Book Review #23 - The Devil in the White City

Finished. Done. Finally. This book was too easy to put down. I had such hopes. He writes in such a way that you feel completely absorbed in his narrative. It seems so interesting, until you realize, he just wrote about landscaping or concrete foundations for five pages and then I felt so betrayed that I'd put the book down. It was false advertising. I wanted to read about how this psychopath wove himself into the 1893 World Fair in Chicago (dubbed the White City because all of the buildings built for the fair were painted white) but it never happened. Larson takes certain liberties and places H.H. Holmes (the devil in the title) at the fair with two women he murdered for a couple of days but it's the only time he ever connects the two stories. He wrote an interesting history of the development of the fair and a descent portrayal of Holmes and his frightening existence, but how he decided to throw them together into one book and title it so that the two seem related is too much of a stretch. They both happened in Chicago in roughly the same time frame but it's like writing about the Washington D.C sniper murders like it had anything to do with building the World War II memorial on the National Mall. They just aren't related. Some happened in the same city during the same time...but some didn't and I don't think one really had anything to do with the other. Well, it's not quite as random as that...but almost.

I did learn a lot about architecture, and about the impact the fair had on America's history. That was fascinating. It brought about the design of the Ferris Wheel (although the first one was frightening - like 52 cars that could fit a hundred people in each one - no thanks), shredded wheat and other product icons. I probably would never check out a book on the 1893Chicago World's Fair so if that was his intention...he succeeded. It's just too bad his talent for making even rose bed designs sound compelling couldn't produce the story he promised to tell.

100th Post!

I can't believe this is my 100th post. There is no way that I would have written 100 journal entries since July had I been keeping a paper journal. It's fun to look back and realize how much we've done, how my kids have changed and the ups and downs of my days. I really do highly recommend starting a blog if there are any readers out there that might be curious.

Last night was Sammy's preschool Christmas party. When Seth went to this same preschool, they did a big Christmas program with songs and a Santa. But this year, they rented out the downtown carousel for an hour and a half and had an exclusive all-you-can-ride evening for the kids and their families. Huge success and I'm sure way easier on the teachers. And more fun for the kids. They boys rode over and over. Jay and I each took Henry a few times. He loved it. I'd put him on the horse, he'd grab onto the pole and just start bouncing. Giddyup! He's a charmer and wooed everyone around him. Hot cocoa and cider and lots of sweets means a good time was had by all.

Seth and Sammy ready for action

Jay coming back from the goodies table being goofy.

Seth trying so hard to get one of those rings (his arms just weren't long enough)

A friendly carousel worker helping Sammy get unbuckled ('cause mom and dad are tired of riding the darn thing!)

Henry hanging out with his daddy. I'm sure Styrofoam can't hurt him....right?

The end of the evening. Can you tell who has just had it?

My weekend

I'm not sure I should write this right now because I'm feeling a tad irritable but there really isn't another good time (this isn't even a good time but I'm doin' it anyway!). I'll try to include the positive as well.

Friday night was the ward party. It was pretty mellow. Our building is under construction right now so we can't use the kitchen. That ruled out any sort of dinner which I'm fine with. Trying to get a plateful of food in a buffet line with over a hundred people is not usually my favorite thing to do anyway. So they opted for a dessert table. Most everyone brought a dessert and set it on a table in the far end of the cultural hall. They had the overflow chairs set up in rows and a stage set up for the program. They had programs printed out and the first thing was a ward sing-a-long of the 12 days of Christmas with the different days being sung by different groups (YM, YW, bishopric, primary, those wearing red etc.) I played the piano for that one and messed everyone up by going faster on the last verse. I'm not sure why I did it. I kind of zoned out playing each verse over and over and in a lot of arrangements I've heard the last time you sing all 12 days, you speed up until the big "Five Gold Rings!" and then speed down to one again. So I played fast and pretty much lost everyone. After that, the primary kids sang. I think they sang about seven songs! Which was impressive and ambitious but a bit long. Especially since none of them were particularly "fun" songs so even the kids seemed a bit bored. Seth did his solo and he did swell. I really wanted to upload it to youtube and give you the clip but when I wanted to put it on my computer, I realized I don't have a cord that allows you to do that. I've never transferred any of our Mini DVs yet and I guess you need an IEEE cord that doesn't come with the camera. That seems a bit lame to me but I'm planning on going to get one and then I'll try to share Seth's song. Then the ward video.


