Hawaii: June 6th - June13th

Being able to visit Hawaii is an amazing experience. Of course you think "I could move here" and then you realize that you only think that because you aren't living "real life" while there. You aren't working to afford the average $600K home or the gasoline or the milk and so it is glorious to visit, but living in Hawaii would not be relaxing.

I would miss snow after a while and 14,000ft mountains. So I will always love visiting Hawaii but living there not so much.

This trip was a great chance to remember that I love my husband and that we get along for the most part ! ) It was an adventure that maybe one day when the kids will actually appreciate it we can share with them.

So here is our adventure- enjoy!

Our Hotel

Open Waiting Area

Room Similar to Ours

Our first day(6 June 2010) we got there with hours to kill and so we walked down to a nearby diner to eat as the "locals" do. OH MY Goodness...the plate lunch is HUGE ....Seriously I couldn't even imagine finishing all of that food. The diner was called the Rainbow Drive-In and just as we walked around the corner there was a beautiful REAL rainbow right above the diner....good omen!

We should have taken a picture of what we ate but here is a similar image....

Usually a plate lunch has 1-2 LARGE scoops of rice, 1 scoop of macaroni salad and a MEAT and if that meat has a sauce it is smothered in it...DANG! I felt bad not finishing that much food- espescially with all of the homeless that we saw- but I just couldn't do it.

As we walked through Waikiki we saw these stores everywhere...

Apparently there are 47 ABC stores in the 1 sq. mile that makes up the Waikiki section of Honolulu. That's a lot of beach mats! These are a life saver when you don't want to pay $5.00 for a glass of milk at the hotel...instead you can pay $5.00 for a 1/2 gallon. But that's the cost of paradise.

I guess that the cost is worth it though when you have a view like this from your hotel room.

Monday, 7 June 2010

We woke up and went to this breakfast/hit you up for all the money you don't have thing. It was a bit of a shock to be hit up for tour...after tour....after tour...and we learned quick that this wasn't for us but the guy had us trapped. (Lesson: NOTHING is FREE)

After we escaped we went to another tour/hit you up for money that was kinda interesting but come on people...

Finally, we were able to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Oh what an awesome and inspired place to visit.

The history of the people represented and of the area is so phenomenal. I could have spent three days there. Learning about the Pacific Islanders and their culture was an amazing experience.
We were able to see the canoe parade in the afternoon and then take a canoe ride of our own after visiting several of the villages.

New Zealand/Aoatera

Tahitian

Hawaiian

Samoan village

Our favorite village was SAMOA. The people that did the demonstrations were entertaining and funny. The main man was named "CAP" and he was hilarious. He made you smile and appreciate his culture- Samoan's have amazing personalities!

Cap is also the main fire and knife dancer at the show that is performed at the PCC.

On the Canoe

We then had a super yummy luau. Complete with poke (po-KAY), poi (poy), kaluah pork, tarro rolls (they are like potato rolls but PURPLE) and of course pineapple YUM!!!

And entertainment!!!

The Pig

After dinner we took a short ride through BYU-Hawaii and over to the Laie Temple. It was so beautiful and the history of the LDS church in the area was so interesting and inspirational. The temple is finishing renovations so we were unable to go inside but just to be there was spectacular.

After our visit to the temple we were able to enjoy a show called: HA: The Breath of Life. It was performed in an outdoor amphitheater and highlighted all of the Polynesian islands represented at the center. It was spectacular!!!

Tuesday, 8 June 2010

So we slept in after a long night and headed over to Leonard's for some Malasadas- Portuguese donuts. They were so yummy! About the sized of a glazed donut but filled and covered in sugar!

Oh malasadas! (Since the taxi ride was a bit pricey we just walked back to our hotel.)

Then we got ready for our submarine ride. We boarded a boat and met the sub just off the coast. Although it wasn't as spectacular as expected it was interesting and fun and plus we were able to learn about some of the fish that we would see more of as we snorkeled around the island. (If I had to do it over again I would just have snorkeled more and saved the money...Live and learn!)

After our sub ride we rented a car and went out for our first ride around the island and a first try at snorkeling. We found some secluded beaches and watched, waded and snorkeled. It was a great adventure and the scenery was AMAZING!

Renting a car is certainly expensive but it was so worth it. We could go where we wanted, when we wanted. We could go out for a long time or a short time. IT was well worth the cost!

Black Sand Beach

Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Pearl Harbor

We knew that Pearl Harbor was an all day affair, so we woke up early and were at the base by 7:30 am and got tickets for the 10:30am (earliest available) taxi to the USS Arizona.

While we waited to go to the Arizona we toured the USS Bowfin- the submarine docked at the base.
It was so interesting to see the inner workings of a submarine. To realize how many men were crammed in these boats and understand how fast they could maneuver was astounding.
There were bunks right above the torpedos! Could you imagine your son sleeping on top of a torpedo?
Thankfully it wasn't too warm but I could only imagine how it was with all those men crammed in there and the adrenaline pumping.

After touring the entire submarine we had the honor of being taxied out to the USS Arizona. I am a big WWII freak and I love learning about the history of the time period so this was something that I had always wanted to do. It was an honor to be able to pay respect to the 1177 seamen and marines who are entombed within the USS Arizona.

It was emotional to see the oil still rising to the surface as if the Arizona is still bleeding nearly 70years after the fact. It was interesting to find out that men are still choosing to be interred within the Arizona and the process that it takes to make the ship their final resting place.

After our visit to the Arizona memorial we boarded a bus and went to Ford Island to see theUSS Missouri or Mighty MO. This ship is where the surrender of Japan was signed at the close of WWII. To be on this battleship and see how massive it is gave such perspective to how large the Arizona was. (Mind Blowing!)

It was a beautiful view but it was a bit scary to realize that there were so many ships this size in this harbor and that so many lives were lost so quickly.

