading with Gigi

2009-11-10T13:10:00.000-08:00

Teaching this girl to read is a hoot. She is very interested, but can drag things out impressively, because she is very easily distracted. Here is a conversation we just had:

Gigi: "llllliiiiiiiiiiicccccck. Lick! Lick me mom. Okay then, I'll lick you. (Rubbing my arm after the licking) It's like lotion! A little bit. Not very.

WAS. WAS goes to jail. That silly WAS is not following the rules. I can make a jail for that naughty WAS with my fingers and he cannot get out no matter what. Look, you can't even see him anymore. He's sleeping in his jail now.

K, k, k, k, Come on, mom, see if you can say this faster than me.

Rock. (curling into a ball) I'm a rock. Hit me and you'll see. C'mon! Hit me! Did it hurt your hand?"

And on and on and on. It is a good thing I am not in any hurry. Oh, and she calls periods 'stop dots' and she won't let me hold the book!

Excellent Birthday

2009-11-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

It was a banner year here for me! Dirk made me my favorite breakfast: grits and eggs. But he doctored the grits with Parmesan cheese, sharp cheddar, jalapeños and goodness knows what else. They were the best grits I have ever had. Someday, children will sing songs in the streets about these grits. They will be served to kings (um . . . the grits, not the children). That is, if he is ever able to reproduce them. I think he took a 'little of this, little of that' approach. Anyway, I will move on, for those of you not as passionate as I about this great cuisine of the South. Incidentally, isn't there a festival for just about every kind of food somewhere in this country? I'd like to sign Dirk up for the next grits festival. Moving on.

Dirk took the kids out shopping (while I lounged around luxuriously and read a book) and each got me something special that they thought I would like. So sweet! That meant: nail polish from Gigi, peanut butter M&Ms from Isaac, lip gloss from Brody. Then Dirk gave me the best gift ever, which was a bunch of pictures of all of us that he had edited to black-and-white and worked other magic with that I cannot fathom and put in a sleek black frame for me. It was something I had been wanting for awhile. I used the bacon grease from breakfast to make some roasted butternut squash risotto for dinner. Yum!

In the evening, we painted our toes, the boys helping by choosing the colors and my mom took us out for Nielsen's Frozen Custard (which should also be sung about and served to kings).

Oh, and the pictures! They slaved away in the office doing their top secret birthday cards.

Overall, I think we had enough fun (and saturated fat) to last us 'til Christmas. Thanks, little family. Best birthday ever.

Halloween

2009-10-31T16:02:00.000-07:00

I volunteered to help out at Isaac's Christmas party at school. It was fun to see all the cuties dressed up. I made these eyeballs for the kids. You can find the recipe here.

I made Isaac a fruit bat costume. I accidentally called him batman and he was quick to correct me. He also asked that I make him a label to avoid further confusion. I am pretty sure this was all inspired by Stellaluna.

Okay. From the front he was cute enough. But Brody-as-a-giraffe was impossibly cute from the back.

Tristan was also a giraffe. But Brody kept calling him a cow.

At our ward's trunk-or-treat. Gigi was so excited to finally able to don her Tinkerbell costume.

Kung Fu Panda (Gigi's latest obsession) and some kind of fire-breathing dragon (for such a sweet and gentle kid, Isaac's interests tend toward the macabre). Brody was asleep during pumpkin carving and I was in the bathtub. We never knew what we'd missed.

Road Trip -- Part 1

2009-10-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

We recently completed a road trip to Houston, Texas, to celebrate Dirk's sister's wedding. It was lots of fun, and went amazingly smoothly, considering the number of small people involved. Our first night, we stayed with friends in Phoenix. It was so nice to see the Bennett's! The kids all reconnected right away.

Brody and Claire had fun on the water table.

Isaac and Charlie really enjoyed playing Charlie's video games. Clever Charlie convinced Isaac that the lemmings would only work when Charlie was playing, so Isaac did a lot of watching. He asked me if we could get a lemmings game that would obey him, too.

Gwendolyn and Jack

Brody found the idea of tricycles in the house novel and wonderful.

Thanks, Bennetts!

2009-10-26T09:52:00.001-07:00

Millionaire Women Next Door: The Many Journeys of Successful American Businesswomen by Thomas J. Stanley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was very interesting and inspiring. Someone had recommended The Millionaire Next Door to me, but my library didn't have it in, so I got this one. I think his title including the word "millionaire" gives the impression that perhaps he is going to preach about chasing wealth and getting rich, which is not at all the case. He profiles the conservative and hardworking behaviors and lifestyles of people who are actually financially independent and contrasts that with what symbols society usually interprets as denoting wealth. He is heavy on the statistics, which tends to make my eyes glaze over a bit, but it definitely lends validity to the conclusions he draws. I am inspired this week to finish up my budget for the year and make some savings and investing goals, so I would say it was a very successful read.

View all my reviews >>

2009-10-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow. There is something magical about a book that takes about 100 pages to even get interested in (and made me a little cranky in the trying), then suddenly becomes a neglect-your-kids-and-stay-up-too-late-reading kind of book. I actually woke up this morning and was so sad that I was finished.

I don't even know how it happened. One day I'm complaining about it, the next I am irritated with my husband for interrupting my reading to ask where I'm keeping the diapers these days. So confident is Dickens that he will capture you eventually, but completely, he doesn't work too hard at the initial hook. AND, I knew the ending about 80 pages before it happened, could see it all clearly, and I still couldn't tear myself away; would in fact read paragraphs twice because they were so good.

I thought his portrayal of the opposite sides of the French Revolution was spot-on, and brilliant. He illustrated perfectly the fact that, when people are so viscously oppressed, their reaction to it, when it finally boils over, will be just as evil.

I know that people say that Dickens is sentimental, but maybe a novel isn't supposed to be so realistic. It is fiction, after all. Maybe it is just as high art if it is beautiful and extravagant as it is if it is beautiful and minimalist or cynical or whatever serious literary people love. This is good stuff. I give it 4-and-a-half stars. No, five. Yes, definitely five, and I am off to read the Scarlet Pimpernel. Amen.