I have to admit that it turned out pretty cute for something that seemed so dumb to me on the day of the tracksuit.

After the ward video, I sang and then there was a quartet who sang Angels We Have Heard on High. Then everyone sang "The First Noel" and THEN finally dessert. Party over.

Jay got home later that night from his resident party. He took home his own white elephant gift which was his plan all along. He usually buys something strange and funny but no one usually gets his humor so he decided to just get something he wanted. So he took an itunes gift card and made it back home with it. Definitely better than some things we've brought home over the years.

Saturday morning, we went and cut down a tree. I brought our camera to capture the moment of cutting but was holding Henry the whole time and then talking on my cell phone to Libby. Before I knew it, we were hauling the tree back to the truck and on our way home. We ate lunch at Longhorn BBQ (Jay loved it...but all the meat was on bones and I just don't gnaw) and then home to decorate. The first thing I did was string the lights....the wrong way! I got to the bottome of the tree and realized that I had the female end of the cord and had to take them all off and start again. I don't think my second effort was quite as good though. There are quite a few dark spots on the tree. I had to be at a new convert baptism by 4:00 so we really didn't have much time to decorate. I was supposed to conduct the music but we were about 10 minutes late and the opening song was already over. I did sing the special music though and conducted the last hymn. The baptism was for a nice teenage girl and there was very good spirit there.

We came home from that, fixed dinner for the kids and went to pick up the twins to babysit so that we could go to Jason's and Andrea's party. It was my kind of evening. No big agenda, just a lot of socializing. Andrea cooked enchiladas and other mexican dishes for everyone (I think there was 20 people there) which was so yummy. We had a phase 10 tournament later on and then back home on really slick roads. We pulled up into the driveway and there were the twins, sitting on our stairs. I could see them through the window. I really, really do not understand them. They are very odd.

Sunday was muy busy. Jay had ward council so I got the boys all ready. Then choir, church, tithing settlement, dinner, and out to the West Stake Center. There was a good turnout of our stake choir. I think between 40-50 were out there. We would have sounded great but for one small detail....our accompanist never showed up. I have no idea what happened but one of the choir members volunteered to play. She'd played two of the pieces before, one was sight readable but very few people can just sit down and play the Hallelujah Chorus. I'll just say that it wasn't our best performance. But there was no feeling bad because the choir did their best with a distracted conductor and tempos that were different than we'd practiced all along and someone who really was trying to save all our efforts and was very brave to forgo personal pride and play the best she could. But even the rest of the concert wasn't very good and I couldn't help but wish I had just said no in the first place. I didn't get home until 9:30 and was so grumpy that I just sat there and moped until eventually Jay just left me alone which made me feel worse.

Sammy also broke his glasses again yesterday. A screw came out of his glasses and so the frame came slightly apart and the lens fell out. Jay searched and searched for it but we still can't find it. So off to the optical shop again and it'll be about 10 days before a new lens comes in. He is just wearing his glasses with the lens over his good eye (which does still help with the crossing).

I also found out yesterday that someone in Seth's school class has accused his teacher of physically hurting him (I think a hard push but something to cause a bruise) and now there is this big controversy with the class. He's one of the kids that I've always been uneasy around because he is just a bit scary. Very vacant, unemotional and says really awful things. I feel torn because the boy's grandmother is in our ward and wholeheartedly believes her grandson but I can't help but doubt him. He's a very troubled child with a very troubled family life and watching him in class and in primary (on the very rare occasions when he came) when I was president gives me a bias against him. All of our kids were called into the principles office and not a single one can corroborate his claim. I asked Seth all about his play practice (where the alleged incident took place) and he verified that this boy got yelled at for messing around with the snowball props but always denied anything else happened no matter how I worded it. I don't know anything and would hate to dismiss something as serious as this but I really cannot imagine his teacher doing this. Regardless of who is telling the truth, the end result is sad. Either this teacher snapped and endangered our children or this child made up this horrific lie and is in need of some serious therapy.