It is an amazing place to visit. To drive through Hickam Airfield and walk aboard the ships is to walk through history. You can nearly hear the ghosts of the memories that were made in these places.

USS Arizona in background

They still use rope to secure these massive ships!

After a long day at Pearl Harbor we went to the swap meet for some deals on Hawaiian goods- great place to shop but a lot of the same stuff.

Finally, we got back to the hotel and Ryan took me out to my first Japanese Steak House. It was so entertaining and yummy too. It is always a good sign that there are native Japanese at a Japanese restaurant, right?

Thursday, 10 June 2010
A day to be lazy....You would think that we would be on the beach all the time but until this day we hadn't really spent that much time on the water. It was certainly time to change that. Ryan decided he wanted to take a surfing lesson and so I thought that I'd just chill on the beach and watch- or at least try to watch him, it was packed! However, there was a slight issue when we got to our spot!

We had just missed the MAJOR jellyfish invasion but they were still about so this is what we encountered. Not to be deterred Ryan was off! I was so proud that he was willing to try anything!

He even got up!

He had no idea the board was that BIG!

The surf class- guess who the instructor is?

Surfing is not without it's dangers though!

It was a beautiful day to be on the beach!

At the end of our long day we had a sunset dinner cruise. It wasn't too high end but it was fun and affordable. It was nice to be able to see Waikiki Beach from the water and to experience the sunset by boat.

The show was nice but the other tourists were hilarious!

Aloha Tower

Dancer on dinner cruise!

Friday, 11 June 2010

King Kamehameha Day

Unknown to us the 10th of June is a state holiday in Hawaii. Complete with everyone off of work and a parade. Well we got up early and took a hike to one of the waterfalls used in one of my favorite tv shows LOST. It was sooo cool. You wouldn't even remember that you were in the middle of a cemetery in Honolulu with the highway just above you. It was a great easy hike and the falls were so gorgeous!

After our hike we headed to the North Shore. We stopped at a botanic garden in Wahiawa. The vegetation is amazing there!

As we continued on we drove through the DOLE Pineapple plantation! Look at that Red Dirt!

Finally we got hungry and stopped in Haleiwa at the Bluewater Shrimp Truck- oh it was so yummy! And to top it off we got a shaved ice at Matsumoto's....I love souvenir eating!

After a good lunch we were off to snorkel some more. While driving around trying a place to park- it was a holiday- we saw dolphins leaping out of the water. It was so awesome!

Then we found it TURTLE BEACH!!!! Nearly 20 turtles-maybe more- feeding right on the rocks!

Beach just North of Turtle Beach

HI ya!

It was Ryan's favorite thing of the entire trip!

Close-up!

It was so crazy to be snorkeling along and BAM there is a turtle right in front of you. They are hard to avoid too. One last beach at Waimea Bay and we snorkeled some more! It is the most relaxing thing that I have done in quite some time. So peaceful and quiet. It was so easy to lose track of time!

So after a long day we grabbed some more shrimp, a chocolate haupia (coconut) pie and headed back to the hotel.

But not to be missed was the sunset!

Saturday, 12 June 2010

So we woke up early on Saturday and headed to Hanuama Bay. This is a nature preserve and it gets packed early and it is easy to see why with all the awesome fish we saw while there.

After an hour an a half we were off to go Kayaking. Good thing to because the people were coming in hoards!

We headed up to Kaneohe Bay and Kayaked around. IT was a little frightening to be on the open water but it was also AMAZING! I will definitely do that again!We kayaked out to a bird preserve called flat island!

After kayaking we visited one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The Byodo-In Buddhist Temple. Near Kaneohe this temple is an exact replica of a temple in Japan that is over 900years old.

The temple is located in another cemetery called the Valley of the Temples and is towards the back right against the mountains. It is so peaceful and quiet.

After a peaceful drive back to Honolulu in the convertible that we rented we drove through the Punchbowl Cemetery.

And as we exited the cemetery we took this great drive on Tantalus Drive above Honolulu. It was amazing!

It was like being in the middle of a jungle...we had vines hanging above us and bamboo everywhere. Once at the top we stopped at Puu Ualakaa Park. The view was spectacular! We could see 25 miles of coast line...So breathtaking and nearly free- just the cost of gas!

On the way back to the hotel we stopped by Iolani Palace and the King Kamehameha Statue in downtown Honolulu.

Sunday, 13 June 2010

With a red-eye flight not until 10pm we had time for a few more activities. First, was church. The building was beautiful and it was great to be able to go to church and have it be the same as at home.

This Tabernacle is so beautiful!

Then we were off first to another botanic garden.And then to the Kualoa Ranch. Another LOST sight. It is a historic ranch where movies like Jurrasic Park have been filmed. While at the ranch we went for a nice little horseback ride. I love seeing the world from atop a horse. You just get a different perspective.

Finally we saw the Pan Pacific Parade.

Oh and I saw John Locke(Terry O'Quinn) from LOST.

We got a free meal because the kitchen messed up and we headed home. Back to reality.

But seeing as it has taken me a month to blog about Hawaii reality obviously bit me in the behind when I got home. The next weekend I flew to Utah. Came home again and then drove to Utah again and after that I spent the last week of June and first part of July sick as a dog and wanting to die! So Aloha Hawaii trip. Thanks for the great time with my sweetheart but I think I'll have to take some time to recover before I can return.

We did a lot. We snorkeled at six or seven different beaches and saw several botanic gardens. We ate at Shrimp trucks all over the island and gained a new appreciation for my cost of living. I would certainly do it again and above all I am glad I bought a guide book and used coupons. It always makes a trip better to save money and know where you are going.

Hawaii

So we head back late tomorrow and reality is starting to bite me in the behind. Having to face cleaning and bills and life is daunting. So hard to face reality...What if reality isn't real?