View all my reviews >>

Conversation I just had with Isaac

2009-10-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

Him: Can I play the Wii?
Me: Not today.
Him: What can I do?
Me: I dunno. Use your imagination.
Him: I can't! It's not working today!

List: The Crazy Way My Mom Talks

2009-10-13T16:14:00.001-07:00

My mom was raised in the South, but she moved away when she went off to college and never lived there again. She claims that she never had an accent, but the entire family (who still lives there) speaks with such a thick southern accent that I had trouble understanding them when I was little. I think she just lost the accent years ago. Still, however, she has some kooky pronunciations for things that really crack me up. I am recording them here for posterity.

"redio" for radio

"necked" for naked

"pacifically" for specifically

"awrynte" for alright

"futher" for further or farther

"toe-let" or "commode" for toilet

I am not making fun . . . these little things endear her to me, and she wouldn't be her without them.

My List

2009-10-12T20:55:00.000-07:00

I was having a little bit of a breakdown the other day and happened to be on the phone with a friend on whom I unloaded my stress and anxiety about living with my mother forever, being poor (not in spirit, but the bad kind of poor), raising kids who worry about money the same way I always did, being stuck in the waiting place, and on and on. I am grateful that she comforted me through a few things, and bashful that my brave face cracks so easily.

Anyway, she suggested that I pray about what Heavenly Father might have me do as I wait for our situation to become more permanent. What a concept. Pray? For something specific that I need? Instead of freaking out and wishing we had sent me to law school instead of Dirk? Kidding, there, I promise.

So, here it is, and I am adding to it all the time, since my prayers have not been what they should lately and I am trying to humble myself:

My List of Things To Do While I Wait for My Life to Get Going Again
(If reading this makes you relieved that you are not in my situation, please keep that to yourself. I'm fragile just now.)

Learn Spanish (inspired by my time in the Mother's Lounge on Sunday during the Spanish sacrament meeting and understanding more than I would have thought I would)

Figure out how to start my own property management company and make a plan and a timeline to do so.

Make some efforts at missionary contacts.

Work on Family History (My mom gave us all assignments for the next family reunion).

Learn how to edit my own photos so that I don't have to always ask Dirk to do it.

Work on my menus-by-season for the year.

Read a book about the French Revolution.

Budget.

Draw up some plans for our kitchen remodel for our townhouse in Ellicott City.

Organize my mom's food storage.

Okay, that's it for now. I am also going to go ahead and sign my girl up for dance class because she wants to so much and because the city has really cheap classes and because she needs something of her own outside of the house and because Dirk's security clearance may take another six weeks to process anyway.

He has been offered a job in D.C. that he wants, but is pending his security clearance renewal and meantime he is working on getting an idea of his own off the ground. It's all very exciting and I need and want to suck it up and be patient and all that good stuff (I just replaced another word with "good stuff" -- am really working this evening on my attitude).

Really Gross

2009-10-10T16:45:00.000-07:00

I was sleeping in on Saturday and Brody fell and split his chin. Ouch! My mom convinced Dirk he didn't need stitches. And while I am happy to not be spending the day in the ER, I really think he should have gone. We'll see how it heals up.

Isaac's Birthday Party

2009-09-18T22:16:00.000-07:00

We had a very simple party for Isaac's 6th: fill two hundred water balloons, plan elaborate games for the kids to play with said water balloons, and have them ultimately abandon these games in favor of pummeling Dirk with water balloons. It was great! Then we came inside and made pizzas and had cake. Although, after I saw how much fun they had with the volcano cake, and then playing with the leftover dry ice (carefully supervised and gloved by Dirk, of course), I think next time I will do a mad scientist party instead. I got the cake idea from familyfun.com. It was a huge hit.

When Grandmas Attack!

2009-09-15T22:12:00.000-07:00

Often, as my mom is leaving for work in the morning, Brody runs to her for hugs and kisses. She already has her lipstick on, so this is what he gets.

First Day of School

2009-09-14T21:55:00.000-07:00

Isaac was really ready for the first day of school. He didn't ride the bus this first day, but did the day after that. I was nervous about it, but he was excited. Brody cried when we walked away from the bus stop, as he has several days since, because he wants to ride the bus, too. I answer the question, "Where'd Isaac go?" about three hundred times per day.

Handsome Kid.

Gigi trying on some of Tristan's sleepers. Silly Girl.

Sad Puppy. Yes, that pile of fluff is our dog. And if he is good, I might have him groomed someday soon. But for now, he enjoys doing his impression of a dust mop.

Isaac turns 6

2009-09-13T21:23:00.000-07:00

Our family life is flying past at a rate I am not entirely comfortable with. A short list of things I adore about my first baby:

1. He loves the cartoon classics . . . the black-and-white ones with only music and very rough animation. We stumbled across these at my mom's house and he thought they were the coolest.

2. He is extremely tough and hardly ever cries. But that is not what I love. What I love is the face he makes when he is straining not to cry, and the hurried way he looks for something to distract himself. It is so cute, but when he does this, I feel sick in my stomach, like his time with me as a child is too short and he is already becoming a little man.

3. When he rides his bike fast, sometimes he says, "Mom! It's like I'm flying!" I remember as clear as anything when I was struggling to convince him that I was holding him, that I would not drop him, that riding a bike is the best thrill of a young life, that I knew he could do it. And now I'm crying. Shoot.

4. He loves dessert. He doesn't mind eating pretty healthfully, but he really gets enthusiastic about planning elaborate treats for birthdays, FHE, other kids' birthdays, etc.

5. I loved the look on his face a few weeks ago when he got off the bus after his first day of school. He was beaming about his independence and bubbling over with chatter about all the things I'd missed.