On a happier note, one of my ebay items sold! I bought this rescue hero for $9.99 and just sold it for $29.99! Now I have to ship it...which will be the real test of whether or not selling things on Ebay really works for me.

Beware! Boring Stuff Ahead.....

The last couple of days have been pretty boring. Sammy is stuffy and snotty so I kept him home from preschool yesterday. Henry has been very congested and coughing a lot (and throwing up if he coughs too hard) so I didn't want to spread the germs around.

Instead, we went to Andrea's and she showed me how to list things on Ebay. I listed three things and am feeling pretty excited. Listing things on Ebay has always intimidated me but my problem has never been a fear of the computer or how to do it. It's the shipping that is looming ahead in my future. I'm sure several of you are nodding right now knowing how delayed anything coming through the mail usually is when I am the sender. It just takes me forever to get to the post office, even when my package is taped, labeled and ready to go. Sometimes, I just end up holding onto if I'm going to see the person within the next couple of months! But I have a closet full of things I've thought I could sell so perhaps this experience will be just as fun for me as blogging has become. Not that I need a new hobby but if a hobby earns you a bit of cash, it can't be that bad, right? O.K...I see the error in that statement but still, Ebay is mostly harmless. None of what I'm listing is very glamorous. A pair of Robeez I got as a shower gift for Henry, some Nutramigen formula that I've never used because Henry just needed the soy formula, not the hypoallergenic stuff and an Ariel Flyer rescue hero that is now retired and apparently very hard to find. I've got tons of baby clothes and even some maternity clothes to list, as well as some household items but apparently, now is not the time to sell clothes. People aren't bidding as aggressively as they are on toys and Christmas gifts. Good thing I'm friend with Andrea, master ebay seller.

This week has been painfully long. Monday was fun due to Jay being home but not "real" so it seems forever ago. He didn't get home from work until 6:45 on Tuesday and then had signed up to go out with the missionaries at 7:00 so it felt like another call night. He did come home at about 9:30 and amuse me for a good half hour with tales of teaching alongside socially awkward elder. Wednesday, Jay worked at the VA and then had to do the shopping for the residency directors gifts for their Christmas party tonight. Kariann and I still did our kid swap but I decided not to go and volunteer because there was a substitute and they never seem to know what to do with volunteers. So I went shopping, sans kids. I even went to Walmart and wasn't even in a bad mood when I left. It was delightful shopping without kids. I rarely have that experience because I never go at night. I just don't like to be out and about doing errands at night and leave Jay again. Man, I sound a bit dependent. Jay didn't get home until 7:00 again and it just felt like a long day. Yesterday, he worked up in a small town about 70 miles north of here and again didn't get home until about 7:00. We put the kids to bed and then Andrea's husband, Jason, drove their two boys down to our house and we left them with our sleeping kids while we went to their house to watch Sunday's episode of Amazing Race that we never got to watch.

Tonight won't be any better as our ward party conflicts with Jay's residents Christmas party. Normally, I would have opted to skip the ward party and go with Jay but I didn't realize the conflict at first and committed Seth to sing a solo (second verse of The Nativity Song) and I am singing "Mary, Did You Know" So, Jay will miss us and he will have to go solo to his party. I used to really enjoy going to resident things because there were a couple of older residents who had wives I really liked being around. With them gone, there really isn't anyone to hang out with. Jay is chief so really needs to go, plus it is his last party with these people. The next one is graduation so we both thought he should go.

Tomorrow, we are going to go cut down a tree and get our Christmas stuff out. I don't think I've ever decorated before this but I can't help but feel way behind. Maybe it's this newfound blogger knowledge and knowing that 99% of you have your trees up, gifts wrapped and good deeds done. I feel a bit panicked but keep reminding myself, "it's only December 8th!" And then good times at Andrea and Jason's Christmas party! Whoohoo!

Like I said, pretty boring couple of days.

Book Review #22 - The Virgin's Lover

This is a historical fiction novel about Queen Elizabeth I who died never having married. The story covers the first two years of her reign and the people she surrounded herself by. A couple of years ago, our bookgroup read "The Other Boelyn Girl" and I liked it so thought I'd give Phillipa Gregory another shot. She claims to do a lot of research on her subject matter and as I know very little about Queen Elizabeth I, or really any monarch, I suppose I'll have to take her word. She portrays the royal court as filled with ambitious, jealous people, quite narcissistic and desperate to get ahead.