Memorial Day, Trip #1

Mt. Rushmore and the Family

We only live about 6 hours from this awesome National Memorial. It was an awesome experience. It was great to show the kids how different people sacrificed so much for our country. From these four presidents to the sculptors who took years out of their life to make certain that this monument would stand the test of time.

Rushmore @ Night

It's awesome to visit these places with kids because they asked the best questions. For instance Child #1 kept asking, "Why is it called Rushmore?"

Do you know, huh do ya? Well I didn't so we found a helpful Ranger who explained that it was Mt. Rushmore before the carvings were there- named after a guy called Rushmore. So imagine you decided to carve a huge Buddah on Mt. Everest...the mountain would still be named Mt. Everest.

It was great to hike around the mountain and see where the models were kept for the mountain. To learn about the entire process was an awe inspiring experience. To learn that it took 16 years to complete this great undertaking was so interesting.

Ever notice George has a shirt and collar?

The white spot under Teddy's chin is a mountain goat.
I think it would have been cool if Jefferson's hair could be red rocks.
Honest ABE. He was almost sculpted without a beard.

Although this was the focal point of our trip we did visit other sites as well. In fact if South Dakota had any jobs I'd move there. It was quite pretty.

So we also visited Wind Cave National Park:

We saw wildlife: Bison, burros-yep they are wild, turkeys, big horned sheep

The Bison were everywhere!!

These guys came right up to the van and we got to pet them.

Ran right across the road in front of us in Custer State Park

Just chillin' in the shade.

It was all in all a great trip and we all survived even though I almost walked home from Nebraska...but that's another story all together; )

Traveling Salesman

So Mr. Norris flies to one spot and then drives and drives and drives...My biggest worry is getting a call from some sheriff somewhere saying that he's been in an accident....But seeing that he makes the time to be able to visit spots like this I think that he'll be ok.

Who You Are...

I often have these lyrics run through my mind as I face each day.

A friend gave me a copy of this song on tape about a million years ago

when tape was still used and it was what I needed.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded that the right choice is rarely the easy choice.

So here is getting up tomorrow and making some more hard choices.

We are way more awesome than we give ourselves credit for.

by: Hilary Weeks

I know you wonder if you'll ever have a day

when the kids stay calm, the laundry's done, and the dishes are put away.

And sometimes you feel like your days are spent and gone

and the question running through your mind is what have I gotten done?

And when you finally have a moment to slow down at the end of you day

I know Father would say

Believe in what you're doing

Believe in who you are

Hold tight to the truth that you're a daughter of God

Believe in who you're becoming

Believe in who you are

It may seem simple - all the little things you do.

But the lives you touch matter so much.

And there's no one else like you.

And Father needs you to stand tall and faithful to be all you can be.

Oh, if you could see what he sees.

You'd believe in what you're doing

You'd believe in who you are

Hold tight to the truth that you're a daughter of God

Believe in who you're becoming

Believe in who you are

When it's hard to believe in yourself and you feel like you're beginning to doubt

Remember

He believes in what you're doing

He believes in who you are

Don't lose sight of the truth that you're a daughter of God

That he believes in who you're becoming

He believes in who you are...

The Invisible Woman

I LOVE this video!!!

Summer CRAZINESS

So where are you going this summer? Our summer is packed and it hasn't even started yet. There will be some of this.

A lot of this

and this...



There is a little bit of this....


Oh and this one week....

and this the next....


Plus we have a lot of this....


and maybe a we can squeeze in some of these...


Most of all though I just want a little of this...


Hope your summer is equally fun and that we all see Labor Day in one piece ; )

Peace..& Quiet

Here is Peace.....

AND

Here is QUIET!!!!

Why is it that is seems so hard to find these moments...

What awesome kids & what a tender mercy!

Motherhood

Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood

This morning I have had this quote going through my mind as the following occurred:

Puppy pooped in bed

Three year old breaks a dozen eggs

Nine year old doesn't listen

Six year old doesn't want to brush hair

I have come to the conclusion that I have to FIND the nobility and joy.

The joy doesn't just happen.

If/when it does if I am not finding it then I'll miss it.

With the passing of Mother's Day on Sunday I have realized that motherhood is the hardest job that anyone will ever do or want to do.

So much of what we do is ignored or just expected and therefore NOT appreciated.

No one will say thanks for making sure I have shoes to wear

OR

Thanks for making sure we didn't bounce checks

OR

Thanks for feeding me... and my dog.... and my crab

OR

Thanks for not doing the stuff you really want to do so that you are

ALWAYS there

OR

Thanks for reminding me to bathe

You won't hear that

BUT

if you are really lucky you will have a toddler that screamed for an HOUR

snuggle up with you and you won't even care that you are in the middle of figuring out what is for dinner

OR

you will be able to have a child wrap their arms around you and say

"I LOVE YOU"

OR

your daughter will willingly play with her little brothers for an hour so you can think for 2 seconds

AND

if you are really lucky....

you will survive another day and know it ended better than it started.

So here is to hoping that my day ends better than it started!

:)

Reminiscing on TREES

So while listening to Kathryn Stockett last night she said something that has been on my mind all night and now all morning.
Ms. Stockett: There is so much sky here. It is just beautiful and goes on and on. (to paraphrase.)
Yes, Ms. Stockett we have sky but you, you have TREES. Trees that Mother Nature herself raised up and no landscaper or builder had to plant. Trees that drink water like we drink in air. Trees so big and beautiful. Trees that say climb me, hang a tire swing, lay in my immense branches. Trees that droop to the ground and reach to the sky. Trees that catch misteltoe and Spanish moss that looks like the grey mane of a distinguished woman.
Oak trees that are so large a tree house would be a mansion in it's great branches. Bald cypress trees that have lived through war, hurricanes, tornadoes, drought and keep on going.
Pine trees that reach heavenward and beg to have you climb to the top and hang precariously as the wind blows and you stretch to see to the end of the block over the other trees.