6. Isaac loves his peeps: grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings. If they are related, they're in.

7. He says "pampcakes" for pancakes, and he always mixes up tomatoes and potatos. They are the only leftover language mistakes from his little years, and I love them.

For his birthday, he wanted to be Emperor for the Day. This meant choosing everything we ate and did. I had to trick him into choosing to have us all go to church, and a couple of other mandatories, but otherwise, it was all him. He decided we should have pancakes for breakfast, with faces built on them using all manner of processed sugar items.

Opening presents!

We threw a small birthday party the following weekend, which I will post next, but for our family, I made this cake. It was tasty; layered with thin layers of chocolate brownie and chocolate pannacotta, then wrapped with dark chocolate and topped by Isaac with canned cream (his favorite; the cake was all my idea but I convinced him that it was his by suggesting he might, as Emperor, want a cake that would go perfectly with canned cream. It worked easily, and I gained great insight into world politics) If you have lain awake long nights trying to figure out a way to get the absolute maximum amount of chocolate into a cake, then this is the one for you. I will post the recipe some time soon.

That yellow thing in the pitcher off to the side was Dirk and Isaac's attempt at a parfait, because "there ain't nobody ever said they don't like no parfait," and my boys are no exceptions.

Hawaiian Festival

2009-09-12T20:46:00.000-07:00

The City of Henderson has done it again. We went to a really cool festival which included lots of little shops and food stands, Polynesian dancing, bounce houses, and water fun. It was right in downtown Henderson and extremely well attended. The dancing was my favorite. It was so hot, though; the kids' favorite part was cooling off in the city's fountain. There was also a Japanese Doll exhibit in one of the buildings, so we ducked in there to see it and cool off in the air conditioning.

See? Rogaine really does work!

All of the dancing was amazing, but these guys stole the show.

All the kids were loving the water element.

Cathedral Rock

2009-09-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

At about a month old, Tristan and I were ready to get out of the house. Risking ticks and whatever other perils the forest holds, we fearlessly ventured up to Cathedral Rock at Mt. Charleston here in Vegas. What a fun time we had, climbing around on the rocks and enjoying the incredible weather. We drove through a tiny little town, more like a settlement, and dreamed of what little shop we might open there to escape the world. They even had a library, though there were only a handful of houses and the main street was dirt. I forgot to take pictures of the quirky little place, so we'll have to go back soon. We had a picnic lunch, and Brody couldn't stop stuffing small rocks in his pockets.

Zucchini Recipe #2

2009-09-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

Disappearing Zucchini and Whole Wheat Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

This bread is insanely good. No kidding. The children will sing songs in the streets about this bread. Probably because of those secret addictive chemicals they put in lemon pudding.

4 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 3.4 oz. package instant lemon pudding mix
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
4 eggs
1 1/4 c. milk
1 c. oil
3 T. lemon juice
1 t. lemon extract
2 c. shredded zucchini
1/4 c. poppy seeds
2 t. lemon zest

This is a basic quick bread: mix the wet stuff separate from the dry stuff. Combine and don't mix it up too much. Makes two loaves. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes in 9x5x3 inch loaf pans. Do we really need lemon extract? What do we do if we don't have lemon pudding mix? Good questions, all. But Deb made it, and it was the best stuff ever, so I am not going to mess with the process. Happy baking.

Zucchini Recipe #1

2009-09-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

Whole Wheat Zucchini Brownies
(brought to us by my wonderful sister Deborah)

½ c. cocoa
2 c. whole white wheat flour
1 ½ c. sugar
1 t. salt
1 ½ t. baking soda
2 c. shredded zucchini drained
½ c. oil
2 t. vanilla
½ c. chopped nuts

Sift together dry ingredients. Combine zucchini and oil, blend with dry ingredients. Add vanilla and nuts. Mix well. Spread in greased 11x15 in. cookie sheet
(batter will be very thick). Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

*Optional Frosting*

1 c. sugar
5 T butter or margarine
1/3 c. milk
6 oz package chocolate chips

Mix together sugar, butter, and milk. Boil 1 min.
Stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Spread on
cooled brownies.

*I never bother with frosting. I think it is better to sprinkle good chocolate chips over the top of uncooked brownies. They sink in a bit when baking and they harden for a delectable texture contrast if these brownies make it to the second day. 'Tis finally the season for Costco to carry Ghiradelli chocolate chips again. Stock up while you can, they disappear in January!

Tristan's Baby Blessing

2009-09-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

Dirk blessed our sweet boy on Sunday. Uncle Doug and kids, and the Herrons came down for the big event, which was so wonderful. It was a weekend of great food and fun time with family. We missed Aunt Shannon and Hannah, who both had to work.

Sammy, Adam, Naomi, Dirk, Ben, Isaac, Grandma Ellen, Tristan, Brody, Gigi, Aunt Deb

Since Isaac and Josh's birthdays were only a week away, we had a mini party for them on Sunday afternoon, using Deb's now-famous Disappearing Zucchini and Whole Wheat Brownies. You would not believe how tasty these treats were, especially considering the name!

Rebekah with Pippin, who used to be her family's dog, and who she misses very much.

Gigi and Brody, who lately have become quite good friends, which makes a mother very happy.

Our family with the Averys: Jared, Josh, Doug, Jake, Rebekah, and Abigail.

Aunt Deb whips up her lemon poppy seed whole wheat zucchini bread -- amazing. Deb brought a bunch of zucchini from her garden and we put it all to good use.

Ouch!

2009-09-06T13:21:00.000-07:00

We went to an outdoor concert here in Henderson on Friday night. It was a fun cover band who didn't take themselves too seriously. And, it rained lightly, which in the desert is pure magic every time. We were all having a great time, but the kids got antsy, so I took them to a lawn behind the seat and let them run around and dance. Ox got into running a loop on a cement wall that went the perimeter of the triangular lawn area. I was marveling at the athleticism it took for him to run and leap up to a higher wall at the corner. Then, he switched directions and what was an impressive leap up became a dangerous leap down and he fell badly. I saw the whole thing and I tell you it gave me nightmares. I grabbed him, blood all over, and my mom rushed us all home so Doctor Dad could fix him up. He was such a tough champ. This picture was taken three days later.