Simply, Robert Dudley was a man who had grown up as a childhood friend of Elizabeth (who was the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boelyn) but had been accused of treason after King Edward died and he tried to get Jane Grey (his widow) on the throne. I really don't know how succession works but apparently that was treasonous and off to the tower he went. When Queen Mary died (who was a staunch Roman Catholic and Elizabeth's half sister), Elizabeth becomes heir to the throne butshe is protestant. Rumors of wars from the French and potential suitors overwhelm Elizabeth and she turns to this slick Robert Dudley for comfort. Robert happens to be married but in his ambition, sees himself as King potential if he could just get himself out of his marriage. Drama, drama, drama....and things don't turn out to well for Robert Dudley or his wife.

I love historical fiction and this novel is very entertaining. However, the dialogue was so simplistic and thus unconvincing to me. But it puts you back into the middle ages with ease and she weaves historical fact into her story telling quite seamlessly. Most importantly, it was a nice diversion from my Devil in a White City that is killing me.

I guess I'm a cynic

Jay was home yesterday after being on call on Sunday. He took Sammy to his eye doctor appointment where he found out that he only needs to wear his patch for two hours a day now and his vision in his bad eye is improving. They aren't sure how good his stereoscopic vision is yet but thought it was improving as well, which is rare. Happy, happy, joy, joy! Jay came home and worked on the floor which is getting closer to being done. We watched the Bronco/Seahawks game from Sunday and had a nice, relaxing day.

We decided to take the boys to a matinee showing of "Happy Feet" when Seth got home from school.



I usually read up on movies but hadn't on this one and I am disappointed that I didn't. It's not a bad movie, per say, but it's not happy-go-lucky children's fun either. I loved the beginning. Lots of fun music you don't usually expect in a children's movie. Although I raised my eyebrows when Norma Jean was sveltely singing "Kiss" by prince while all of the male penguins swooned. Kind of seductive for the youth, donchathink? But the tap dancing and music was very fun. We had our tub of popcorn, sour skittles for the kids and a giant diet coke to share. Henry had other plans than sitting on our laps eating cheerios though. He threw up during the first 15 minutes (I think he has a hypersensitive gag reflex) and I had to go clean him and me up. Then Jay took over and he crawled out of our row. Jay moved to the end of the row to let him play on the wide stair until he fell down said stairs. I gave Jay a break in the hallway to the doors letting Henry crawl up and down the dirty carpet. Then he discovered the stairs again and it was over. I went back and tried the same thing Jay had (letting him play on a wide stair) but he discovered he could go up. If I pulled him back down to me he would scream. I don't really know why we thought we could all enjoy a movie. We don't do it very often and must have forgotten the intense torture taking a mobile baby to a movie is.

Moving on to the movie, the main penguin, Mamba or mumbo or something, can't sing which is essential to life as a penguin. He can't sing but he can dance. Dancing isn't a welcomed talent, however and he is shunned by his community. Unable to change or become a singer, he seeks acceptance in other communities. I thought we'd be able to go home and talk about how we are all given different talents and that even if we aren't as good at something as someone else, there is something we are good at and we should be thankful for that gift and share it with the world. Great moral for kids. I was right there with them. But then, the gears shifted and suddenly it became this pro-environment/anti religion movie. Of course, the religious leaders of the penguins are severe, unloving and hypocritical. They all are, right? There is just no joy in religion and definitely no acceptance, love or compassion....ever. Just rigid conformity to rules and tradition! Be gone heathens! Then there is the blatant humans bad/environment good message that I'm fine with when kids are at an age to understand world economics and ecology. But don't dress it up in a happy tap dancing movie for kids.

Regardless, my kids loved it. Sammy, my dancer, was doing his groove thing the entire time. Seth was unbelievably sad when Mumbo was being ostracized by his friends, family and community and wanted to go home. I had to convince him that happier times were on his way. And after the movie when Jay and I were trying to figure out what message he got from it, we were happily surprised that he got none of my above mentioned concerns. Not that I was fine with that. I don't support the "he/she doesn't get it so it doesn't matter if he/she watches it". Anyway, I'll move on. I would love the soundtrack though.