Magnolias that say touch my waxy leaves and smell my beautiful flowers. Crepe Myrtles that have delicate buds that if you know how to you can make blossom in your hand.

Oh how I miss the trees that were my childhood playground. There is nothing better than hiding in the branches of a tree. Climbing higher and higher each year in the neighborhood pine trees. Picking pecans during the eye of a hurricane so they won't all blow away. Walking through a jungle of trees on little trails that only us kids could fit through. Passing a gardenia and having the fragrance fill your senses. Seeing trees that were once mere bushes. Having color from azaleas & blue hydrangeas that you didn't even have to try to grow.

I wish that my kids had that. Even though they don't, during our last snow storm- two weeks ago- Son #1 crawled under the willow bush to knock of the snow and exclaimed, "Mom it's beautiful under hear." What would he think of my trees?

Meeting an Author

Thanks to The Denver Post I was able to find out that Kathryn Stockett was going to be at a local bookstore doing a Q&A and book signing. Kathryn Stockett is the breakout author of The Help - which I previously posted about. I am not usually one to go to these type of things but Mr. Norris was in town and I thought what the heck.
I arrived at the Tattered Cover in Highlands Ranch and grabbed my number and my seat waiting for about an hour to hear Ms. Stockett's lovely voice. She was indeed a lovely lady and answered some good questions.
* She was rejected about 60 times for this book! Amazing the tenacity this little lady has. Boy do those publishers and agents hate themselves now.
* The cover with the 3 little birds has absolutely NOTHING to do with the story. No hidden meaning. No unique perspective. NOTHING! To quote Ms. Stockett:
"We found a lovely black and white picture of a black hand holding a white child's hand. I thought it was perfect but everyone was worried that people would think that the book was about race. (eyes roll) So after 60 rejections and going through tons of covers I didn't give a rat's (you know what- my substitution) what the cover looked like.
* She did not model Skeeter after herself. As she stated, "Skeeter was homely"
* She writes books about women for women and so the men are secondary. She modeled Skeeter's daddy after her grandfather and just wanted him to be considered a really good man.
* There is a movie coming and Steven Speilberg has picked it up. The lady who does the voice of Minnie on the audio book will be Minnie in the Movie.
* She is working on another book for women about women. Probably in the next three years. This will also be set in Mississippi but during the Depression.

Although I didn't get to ask my question in the general forum I did ask it when I got up to get my book signed. So what was my profound question?????
Are you gonna do a cookbook of Minnie's recipes?
She said that she hasn't really thought about it but that if she were to do it the proceeds would go to a charity. So email her and ask her for those recipes and then maybe it will happen.

It was interesting to hear how she came to be an author and it even made me think, could I do that?

I am NOT my BODY ... or my Mind

Many of you have heard the story of Stephanie Nielson (nieniedialogues.blogspot.com). (This woman is AMAZING!) She has an outlook and perspective on life that I long for... She can embrace the small and ignore the unimportant better than anyone else that I have ever seen.
After posting about my thighs and thinking about how unnecessarily some of us augment our bodies or worry about them this video made me pause. I am not my body!!! And even more importantly I am not my mind. I can lose both and I will still be a daughter of GOD! I can go through awful situations and it does not matter how terrible things become it only matters how I deal with it...There is a light at the end of the tunnel, I just have to keep my eyes open!
(Thanks Cara for sharing this with me! You ROCK!)

5 Things NOT to do....

So I always make to do lists in an effort to actually accomplish things. So far I don't seem to be successful with this ideology. So I thought I would make a NOT To DO list...unfortunately it seems as though reverse psychology is the name of my game and I have been doing the things on this list. So much for best laid plans.

NOT TO DO:
1. Don't look at thighs while at water aerobics.
I noticed the other day how IMMENSE my thighs appear under the water. This is the fact for most of the human race. HOWEVER when one is about 37 days from going to Hawaii one becomes overly self-conscious of such things. Now it seems no matter how hard I try not to observe the vastness of my upper leg I DO- dangit!

2. Clean house...Now don't get me wrong I do clean my house but every time I do I lose things. Case in point- we cleaned like crazy last weekend. I thought that I had put a bill in a "safe place". Alas the bill is MIA- dangit!

3. YELL- so I have a bad temper...I get upset and frustrated and I often yell, plus no one listens until mom yells SOOOO....I don't want to but- when a dog jumps on a child, or a child jumps on a child or I bust my butt cleaning only to have various creatures under 4 feet tall destroy such efforts...Well I yell- dangit!

4. Eat Sweets- I have a sweet tooth. I need to lose 20 lbs and I am going to Hawaii in just over a month. So what happens? The kids want cookies and brownies, I get a migraine and need chocolate to get rid of it and then it SNOWS! So of course I need hot chocolate. So much for no sweets- dangit!

5. Stay up late- So I have been wanting to get up earlier and accomplish more during the day. BUT when the dog wants to be played with until 10pm and then I have to do the whole bed time routine. And then I lay there....And look at the clock and it's 1am- dangit!

Oh well!!!!

My dog is giving me Post-partum Depression

So you may laugh but between the puppy and the kids I just want to CRY!!!!
The puppy feels the need to poop and pee whenever & wherever it so pleases. She likes to chew on human flesh, shoes, toys, clothes or whatever else she can get a hold of whether you are wearing it or NOT! This makes me realize that I am done adding things/people to this family.
Now the youngest child who thinks he is potty trained also seems to have accepted the puppy's potty habits and now takes his diaper off whenever he feels that he needs a new one- unfortunately sometimes he does and more POOP to clean up- UGH!
With the lack of sleep from trying to take the dog out and getting up too early and staying up to late. Cleaning up little boy's rooms all the time and cleaning the same toilet 8 times in one week. While trying to get a garden in and not kill plants that cost and arm and a leg and gaining weight despite working out and realizing I AM INSANE.
Although I often feel that I am completely unimportant. I realize that if I quit this non-profit job then my children would be savages with a dog that would be cleaning their bottoms rather than me.
So here is to a life full of poop-literally. And down with people who say I will miss this one day because I guarantee that I WON'T.
I won't miss poopy pants and a crazed dog.
I won't missed spills and accidents on newly cleaned floors.
I won't miss screaming and crying and barking and fighting.
I won't miss parenting alone.
I won't miss being vomited on.