If you are breastfeeding . . .

2009-08-31T22:34:00.000-07:00

you must get these: myposhpads.com

No kidding. They are awesome.

Those pictures I promised.

2009-08-12T22:31:00.000-07:00

With cousins Harley and Shelby.

With cousin Harley.

Announcing . . .

2009-08-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

We are so happy to welcome our baby boy here! He is perfect. It was rather a surreal experience to have a baby where I went to have my smashed ring finger fixed up after a bicycle accident twenty years ago. The hospital was great. Baby and I are both healthy and recovering well. Stand by for more pictures than you could ever want of my little family. I can't stop snapping photos of this little angel.

Update

2009-07-29T22:48:00.001-07:00

This is an aerial shot of my still pregnant belly, taken while I watch the kids play at the water park here in Henderson. I keep forgetting to have Dirk take belly photos, so this is how I amuse myself when I have time on my hands.

So, for those of you who are interested, we are now staying with my mother in Henderson, Nevada. I still haven't had the baby (due on Monday, and I have NEVER gone early, so this is no great surprise, nor any great disappointment, since taking a newborn to the pool is not realistic, and spending time away from the pool in this heat is no more so). Dirk hasn't found a job yet, though he is working on many things and we are hopeful something wonderful happens in the next couple of months. We are so grateful to have my mom, who has generously opened up her home to us and somehow made it seem like we are doing her a favor, and who found me the best OB/GYN I have ever had. And we are grateful for friends who keep in touch and help us feel connected to the world we know.

Remember that time you lost your wedding ring?

2009-07-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

Just before we left San Diego, we had crazy fun at a "one last beach day." It was such a dizzying time that Dirk forgot to tie his wedding ring to his swim shorts, as is his habit, and it slipped right off while he was boogie boarding in the ocean. This all happened the day before our seventh anniversary, which we both forgot until we were on our way home from church, and I don't want to think about what all that might mean about seven year itches and such. Too busy to analyze. Here are some pix of the day.

Pool Pass=Desert Survival

2009-07-24T22:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you who know how much I dislike Las Vegas, I have to say this: it is not as bad as I thought it would be! Turns out, all you need is a pool pass and a breeze. My kids have become little fishes. Ox went down the big windy slide at least ten times today, and both older ones are swimming across the width of the pool completely unassisted. Since arriving in Henderson to stay with my mom, we have hosted a steady stream of visiting aunts and cousins, and it has been a blast. I'll never forget what my 10-year-old nephew Sammy said to me the first day we got ready to go swimming. He looked at my belly and said, "I wonder if you'll float." I don't notice a difference with the floating, but it is so refreshing to be in the cool water when the temp is 110 plus.

Ox, being his fishy self.

New favorite cousin: Ben. He tickles, can do anything on the Wii, and is strong enough to toss children into the air. They never tire of him.

Cutest pout ever. No idea what she was grumpy about, but this face almost never happens when Gigi is near a pool. She loves it!

I have got to hand it to the City of Henderson. Their parks and rec department is top notch. I have never seen its equal. This is a water park that is completely free and open every day.

Emma, Gigi, and Pippin sacked out for the night.

Gigi snuggling her cuz Omijo on the couch.

Fourth of July

2009-07-04T23:24:00.000-07:00

Our fun and busy Fourth included our ward picnic and show in the morning (wonderful music and readings from our country's history and founding); Primary kids sang "Yankee Doodle" and waved their little flags like they meant it. Yogurt at Del Mar Swirls after lunch, and fireworks in the evening.

Camping with the Bedellios

2009-07-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

What fun times my children have had with our dear friends camping! Here are some pictures of their latest trip to Burnt Rancheria, near Pine Valley. Wherever we ultimately end up, we hope these trips can continue. And, if I am ever again not pregnant or nursing or taking care of an under two-year-old, I might even join them. Oh, I know babies can camp, but I am terribly fond of sleep and hiking around without thirty pounds of Precious on my back and my parenting-of-babies strategies all involve electricity. Call me a wimp. Now do it to my face.

We call these three the triplets, because Gigi and the twins are born just one day apart and can entertain each other for hours, especially if mud is involved.

It must be some sort of camping directive: Boys who camp with their fathers shall be allowed and encouraged to poke at fire with sticks.

This trip was the debut of the zip line . . .

. . . it was also the debut of the rule, "All campers shall wear helmets when riding the zip line." Poor Andy collided with a tree on one of his trips down. How this happened I still do not really understand, but I know his dad caught it when he got home.

First Trip to the Dentist

2009-06-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

I am ashamed of myself, but until now, my children had never been to a dentist. Considering I was ten or eleven before I ever went, and Ox is only five, I wasn't feeling totally irresponsible. I think I have been worried about the logistics of a visit, insofar as I have worried about it at all. I took Baby in for his two-year appointment and the doctor suggested taking him in to get him used to the experience and to get a fluoride treatment to protect against cavities. Seemed like a good idea to me, too, and as I was exiting our doctor's office, I beheld a pediatric dentist right across the hall. Imagine! It seemed like a sign, so I walked right in and made the appointment.

Turns out, those hygienists really knock themselves out trying to help your children have a good time, all things considered. It was sort of like a birthday party, with favors and balloons and everything. I think the key is to go to someone who specializes in children's teeth. The dentist was surprised that Ox's mouth was so mature, but I told him he had his first two teeth come in at five weeks and then he understood. Also, it turns out both boys have at some point broken their roots above their front top teeth and therefore will probably lose those before the front bottoms as is usual. He asked me if they had had any big falls in their lives that might have caused this and I asked him if he was joking. Anyway, everyone is perfect, no cavities, and looking forward to December, when we get to go again.