We went to Red Robin afterwards and had our usuals. We were given some balloons which were highly charged with static electricity. There was a green one that no matter where it was tied on Henry's high chair, made its way over to me and stuck onto my head. Jay graciously took them to another unsuspecting family and asked if their little boy wanted some balloons. Then back home listening to Seth's non-stop chatter about football and Henry crying.

We got the boys home and Jay worked on the computer while I watched Wife Swap and SuperNanny. I don't usually watch either but was totally fascinated by both shows. I came away with that sense of relief that comes with being married to a kind, normal guy who supports me and our family and kids who are lovable and obedient. I'm glad some people are willing to go on national television and show off their freakiness for all of our entertainment though.

Ingenuity

Thanks Jen for the great idea. I get so tired of all of Seth's second and third helpings of cold cereal that I finally just used a bigger bowl. Unbelievably, he still wanted more.

Success

It's all over! The pressure is off and now its time to have some fun. Actually, to be honest, the last couple of days have actually been pretty fun. I've asked a couple of people why that is. Is it vanity? I hope not. I hope the good feeling comes from a more noble place. It's very rewarding to perform music well and to know that you have pleased an audience. But more importantly, I love music and it's enjoyable for me to have some control over its presentation.

The Christmas party on Friday night was really fun. I drove out with my accompanist and her husband to the Coeur d'Alene resort and it was completely gorgeous out there.

Even prettier with all of the twinkle lights on all of the trees.

They have Chrismtas lights everywhere, the boardwalk around the lake was lit up and it was so cold. Everything that Christmas music describes was right there. Frosty snowmen, frostbite nipping at noses and fires roasting. We went to the ballroom where the Christmas party was and there was a bit of a disaster. They couldn't get the electric piano to make any sound. After about 20 minutes, some A/V guy came and switched chords and they got it going. They didn't have a music stand for the piano music though so we had to rig one up with a bunch of books and a table cloth to camouflage it. We had dinner first and it was a nice buffet. We had assigned seating and I sat next to my accompanist and this nice, single guy who couldn't get a date. He's the son of the boss and I felt bad because they left a space next to him. So everyone kept asking him where his date was. I'm so glad I'm not doing that anymore. I hope people didn't think that I was his date. He's nice but he's about 5'5" and I was wearing heels. When we were standing in line for the buffet, I felt like I had Seth with me. Kind of wanted to help him along the line...put some food on his plate. After dinner, they had a life insurance (that's the business) pep talk and then me. I sang three very mellow songs in a row and I could tell that the crowd was pretty lulled. Not bored....just sort of settled in. I was kind of expecting everyone to be nibbling on their desserts but no....all eyes were on me. I did some schmoozing in between songs...nothing elaborate....just some set up. The last number I did was this very fun spiritual and it was so much more fun to sing in front of people than alone in my living room. Everyone started wiggling their legs and bouncing their shoulders and that is when performing is fun. We had a sing-a-long after that and everyone was smiling and enjoying themselves. Check that off my list.

Today was the Creche Choir concert and first presidency devotional. I had 63 people in the choir and everyone was coordinated. Women wore red tops and black skirts and the men wore long sleeved white shirts, red ties and black pants. They looked great. and they sounded even better. The chapel was standing room only. They had overflows set up in the primary room and the relief society room and they were standing room only too. And when people started spontaneously standing during the Hallelujah Chorus at the end, I could feel the response from the choir and they sang with that much more spirit and energy. Now, we will go and sing next week at the other stake event with pleasure because everyone wants to do it again. Even me!

My kids have been with babysitters both Friday and tonight because Jay has been on call both days. Really bad timing but they had fun with her. And it's been nice getting home to boys in bed rather than having to do it all by myself. So, Jay being on call hasn't even been that bad. Of course, I would have loved for him to come to both things but since that couldn't happen, I'm glad my boys were comfortable here and not making someone miserable at the church.

Now it's time to get the Christmas decor out and start doing something other than music. I'm looking forward to this week.

This picture is crooked but this is my trusty new red sweater...my performing outfit. I was presented with a corsage from the creche directors which is very pretty. Although it kept poking me all night.