HOWEVER... I will miss being needed even when I want a break OR having a little guy crawl into bed with me or kids falling asleep on me or in my arms OR getting notes that say I LOVE YOU.

BUT I guess that I can't have one without the other...DANGIT!

The Literate Mother

The Literate Mother is a blog dedicated to mothers who want to know what their kids are reading and I am SOOOOO excited about it. With a son who reads more and faster than I do I rely on people and sources that I trust to let me know what my kids are reading and whether or not is is trash.
Books are rated on 4 categories that may be of concern to parents ( Language, Violence, Sexual Content & Adult Themes) and a brief review is written. There is an explanation about how they rate the books and you can search their site for a book by title- very helpful- or just read the most recent post.
It is amazing that these women have done this and I hope that you all find it as helpful as I have.
So go check it out www.theliteratemother.org

Book Review

The Help
I loved this book. The help is another success for southern writers. Kathryn Stockett caught all I know and remember about growing up in the south. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!
Miss Stockett was able to do justice to the time period, the different characters and above all the setting. I haven't been so homesick for Louisiana in YEARS. I found myself wishing I was sitting on a porch drinking lemonade watching the crepe myrtles, azaleas, magnolias and every other flower that filled the senses at this time of the year. I nearly grabbed a bowl of grits while I read it was so deliciously entertaining! People just don't understand that to feed you is to LOVE you. Being mostly German and being raised in the South I take my gastronomic love fest very seriously.
I loved the characters and the way that she captured everything that makes me say oh my I remember that. (Maison Blache, Community coffee, hose pipe, caramel cake, junior league...oh my I could go on!) I identified with both Miss Celia and Skeeter most because althoug I consider myself from Louisiana, most people wouldn't since I don't go back generations there. But one thing is for certain once you get a taste for Tabasco and Tony's you are a part of Louisiana and it is a part of you!
I encourage everyone to read this book. It is like a grownup version of To Kill A Mockingbird, I wonder if Kathryn Stockett will be our Harper Lee.

A Day in the Life

12am: Puppy cries loudly to be taken out for potty.
12:15am: FIRST attempt to return to bed (perform Tooth fairy duty on return trip)
12:25am: Take puppy out again
12:30am: Play with puppy to get out extra energy
12:40am: SECOND attempt to go to bed
12:50am: Puppy continues to cry pathetically
1am: Take puppy out again & pet,play and calm puppy.
1:40am: Put puppy away and lay on floor hoping she will be done for the night
2am: Third return to empty bed
6:40am: YAY!! Puppy slept most of night, but awake once again
Glad to be awake since I have to be a jury duty, UGH!
6:50am: wake kids to tend dog so I can get dressed.
7:15am: Feed older 2 kids
7:30am: Finally all dressed and feeding and clothing younger two kids
Writing schedule and map for mother-in-law
8am: Worrying about jury duty
8:10am: SO glad that my mother-in-law can watch kids
8:15am: Mother-in-law arrives and I depart for Castle Rock
9am: arrive at courthouse, get scanned for contraban, turn in one questionaire and fill out another.
9:15am: Get told that my number is in a batch that is set for county cases and RARELY do people get dismissed. (PRAYING begins!)
Wondering how long this will take, speculating about how many days I will be here, grateful I didn't have to be there at 7:45am
Read to distract myself form inevitable
10am: Names are starting to be called and assigned to courtrooms.
Anxiety!
10:30am: FREEDOM! Between the 4 dependant children- 2 under 4yrs, family friends and family being victims of violent crimes, law enforcement members of my family, being a former University traffic cop & Interning for Utah Foster Care I was disqualified!!!
11am: Return home and get on with life.
11:45am: Load Butch & Sundance in car
12pm: Pick up kindergartner
12:15pm: Lunch, homework, ect.
1pm: Stop dog from nibbling on kids AGAIN
1:30pm: find mail key...YAY!
2pm: realize UH OH I need to work out
2:30pm: load the menagerie in the car, lock up puppy and go to gym
2:45pm: Arrive at gym, unload kids, jump on treadmill and RUN
3:45pm: Retrieve children to pick up #1 child at school
4pm: Retrieve #1 Child, nearly get blown away by hurricane force wind
4:15pm: Check mail and arrive home, make kids take puppy out
4:30pm: Make kids play outside with puppy, 2yr old decides to strip down to diaper and go outside- WHATEVER!
Go through mountain of mail and assess how much money we don't have- UGH
5pm: Contemplate dinner
5:30pm ZAP Easter leftovers
6pm: clean up after Dinner, Make kids take puppy back out
6:30pm: Watch Shirley Temple Movie with kids
7:30pm: Play Wii
8pm: get ready for bed
8:15pm: Dog pees on rug. Make #1 child take puppy out!!!
8:20pm: #1 kid and puppy come in and puppy is limping....NOOOOO!
8:30pm: Call Animal ER
8:45pm: Kids and dog all loaded in car on our way to ER
Call sister and pray she can meet me and take kids home and throw them in bed
9pm: Arrive at ER, console #1 kid that the dog will be fine- fingers crossed, fill out paper work and WAIT
9:15pm: Awesome sister arrives and car keys are exchanged, continue to wait
9:18pm: Puppy wants to walk around.
9:30pm: see vet tech and decide to see vet and fork out $79 for the trouble
9:35pm: Vet evaluates puppy.
Diva dog is now jumpy and licking and just-ARG! Just like my daughter.
9:45pm: Discharged and told to just watch behavior but that puppies often overreact to small injuries. DANGIT!
10pm: Arrive home, glad dog is fine, puppy promptly pees on floor, gets taken out and is put to bed!
10:15pm: do some laundry. Discover that someone put a diaper in the washer, have to clean out all the gel crap from my $800+ washer.
10:30pm: Finally wash face and brush teeth
11pm: blog about day
12am: sleep..I hope!