Science Guy

2009-06-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Ox says he wants to be a scientist and an artist (in the evenings) when he grows up. He is always asking to do science experiments. My friend Tiffany loaned us this very cool book . . . great pictures and clear explanations for people like me who would otherwise explain many scientific concepts with a thoughtful pause and, "It's magic!"

In this first one, we made a diver out of a piece of aluminum, a paper clip, some plastitack and a bendy straw (aren't we just like MacGyver?), then put him in a bottle of water. When you squeeze the bottle, the diver magically drops to the bottom of the bottle. Fascinating. I forget why. Magic, I guess.

Then, we did another one where we made bubbles with homemade solution and bubble wands, made out of coat hangers and string wrapped around. This was a hit with all three kids. I now know that adding glycerin or corn syrup to regular soap relaxes the water's surface tension and makes it more elastic, thereby creating a bubble.

Gymnastics

2009-06-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

Ox and Gigi have been doing gymnastics for awhile at the rec center here. They have loved it. I finally remembered the camera on the last day. Unfortunately, Gigi was out of sorts this day and had a tough time getting into it. Usually, she is much happier than this to be tumbling and hand-standing for the world. Even though Baby was not enrolled in the classes, he made good use of the equipment and even demanded his own award ceremony at the end.

Now she's getting the hang of it.

Everyone got gold medals at the end. Except Baby, who stole someone's and jumped up on the podium to take his applause.

We could not have done this without Miss Ashley. Some people have magical powers with children, especially children who are otherwise slow to warm up to new situations. Gigi was nearly in tears at the beginning of every class, and each time, (except this fluke day) Ashley was able to distract her almost instantly and draw her into the group. It meant a lot to me. And it helped Gigi have a great time. She put all her new skills into practice at the park and now she is a little monkey on the bars.

Desert Vacation

2009-06-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

The kids and I met Dirk's brother's family in Indio for a vacation at their time share there. It was so generous of them to invite us, and we had the best time. There was a water park, and my children were suddenly interested in swimming, and how. It was wonderfully rejunvenating. All I need for stress relief is a lazy river! I stayed four days, Dirk came out for one full day, because he was busy with all that boring job stuff. Thanks, Doug and Shannon!

This is the first time Ox has showed interest in truly swimming on his own. I think I have his cousins to thank for that. He and Rebekah were inseparable. He was so proud of himself and said to me, "I LOVE the lazy river! It teaches you to swim because it just carries you right along!"

Doug and Abbigail

I made Gigi wear a life jacket. She reluctantly agreed in the end, but only because it was pink.

This was Baby and me most of the time. We couldn't help it! Everytime we would get on the lazy river, he would snuggle in and fall asleep instantly and I hated to wake him, especially since he NEVER does this sort of thing in real life. Plus, it was quite relaxing. I guess I am getting old, because I would yell at Dirk if he ever splashed me trying to get to the nephews.

Our posh room in the fancy condo.

2009-06-09T21:22:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Troubles

2009-06-05T15:54:00.001-07:00

Gigi has been the strangest sleeper lately. She becomes hysterical as she falls asleep, because she is afraid she will forget everything during the night. Things like, if I promised to paint her nails the next day, or if we are going to preschool, etc. My friend suggested I write things down that she is worried about during our bedtime routine so she wouldn't worry so much. She can draw pictures if she thinks of something when I am not around. It hasn't been perfect, and she still has some weirdness some nights, but I have to say it has become a lot better. The white board got filled up, so I told her it was time to clean it, and she freaked out. We took this picture so we would remember everything we were trying to remember. This obsession has leaked into our whole day, with her asking me at least one thousand times, "Can you remember that?" throughout the day, about the most random things. "I love cheese and chips . . . can you remember that?" "This is a 'c' and I can write it myself . . . can you remember that?" And on, and on.

I took this picture this morning. She was mad at me for something and said, "I'm not going to make you anything special for your birthday and I'm just going to be Daddy's friend forever and ever . . . and can you remember that?" I told her I would rather not remember that, and she became so furious that she hid in my closet, took off her clothes, and distracted herself from her troubles by breaking into my jewelry box. This kid is such a crackup. She mystifies me, and she keeps me on my toes.

Park Pix

2009-06-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

We seem to live at the San Diego parks. There are three within walking distance, and several that we drive to. This is one of the kids' favorites.

"Mommy! Mommmeeeeeee! Wanna swing! Mommmmmeeeeeee!!!!!"

My cutie little half-pint thinks he needs a helmet to ride his stroller. Love that kid.

And these two are best friends. Some days I feel so blessed. Mostly when I first wake up in the morning. Assuming I wake up after 6:30 a.m. Either way, by 4 p.m., I am often ready to lock myself in a closet. But aren't they adorable?

It's Official

2009-06-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

Dirk was sworn in as an attorney today. I didn't get a picture of the ceremony (long story), but here is our family right after, and my children with the stir-crazies after that. Yes. I let them behave this way in public. Turns out, kids really don't care about preserving one's ethics as a lawyer, and keeping perspective in the job market, and whatever else the fancy-robed judge-types talked about long after I had to take Screaming Child outside. They did great, though. It wasn't even as long as sacrament meeting, so they were well prepared.

We are all so proud of you, Dirk! Well done.

Egg and Sausage Casserole

2009-05-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

I made this for recent baby shower brunch and it turned out pretty good. Little warning, though: it is Naughty (captial 'N'). Of course, you could tone it way down by using milk instead of half-and-half, egg whites or egg beaters, and turkey sausage. But I figure, heck, a little saturated fat never hurt anybody. Wait a minute.

2 lbs. sausage
1 loaf cubed whole wheat bread (this is how I justify this dish . . . at least it has fiber, right?
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese (I like Tillamook in the black package)
8 eggs
1 t. dry mustard
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
4 c. half-and-half

Brown the sausage and drain. Break it up onto a 9"x13" casserole dish. Place bread on top of sausage. Mix the rest of the ingredients together, including half the cheese. Pour all over the casserole. Your dish will be very full. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake in the morning for 45 or 50 minutes at 350 or so. Serve piping hot.