Finally some Christmas cheer

I remember why I love Christmas. Christmas cards from friends and family. I think it's my favorite "tradition" of the season. Here it is, December 1st and I just received three Christmas cards today! Two from old college roomates' families and one from old BYU friends the Clouses!
I love it! Cute kids and happy people all over the country (we really do spread out, don't we?)

So, now I'm not nearly as stressed out as I have been the last two days trying to memorize these songs for the party tonight. Well, I'm still pretty stressed but at least I'm smiling:) I can't believe how nervous I am. I don't think I've ever been this nervous for something that I'm not getting judged for or auditioning for. It's just a party but I'm getting paid and it makes the pressure that much greater. I kind of wish I wasn't getting paid because I probably still would have said yes and then would have just gone about my business. But now, I'm thinking...I have to be charming and entertaining and professional! Or they might throw cabbage! I also fear I'm going to be boring since most of the songs I chose are pretty mellow. I have one great gospel song at the end (Jesus, What a Wonderful Child) that will wake everyone back up but then again, they might also think, "um...does she think she's black?" Hopefully everyone will just be thinking about how good their prime rib just was and not care about this stay at home mom posing as a party singer.

The other card senders don't even know about this blog site but Jenny does and I want to say, thanks for making my day brighter! Can always count on your card as one of the first! You all looked fabulous and it was so fun already knowing all about the beach trip! (I need to stop with the exclamation points but I'm feeling pretty chipper!!)

The Track Suit

The day started ordinary. Henry woke up first. He's been sick for about a week and last night was the first night in at least five that he's slept through the night. He woke up happy at a quarter to seven. He's been throwing up most of his solid food but keeping down his formula so I got him a bottle and brought him into bed with me. Jay was already up and going out the door so he snuggled with us for a bit and then headed outside to scrape the layer of ice off of his windshield.

Today was the only morning where I could go to the mall and look for a red top for my Friday night performance and Sunday choir (gotta get more bang for my buck). I put Henry on the floor and took a quick shower before the boys woke up. When I got out, they still weren't out of bed so I went and got dressed. My options were few as I hadn't finished my laundry from our Thanksgiving trip so I put on my one and only "track suit". This is usually a "stay at home" outfit for me but all of my jeans were dirty or still in the washer (I know....but they hadn't been in there so long that they were starting to smell. Just overnight). I'm just not a track suit type gal. When I wear it, I feel like I should be moving more than normal. Like heading from shop to shop doing the jazz walk. I didn't but I could have. I felt that free.

The boys still weren't up at this point so I went and got Henry dressed. He was so happy. We were playing peek-a-boo and I got him all big boy looking in jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt. I made Seth's lunch and finally Sammy came out of bed. It was eight o'clock! I hollered at Seth to wake up and eat and he came stumbling out of bed too. While they were eating, I decided to feed Henry some solid food so that he'd be full and happy during out shopping outing. I chose Fruit Medley. Harmless. 3/4 of the jar into it and up it comes. Everywhere. All over his clothes and high chair seat (which is just the foam cushion since he threw up in his high chair two days ago and his cloth cover is in the dryer -- I am a laundry goddess). Henry's illness just wasn't part of my well-orchestrated morning and I started to using my outside voice. While I was bathing Henry and cleaning up, Seth and Sammy were supposed to be getting dressed. Do all kids get super hyper when they are naked or just mine? As soon as they are down to their skivvies it's like dance party usa/world cup finals. They're playing and laughing and totally off task. My outside voice turns into my stadium voice (there's only rock concert voice left) and I can see we're late. Henry is screaming because while in the bathtub, he crawled over to the drain lever and his hand slipped and the lever caught his cheek on his way down. You get the point. Seth missed the bus and we were late. So now we have to get Seth to school, Sammy to preschool and I want to be ready enough to not come back to the house so that I have enough time at the mall.

It's so cold here. 15 degrees. The roads were still icy this morning and my driveway is particularly bad. I always have to peel out to get over the ice that forms when the snowplows push it back into my driveway. Seth gets to school right as the bell rings and Sammy is five minutes late for school. Not awful but I'm a bit sweaty which is appropriate in my track suit.