Lucky PENNY

Well we finally did it. We got a dog. Since a baby is out of the question a puppy was the best alternative. We thought that we had a much cheaper option but due to a broken leg that puppy was not meant to be and the search was on for our Penny.
For years Ryan was unrelenting about wanting a "hunting" dog- specifically a German Shorthair. I wasn't opposed but I wanted a family dog first and hunting dog second. I have always loved Labs and I love chocolates, so only natural to want a chocolate lab. I wanted a female too because I wanted the smallest version possible.

After years of debate and consulting outside sources Ryan was finally convinced that a lab would be a good choice for us. He researched pedigree and price, kennels & breeders and finally found one.
So after skiing last Saturday, Ryan and Michael drove to Fruita, Colorado and brought home our little girl. She is so much fun and the kids have been so good about cleaning up after her and learning about what she needs. Hopefully she will be as good at hunting as she is at being a part of our family.

Mary Poppins

May I just say that Mary Poppins was/is great. Even after being vomited on* and holding a child that was sick for 2+ hours this show made me laugh, smile, and yes even cry.

Ah, motherhood.

* So about 10 minuets before the show starts William crawls into my lap and cuddles up. I should have known then this was not a good thing. HE begins the pre-vomit convulsing and promptly vomits all over himself and me in the balcony. Thankfully others were spared and I was only humiliated and not mortified! Luckily the staff donated garbage bags to the cause- one for his clothes ( yes he was down to the diaper) & one for the second round that came shortly before intermission. Yes we stayed. And William slept through the second act. So there you have it! Next time you kids are squirmy in public just pause and think at least they aren't vomiting on me.

TOO much time...

When I stay up this late I think too much.
Tonight we discussed the book, Love That Dog by Sharon Creech at book club. This quote from the book is exactly what is going on with me...
Sometimes
when you are trying
not to think about something
it keeps popping back in your head
you can't help it
you think about it
and
think about it
and
think about it
until your brain
feels like
a squashed pea.

Do you ever feel that way?

With Ryan traveling so much I often think too much...What if this or what if that? What about this or what about that? Why this & why that?
None of my questions are ever answered satisfactorily but I guess that is what life is, a season of questions & if I had the answers I wouldn't need faith.

So here is to faith, may we all have enough to get through each day.

NO rhyme or reason

I often contemplate if there is any rhyme or reason to why certain things happen. Today I received a phone call that my husband's uncle was killed in a freak car accident in Arizona. He was on his way home from the funeral of Ryan's great-uncle with his wife, two of his sisters, and his brother-in-law when they got a flat tire. He and his brother-in-law were changing the tire when another driver dozed off swerved and hit our uncle, one day before his 56th birthday.
So why? Why him? Why now? One year ago his mother passed away, & now him?
This Uncle was the first member of the family that I met when Ryan & I were dating. He was a genuinely kind man who didn't have a mean bone in his body. He has a beautiful wife, two daughters & two sons and two granddaughters.
I can't even imagine being at family gatherings without him. I know that I have only been a part of this family for such a short time, relatively speaking, but I was effected by his presence in my life- all for the good.
This was not like the last three deaths that we have experienced where the people were elderly and suffered for a long time. This was sudden and so.....shocking. It amazes me how death can be a welcomed friend in one instance and a vile enemy in the next. Even with a knowledge of the life after the meaning for those left behind is often of no comfort or worse completely elusive.
I simply pray that I can be more like he is/was.

Crazy Garden Lady

So my mom loves to garden, and she is really good at it too. Now that I have seen the following pictures I know that this has always been the fact....Enjoy how cute my mom was as a toddler with her garden tools.
Watch out Dad she may revert any day now!)

9 years down...only 9 left :(

So my oldest turned 9 yesterday. It is astounding to know that half of the time he will live with us full-time is now over. I am so grateful to have this awareness so that each day I can make the effort to better appreciate the time I do get to spend with him.
He is and amazing young man. At a recent parent teacher conference his teacher mentioned how kind and compassionate Michael is. She said, " I can teach him to read and many other things BUT I can't teach him to care for others."
I was nearly in tears. Sometimes you just have to hear the truth from someone else.
Michael is a great blessing to me in my life and although he is not perfect he encourages me to be better. He teaches me that what I say and do have an impact- especially on him.
As I think back here are some things I have learned from being a mother to this exceptional kid.
1. One persons average is another's amazing. Always strive to be your own amazing.
2. Listening to your kids is more than hearing them. Often they talk and talk and talk, sometimes you just need to tell them that you want to listen and then they will wait until you can.
3.Love to learn. Michael has always loved to know things. He always asks me questions and thankfully we have the internet to go to when mom has to admit she doesn't have the answers.
4. When you think something is wrong it often is. Moms should never second-guess their intuition when it comes to their kids.
5. Loving siblings doesn't always come naturally, it is my responsibility to encourage and foster love between my kids. Eventually they will engender the natural affection that we all want to be their.
6. 8 hours of sleep is not always necessary. Since Michael was little we would hear him in his room late at night singing or playing. Now he stays up reading until at least 11pm (sometimes later). He still gets up and practices, does chores and gets to school on time.
7. Your trials may be a blessing in disguise. During my pregnancies I was always super sick. When Michael was two I was pregnant and could barely do the laundry. Michael learned to unload the dryer and how to load the washer- periodically chunking clothes behind the old top load washer. He is now a super helper and has taught his sister & brothers to do laundry and other chores.
8. Make the time you spend with them productive and fun, they will always want to be around you for part of their day. It is not always easy to entertain kids of different ages but I have found that my kids crave being around me. We try to put them in bed and they invariably offer to "help" do something. As much as I know they are avoiding bed I also know they want just a little more time with mom & dad.