Father Son + Gigi Campout

2009-05-29T21:39:00.000-07:00

Husband took older two children and joined Best Friend with his three boys for his stake's father/son campout. When he proposed this idea to me, I was preparing my arguments about how unfair it was, and how sad Gigi would be to be excluded for the first time, just because she isn't a boy. However, hero that he is, he said, "Of course we were planning on taking her no matter what anyone says." I love that husband of mine.

Here is the only picture they took from the trip.

Madsen Bike

2009-05-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

Assuming we stay here in San Diego, which I think would be fun, I need this bike for the beach and the 56 bike trail! Or Dirk does. I am not sure that I can pedal two of my heavy babies in it. Ox is a super biker at this point, but the other two are as yet useless and I long for family bike rides. Wouldn't this one be cool? You can stow all kinds of things in there.

I owe my friend Cara for this info . . . she always has fun random stuff on her blog. I am a big fan of Travel Tuesdays and she is always good for inspiring recipes.

I need carbonation

2009-05-27T14:31:00.000-07:00

I am usually free of strange pregnancy cravings. Sometimes red meat. Sometimes citrus. But lately, I have been jonesing for something sparkling. I never buy the stuff, because I am sure it is terrible for me, but right now, I want it bad. Baby is sleeping. How am I going to make this happen? I am thinking some gingerale. Or orange soda. Ice cold.

Grandma Ellen's Visit

2009-05-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

My mom, along with our longtime family friend, Brenda, came to see us for Memorial Day weekend. We had such a great time! They were so great with the kids, and our youngest especially took to his grandma. They left too soon and we cannot wait for a return visit.

What we've been waiting for . . .

2009-05-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

Rounding out our week of big news, we just found out that Dirk passed the CA bar exam. I'm exhausted from a day of nerves and a surge of thrill and relief. I need to go lie down. Hip hip, HOORAY!

Baby Boy

2009-05-15T07:58:00.001-07:00

I had another ultrasound last night which confirmed we are definitely having another boy. I am excited, the kids are thrilled, and I am looking for the perfect name for my little peanut.

I don't think I have formally announced that I am pregnant, due August 3rd. Since our lease is up in July and we do not know if Dirk will find another job here or if we will have to move elsewhere, I am planning to go to my mom's in July and stay until after the baby is born.

Times like this, I need theme music! I have never been an especially musical person, but I was noticing at Sea World that music has special powers. Stay with me on this one. . . We were watching the Shamu show for about the millionth time; we never tire of those loveable killer whales. And the whales were jumping and splashing and the music was loud and cheesy and I nearly cried, I am ashamed to admit, for about the millionth time.

If I had some good theme music, this uncertain time of our lives would seem like one of those inspirational movies . . . think Rudy, The Hoosiers, etc. You get my drift. Everyone would be rooting for us and we would consider each disappointment as a new reason to get up in the morning and fight like killer whales to save the day. Then, when we conquered, the fans would cry and cheer and buy souvenir cups and popcorn buckets with our cartoon likenesses.

So, now I am collecting suggestions for theme music and boy names.

About that job . . .

2009-05-15T07:53:00.000-07:00

We found out last week that Dirk will be part of a third wave of layoffs at his firm. So, we are on the lookout for another opportunity. I have faith in Heavenly Father to see us through this difficult time, and faith in Dirk to sell his mad skills to someone who can pay lots of money for them. I am trying to keep perspective about the imbalance in our favor of blessings and take advantage of this experience for growth. Please keep us in your prayers!

Padres Game

2009-05-11T15:02:00.001-07:00

Glow-up Light Stick Party

2009-05-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Among my favorite things about kids as they grow are their original ideas. I try to help them make stuff happen as much as I can, to encourage creativity and feel like I am a good mom. Ox has been talking about having a spooky party for some time because of these light sticks we bought at Joann. Well, last night was the big night. We ate ice cream at dusk and then broke them out. They ran around with these things for an hour and a half. I think they would have been going all night if we hadn't finally called bedtime.

Final Birthday Post

2009-04-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

Tired of these yet? Well, too bad! This is my journal as well as your afternoon reading (ha!) and I have to take a moment to document some irresistables about Husband.

1. I still feel, after six plus years, like I hit the jackpot with this guy. Even though he is sometimes stinky.
2. Best dad ever. Which is lucky for me, because I wasn't really thinking about that when we got married.
3. Handsome.
4. Really smart. Big smarty-pants.
5. I trust him completely.
6. He is so humble and interested in improving his weaknesses.
7. Big muscles.
8. The most honest person I know.
9. Loves dark chocolate even more than I.
10. Really loves my cooking. I mean, I can cook, but he acts like no restaurant can match my food.

Happy Birthday!

My little girl

2009-04-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

She is not so little anymore! Ugh. Sometimes I have anxiety about teaching her all the things she needs to know to grow up in this big world. And, now that she is four, the pressure is really on, since I think that is when kids really start remembering stuff. Following are my top ten irresistables about Gigi:

1. She is just such a bright light around here. Almost always happy and lovely and excited about life.
2. She loves her brothers with gusto, even though the little one has developed a hitting problem, she keeps on loving him through the hard times. She really looks up to her big brother.
3. She wants to date and then marry her daddy. Great taste. But he's taken.
4. She can do so much all on her own, but she still thinks she needs me sometimes.
5. Taking naps with her is the best . . . not always very restful, but she is so snuggly and sweet.
6. Gives great hugs and is so affectionate.
7. She has a way of not being overlooked. Wherever she is, and whoever is in charge, she somehow makes herself someone to be noticed.
8. She is crazy good at Memory.
9. She loves to help me cook or clean or organize.
10. Her opinions are almost always firm . . . She has learned to be obedient, but rarely backs down from how she feels about something.
11. (Bonus) She love to dance, and play ring-around-the-rosie, and make up imaginary games and friends. She can draw almost anybody into her make-believe world.