It is surreal to look into the unknown and only have a general idea of what will happen. As the details become clearer I hope that I can fully prepare Michael for the years he will be away from us as they unfortunately rapidly approach.

Book Club

I love book clubs. These groups of women are so super awesome and having some mental stimulation is awesome too.
I love having motivation to read books that I have always wanted to read and being exposed to other books that I wouldn't read otherwise.
It is amazing how for days after I think about the conversation and the topics that are addressed while discussing a book. What a great blessing it is for me to have an excuse to get out while Ryan travels so much...So in honor of how much I love books & book club let me quote my daughter. After organizing her bookshelf today she emphatically stated:"I need more books my shelves aren't full yet." (I love that girl.)

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match...

I hate folding socks! Need I really say more?

Just a little Fluff

So here is how I waste my time...

(Before)
So for years I have been wanting to recover these pillows. 1) Because no matter how much I cleaned them they still looked dirty and 2)because they didn't really match the linens in my bedroom.
So I took this fabric:


And tada...

Next I took this awesome aqua toile I found a few years ago and made a pillow for one of chairs in my bedroom.


I may take the remaining toile and make a variation on this pillow. Hopefully it won't take me as long to get to it.
Now to make pillows or covers for the living room and to recover some pillows for our family room. (I am a little pillow crazy at the moment.) The good thing is that the projects keep me sane in a weird twisted way. I guess that I feel that if I accomplish something...anything that is better than nothing.

Need a SMILE?

Ok so if you ever get down and need a smile you have to see the Independant Film I just watched. YOUNG @ HEART!
This was the most uplifting thing I have watched in quite a while. It gives me hope and I smiled the entire time.
In case you haven't seen it an want a brief synopsis so that you can add it to your netflix or reserve it at the library, here goes.
This film follows the Young @ Heart Chorus as they learn their repitoire of Rock n Roll music in 2007. This chorus is a group of Seniors from North Hampton, MA (Not just 60 or 70 somethings but some members pushing 90!) They are astounding! If you visit their website (www.youngatheartchorus.com) you will see that this group has been around since 1983 and that the love of the founders for the members of this chorus is genuine. These people teach you to find joy in your life even when it hands you trials- some members were on oxygen and still sang! This is what I want to be like when I become old. Not old like dang I wish I were 20 again but old like I have lived my life and now I get to play! I can't wait!
(I watched this on Independent Lens on PBS so you may be able to check your local listings and I encourage you to watch...It is worth the time.)

2010...and away we go

So here we are recovering from Christmas and making resolutions and it hits me why don't I look at others' resolutions and just do theirs. It is easier than giving myself a guilt trip about what I won't do and of the resolutions I have read recently most I have already done so I'm already doing great. So here it goes I am going to fulfill all of the following that I have read on other's blogs.

1. No SODA! (This was the easiest one I found out there. I haven't drunk soda-other than an occasional sip- since about 1995. So one down)

2. Keep a journal (Again already do it. Technically I have about 7 going at the same time. One for Ryan and I to write in. One for each kid, one just for me and then a gratitude journal- nothing but the good stuff can go in there.)

3. Read ( do it- if I read more I'd get even less done.)

4. Work out (doing this although the results are not quite what I wanted/expected. Oh well I'll just keep at it.)

5. No cavities (30 and never had one yet. No likely to get one now! THe kids on the other hand...)

Now the last few resolutions are some of the top for 2010: Stop smoking-never started; Quit drinking- again never started;

So there you have it my resolutions are done and already accomplished. That was easy now only six months to prepare for Christmas. Yep I am moving it to JUNE. No one gets sick in June, right?

Short update...I hope

Christmas- good visit with family; homemade gifts were a success; if I have to clean vomit on one more Christmas I will move Christmas to June!

William- how did you get 2 so fast. Dang kid you are growing up TOO fast.

James- bore his first testimony yesterday and Michael helped him. You could only see his eyes and the top of his head but boy was he brave and awesome. Way to go SUNBEAM!

Michael- always aware of EVERYTHING. Tonight Michael said family prayer and asked for "protection from the dangers of this world like fire and carbon monoxide." This is a direct quote. SO cute still at nearly nine.

Christi- learned that combing her hair makes it look spectacular! Maybe we shouldn't encourage this boys are sure to notice her more.

Ryan- back to traveling ALL THE TIME; miss him tons

Katie- I think I may actually finish decorating & organizing this house before July...or at least by next December?

Ok that's it for now. I gotta sleep!

Just Some Pics

I love finding pictures I didn't know I had. These are just a few images floating around that I love. I hope that you enjoy them too.
Ryan built a simple sand box for the kids this summer. The kids LOVE it and so do the parents!

Literature

So I have been thinking about the stuff that I read. I like almost every genre and I am willing to read nearly anything HOWEVER I have noticed recently that I haven't read anything that is very happy. I mean there are happy parts to many books I have read but then again maybe art is once again mimicking life. Isn't life made up of snapshots of happiness mixed in with a great deal of enduring?
Is it an unreasonable expectation for me to want to read something light? Have a good chuckle? Some light things can be superficial and you know what that is ok. So I will list some of the happier/lighter things that I have read. Feel free to include suggestions.