For Gigi's birthday party, we did a princess and knights celebration at the park. Some of the kids even came in costume. I hid treasure bags full of little gemstones and glitter and sequins. When the children arrived, I gave each one of these noble steeds that I made with my trusty sewing machine, anti-pill fleece, sticks, and plenty of hot glue, and I sent them on a quest for their treasures. They used the stuff to decorate little crowns and then they just played and ate pizza and cake. It was simple and fun and perfect. I don't know why I ever stress about these things. They always come together. The one thing I forgot was batteries for the camera, so we got only a couple of pictures before ours ran completely out.

Baby Boy is Two

2009-04-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

April is a month of birthdays for this family, and two is one of my personal faves . . . the child has no expectation, and I can buy any old cake I want for the occasion. This year it was a key lime cheesecake. Yum. We had some friends over and ate and sang and generally made merry to celebrate this cutie chubby boy. Love him. Here are some reasons why:

1. Most contagious laugh ever.
2. Total Daddy's boy. Seriously. He loves me lots, but when Dad is around, I am not even allowed to open up a piece of candy for him.
3. He is already so good at saying "Thank you Mommy!" when I give him something. This is significant, since we were starting to get worried that he would never ever speak. I will say, though, when you have three children, you don't necessarily want those words to start flowing too soon. I can now appreciate that one of the best things about one-on-one time with him is the sweet music of quiet play time.
4. His big tummy is adorable.
5. He hates haircuts even more than his brother at this age. I never thought that was possible.
6. He loves to RUN.
7. He is so independent. He has endless patience for doing things all by himself, even if he has to try and try again.
8. He loves to hold hands. I love this because it is sweet, and because it makes walking in parking lots so much less stressful when I don't have to fight with a child to hold his hand.
9. Just learned to give kisses.
10. He lays his head on your shoulder when you tell him it is time to go to bed . . . even if he isn't really tired yet.

For his birthday, I got him a sand/water table. Terrific mess, but the child loves it so much, it is totally worth it. I caught him "watering" my tomatoes and strawberries with a bucket of sand and had to lay down the law. Otherwise, we have loved it.

Perspective

2009-04-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

Haven't seen my husband in awhile and find myself watching way too much TV.

Have moved bedtime up 45 minutes and now think it is wonderful that the boys share a room so they can entertain each other until they are actually tired.

And yet, I find myself surprisingly cheerful most of the time, because the money keeps on comin', even during this difficult economy. What a blessing!

Have been using my abundant evening time on my big plan to become an avocado farmer. Would also like bees and goats and chickens.

Birthday Conundrum

2009-04-14T22:38:00.000-07:00

The tricky thing about being a mom (unless I am doing it wrong, which is entirely possible) is how that tried and true economic principle of specialization flies right out the window. For example, if event planning is not your thing, you still find yourself putting on events. Ditto with cleaning house, home improvements, teaching jump rope skills (most of my afternoon today . . . I'm still the only jump-roper in the house, despite some really impressive efforts from the kidlets), and coming up with cool science experiments (yesterday afternoon). This is also the reason I think I know so many amazing moms -- they are inspired by their kids to learn new skills. In any case, Gigi's birthday party is right around the corner and I have got to figure this thing out. Please help. It's her first one and she has high hopes. I love me a shindig, I just prefer to bring the food, rather than be in charge of the whole durn thing.

My ideas so far, which I researched painstakingly through the googling-while-watching-The-Office method, include:

Princess and Knights Party -- sort of boring and 'done', but this option includes tiaras, which I'm pretty sure she would be all over. She is as girly as they come, but has mostly boy friends, hence the knights. I could even make it Fairy Princess and Knights, which would incorporate her two great loves: crowns and wings.

Ladybug Party -- she came up with this idea because her aunt once made her a ladybug cake which she would like to have again. But will I really get boys excited about ladybugs?

Art Party -- fun, but sort of generic, I would get each kid a beret and have different art stations and they could let all their creative juices flow. I think I like this one the best because for party favors I would get to melt down crayons and put them in candy molds to make cute new crayons. Not sure why I want to do this so much, but I might just do it no matter what. Here are the instructions.

Little Chefs Party -- another unisex option. But I can't really get excited about it. I love to cook, but cooking with kids is not what it's cracked up to be.

So, what do you say? Can any of you supermoms help a sister out? Ideas, suggestions, helpful websites would be appreciated.

Wind Caves

2009-04-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

We are fortunate to live very close to Husband's best friend, former college roommate, and Best Man . . . was that clear? These are all the same person. And our two older kids and their three boys are similar ages. So, they occasionally go camping all together. I stay behind with Baby, as does BFF's wife with their baby, and the guys plus Gigi have a great time romping around in the dirt, getting messy, and as I just learned, making fire sticks. I don't know what these are exactly, but it sounds dangerous and like something that there were written rules against making at girls' camp. I am glad they have such fun. Even more glad that I don't have to go! It isn't that I don't like camping . . . I do! But overnight for one night, when I am one of two people packing and unpacking and cooking and setting up and taking down and doing laundry at the end of it all? No thanks. Nosirree, Baby and I had a great time cleaning, organizing, sleeping uninterrupted, and catching up on reading. Everybody wins. Here are some pictures of their trip to the desert.

Craigslist Score

2009-04-08T17:04:00.000-07:00

I don't know who Craig is, but I am really happy about his list. I scored this solid maple bunk bed set with built-in storage, dovetail drawers, an extra dresser and mattresses (which are pristine, in case that makes you feel icky) for $473! AND it matches the crib which is already in that room. The bottom bunk is not set up in this view because the baby still sleeps in his crib. Looking around my house, I see lots of things I have bought because of this site, and I feel warm and fuzzy all over. It's like dumpster diving, only better stuff. And no smell.

When I was a kid, my dad used to bring stuff home, like baseball hats, a Charlie Brown figurine, old towels. If it was a kid thing, he would present it to one of us and if we asked where he got it from, he would unabashedly say something like, "It was right there on the freeway!" or "I was pumping gas and looked down and there it was!" like he'd had the great fortune of finding hidden-in-plain-sight treasures. Once he was driving my oldest sister and her friends to go bowling or something for her birthday and stopped and made a U-turn to pick up a towel for his workshop. She was mortified, of course. I guess that's where I got it from.

Baby's Recent Conquests

2009-04-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

Baby Boy has turned into Holy Terror, maybe HT for short? I have yet to think up a good blog name for him. In any case, here is a list of his latest damages.

Opened a large bottle of tempura paint (midnight black, of course) and started flinging it all over the carpet, entertainment center, brother's Leapster, etc. Grandma's advice was, "Time to find a new place for the paint." Luckily, I was able to find a carpet cleaner on a Friday night who would clean it up initially and then come back a week later to clean up the stain that creeps up after the first cleaning for only twice the normal price, instead of four or five times. Grrrr . . . I thought my head would explode.

Plucked almost all of the keys off the laptop. I am grateful that Husband has the skills to put these keys back on because it is harder than you might think(Funny Parenthetical Story: Husband acquired this skill while using the laptop to play music during a home improvement project. He thought it would be a good idea to vacuum the drywall dust off with the shopvac . . . until he discovered that the shopvac is not kidding around when it comes to suction power.)

Fingerpainted all over the upstairs bathroom floor and himself with my foundation, mascara and blush. It is unfortunate that I had also just given him a buzz cut and the overall effect was scarily reminiscent of Boy George.

Emptied all of my spice rack containers into one bowl. Dumped yogurt into the silverware drawer. Made oatmeal soup in the kitchen with oats, water, and other pantry items. Many, many more incidents of illegal dumping.

Hacked up an entire loaf of fresh bread with a zoopals knife. While I admire his initiative, I don't like what this suggests about my promptness with meals. I promise I try to keep the child fed.

Since the paint incident, the impression I get from this ambitious and lovable child is that he is just frustrated with not being able to speak and he's not waiting around for us anymore to read his mind. Many of these things happen when my back is turned for only a moment. Needless to say, I have learned to keep him with me as much as possible and watch him like a hawk! Which is probably exactly what he was going for. Smart kid.

2009-03-13T09:31:00.000-07:00

Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was amazing. I didn't give it five stars because it lagged in some places. But her narration of the horrendous things that happened during China's cultural revolution make me ashamed that we weren't studying this in school when it was going on and shortly after. Why do we ignore Asia in our Social Studies classes? Her memory is incredible, and her accounts of real-life communism experiences make it easy to see why this system of government never works in practice. Her courage was extremely inspiring and I think one of the best defenses against too-powerful governments is a highly educated populace.

View all my reviews.

All Done . . . Again

2009-03-03T12:03:00.000-08:00

Dirk finished the bar exam on Thursday afternoon, so we went out to Rubio's as a family to celebrate! Then he fell asleep for several days. We are glad the ordeal is over and we'll find out the results in a few months. Sort of anti-climactic. But at least it's over!

Gigi is wearing Dirk's shirt because she was cold.

2009-02-13T13:30:00.001-08:00

Prodigal Summer: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
I bought this book at a library sale and was so excited because I just loved The Poisonwood Bible by her; I could not stop talking about it. This book was kind of disappointing in that it took me until about page 162 to get into it, and even then, it wasn't the life-changer that the other one was. But, it did get me thinking about gardening and beekeeping and fun things I'd like to do someday. There was a lot of sex in it. In fact, the whole book was about reproduction and evolutions of all kinds; animal, plant, human, so I get what she was doing there. But it got tiresome fast.

But the most irritating thing about the book is that the author came off soapboxey quite often. I was fascinated to read about the sin of hunting predators vs. prey, and organic farming, and beautiful gardens and raising goats, etc. But it is less effective when it comes off preachy. She also came off anti-religious in a cheap shot sort of way. The characters she obviously wanted us to think of as heroines were, without exception, worshipers of nature and disparaged any kind of organized religion. On the other hand, the most despicable of her characters, the most small-minded and snipey, were always big church-goers. That's annoying, because it is clearly the author's own feelings that religion is not for the truly spiritual. She did this in Poisonwood, too, but that one was a story all about a religious hypocrite. I get that. Now, I am afraid that everything I pick up by her is going to be an obnoxious statement against organized religion. Boring. And small-minded.

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Haircut

2009-01-28T09:31:00.000-08:00

After much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth every morning when it was time to brush hair, Gigi and I had both had enough. I cut her hair on Saturday and though I was intimidated by the task of trying to get it all even, it turned out alright. After I'd cut about six inches off, I asked her what she thought. "More cutting!" was what she said. I was sad to see her pretty locks go, but I have loved the easier maintenance. Her hair was always getting into her food and I had to wash it constantly. One morning, I even found a fruit snack in there. Now I understand my mom's rule that we could only grow our hair out once we were old enough to take care of it ourselves.

The Red Scarf

2009-01-27T15:25:00.001-08:00

The Red Scarf by Kate Furnivall

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I haven't read a book this good in a long time! I plan to rush out and get all her books now. Kate Furnivall is obviously passionate about Russia. She paints pictures you can almost see and touch. She isn't Russian, though, so she is allowed to have happy endings :) This story was so well told, I got lost in the book and hated to see it end. It's just the kind of book my husband hates when I get hold of, because if I'm not reading it, I'm talking about it. This time, though, he's to blame, because he bought it for me for Christmas. Thanks, Dirk!

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Outliers

2009-01-27T15:05:00.001-08:00

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was excellent. It really was thoughtfully done and eye opening. My only complaint is that the author sometimes made assumptions or drew conclusions that were jumps from the facts he provided. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it was meant as an examination of success and the qualities of successful people, but it makes a great parenting book! Also, it made me think we Americans are too afraid of hard work for our own good!

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