1. Much ado About Nothing by: William Shakespeare ( I love the satire and confusion of this play. It is hilarious to see how some things never change even after 500years.)
2. The Importance of Being Ernest by: Oscar Wilde (Another play that is full of satire and wit. It is also a fairly decent movie.)
3. Pippi Longstockingg by: Astrid Lindrgen (Great story that show that our adult inhibitions are what often puts a damper on how life really should be. Oh how I'd love to be Pippi for a day.)
4. The Little Prince(Le Petit Prince) by: Antoine de Saint-Exupery ( This book again uses the perspective of a child to find joy in the small things. Although there are some SAD parts overall this is a life changing book and is even better when read in the original French. I found great symbolism in this book too.
5. Charlotte's Web by: E.B. White (You be the judge: happy or sad? I am conflicted about this one. I love this book but where does it fall. I lean more on the realistic rather than happy or sad. Happy for Wilbur, sad for Charlotte? Sad for Wilbur too? )
6. Tuesdays With Morrie by: Mitch Albom (Ultimately sad but what great perspective.)
7. The Last Lecture by: Randy Pausch ( Knowing that the author is now deceased this one again leaves me feeling like this is reality at its best. What a great message and overall I felt that it was worth my time and I felt good after reading it.


Feel free to suggest some books that I may enjoy that will lighten my mood. (FYI- I started Three Cups of Tea but the writing style was not that great and made it difficult for me to plow through. Plus I didn't find it that happy; inspirational yes. Happy I don't know.)

Just keep Swimming

I'd like to thank everyone who left a comment about my last post. I was doing a bit of emotional vomiting. It's all good now and mostly because of your gracious comments.
Thanks y'all.

Why bother?

So I often try to do more than I can or I should and often on behalf of my family. SO why bother?
Why do I talk to my siblings on the phone A TON? Why do I spend hours searching out my ancestors? Why do I keep journals for each of my kids? Why do I write letters to my husband? Why do I exhaust myself to make meals that kids don't eat? Why do I sew Halloween costumes? Why do I encourage health and education? Why do I even get out of bed?

Well here is why...because I have a firm belief that when you love people you give them your best even when they don't want it. You make the meals, clean the clothes, listen to the whining, advise, counsel and get NO pay and lose copious amounts of sleep in the hope that one day someone; anyone, will listen to you and realize that you do love them. And maybe if you are super lucky...maybe they will ALL listen!?! Not all at once and never all at the same time but cumulatively maybe it will happen.

Am I delusional? Possibly, but I have to hold to some kind of faith that my work does matter. That my lowly opinion has some importance- is this possible? That all of this is worth the sleepless nights, migraines, backaches, and the many more to come. This is what gets me through the weeks without a spouse. The days with cranky kids. And the months of worry about siblings.

So that is why I bother, because when I love people I don't hold back and I will give my all until there is nothing else to give. Not the smartest practice BUT more often than not that love is reciprocated and I am better because of it.

Spouses needed...or at least DATES

John, 28

David, 24

Jeane, 26,



Do you see these three AWESOME individuals??? Huh, do ya? Ok then these are three of my four available siblings and I would like some neices and nephews. Or at least some sibling-in-laws. (I mean seriously can you even just go on a date with them???)

So world I am sending this out there. I admire these three people SOOO much and I know that there must be 2 girls and a guy that would appreciate them even more than I do. These three are absolutely amazing. John & Jeane have master's degrees and David is pursuing that too. (They are way smarter than me.)

John is a deep thinker and is fiercly devoted to his friends and family.(FYI can cook like any great German and yet speaks spanish fluently.)

David is fun and makes everyone smile. He loves his family and is full of surprises.(Yes he has curly hair and speaks swedish.)

Jeane is AMAZING!!! She loves books even more than me and is a great aunt/mom to my kids. She knows how to handle a gun- but doesn't own one....yet. She is a huge Bare Naked Ladies fan and a devoted convert of Michael Buble-my bad influence!

So there you have it people.... I want the resumes to POUR in! Forward this post to all of your single friends and siblings. LEts get these kids married.

Homemade for Christmas...

OK so I have four children and 2 nieces and 4 nephews, 4 in-law siblings and 2 in-law parents who will all be HERE- well at the in-law parents'- for Christmas. (I also have my parents and 4 siblings but they are easy.)
To the point...I want to MAKE-yes I am insane- the Christmas gifts this year. With a VERY tight budget this seems best. I already have most of the girls either planned or made. (YAY!) However that leaves me SEVEN boys to plan and follow through with. So any ideas? I am already planning on wooden blocks, anything else??? What about Rubber-band guns?
Bean bags?
I-Spy bags?

What about the adults? Any ideas? Pot holders? Sachets? I dunno?
If you have any ideas and know where I can find instructions let me know.

Thanks in advance.

NOBEL PRIZE a joke

OK I am a bit ticked off -again- at the Nobel Peace prize committee. First off Pres. Obama won the peace prize today. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he is a bad man BUT he hasn't even been president a year yet and if Saturday Night Live is saying he has only accomplished "diddly" and "squat" then WHY did he get this peace prize? Is making promises the way that one gets this accolade? I mean seriously if that is all then I promise if I ever become a billionaire I will end worls hunger!!!

This is not the first time that I have been ticked at the committee. When Al Gore won he beat out a woman (Irena Sendler) who smuggled jewish children out of the ghettos in suitcases.

So here I say OPRAH has done more for peace then the current president and I hope that he lives up to this honor.

Just FYI here are some of the past winners:
http://nobelprizes.com/nobel/peace/peace.html

By the way Ghandi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. NEVER won the prize.

Edited on 10/14: Ok so I still don't think thatPres. Obama had earned this prize YET however he was very humble about the situation. Hopefully Norway will get it one day...or not. Whatever!

BOOKS, books, books

Ok so I am a bookaholic. If my house burned down I would lay in the fetal position for months mourning the loss of decades of books- both purchased and inherited. So in honor of the love of books I wanted you to all know about this AWESOME website.
www.paperbackswap.com
On this site you swap books(paperback, Hard back & audio) with other members and all you have to pay is media mail rate (abt. $3). I love it already and found a new way to unload duplicates and books I will probably NEVER read again. Maybe this new found site came at the perfect time. After helping my grandmother move TONS of books I just concluded that it is past time to downsize.
So here is to a book swap. (By the way they do DVDs and CDs too)