Mervyns is closing its store here and everything is on clearance so I wanted to go to the North Mall which is further away than the Valley Mall. We got there and luckily Mervyns was open but most of the shops didn't open until 10:00. I didn't like any of the clothes there for me but did get some Christmas shopping done for Seth. On his wish list is a sports jacket/suit coat. Funny huh? He's different, that kid. I found one for 40% off and some Christmas pajamas for Christmas Eve. Finally at 10:00 I went to Macy's and found a nice red sweater that has a bit of shimmer to it and a new black skirt. Also some new nylons because I don't own any that don't have holes in the toes or runs down the legs. You'd think I'd throw them out when they get in that condition but they are always good for a few more wears.

It was time to leave but I knew Seth's friend was having a birthday party tomorrow so stopped at a game store to see if I could find anything quick. I bought a chess set for Seth for Christmas and a puzzle for this girl. Henry was unhappy in his stroller so I'm holding him at this point while pushing his stroller. Again...kind of sweaty.

I'm about five minutes late again to pick up Sammy but no big deal. We come home and Henry has diarrhea, Sammy breaks his glasses and its just going to be that kind of a day. I called the pediatrician just because Henry has been throwing up for 7 days now and diarrhea for just as long and he's such a peanut that it worries me. He was only 17 pounds at his 10 month check-up so I don't want him to lose weight. They could get me in at 2:00 so I put him down for a nap and made Sammy lunch. Blogged about my book real quick and took clothes out of dryer so that I could put clothes from washer in. (I'm not saying anything about when they finally got folded).

We got to the Dr.'s office and waiting for the elevator is a woman who is, I am not joking, wearing the exact same track outfit. I can't even get on the elevator with her because it is too weird. We are both in black outfits with a double white stripe running down the outside leg. With a matching jacket with those double white stripes running along the outside arms. Like I said....too much. I catch the next elevator and get to the pediatrician office. Of course, she is there signing in. I don't know why it put me out so much. I already felt so fake but now I just felt ridiculous.

The doctor didn't have any helpful advice other than to "keep watching him". I can't blame her. He shows no other signs of illness. He's happy and has no fever, had actually gained some weight from two weeks ago. She suggested giving him mushed up people food instead of baby food since some kids don't like the texture of baby food. I didn't have the courage to try again today so just kept feeding him formula the rest of the day.

I didn't think I'd make it home by the time Seth got home because I also had to stop at the Optical shop to get Sammy's glasses fixed. I called the school and told them to give Seth a message to call me on my cell phone as soon as he got home. I was going to tell him to lock the door and watch the Monday Night Football game from the DVR. I thought it would be more realistic than trying to coordinate something with a friend or bus. But I got home 5 minutes before he did so I'll just hand that "totally unsafe mother of the year" award back, thank you very much.

I picked up the house (getting it cleaned tomorrow - yippee!) and read the mail. Thought about doing quesedillas or something but opted for Taco Bell instead. Less mess. In theory. That would have been before my little Raccoon (aka Henry) tipped over the garbage can and my wrapper for my supreme taco with the tomatoes that I had picked out along with shreds of lettuce spread all over the floor. I finally got the boys in bed and fed Henry one last bottle. He fell asleep eating it, which he never does, and my heart just melted. He's such a busy, busy baby but oh is he cute! I just sat there and played with his little fingers for a good 10 minutes. Then I put him to bed and he woke up and screamed because his pacifier wasn't in his bed because he always throws it over the edge now and I scrambled on my stomach looking for it somewhere under the crib. Once plugged up and content, I shut the door and the doorbell rang. My lights were still on so I couldn't fake "not home" which I sometimes do and I answered it. There was someone from my ward, video camera in hand, ready to videotape me saying two lines to "Twas the Night Before Christmas". He asked me if anyone else was at home and feeling hopeful that he'd let me off the hook, said "no. Jay is on call and the boys are in bed." He said, "Looks like it's just you then." Seriously. Me with my 8:00 at night makeup in my track suit reading some lines from a book. That's what I call fun for the whole family. At that moment, both boys came running out to see who was at the door and he said, "Great! Boys, you're going to be in a movie!" We we all sat in front of our fireplace and read off his of yellow legal pad. He did two takes. When he left I checked a mirror to see what loveliness I bestowed for the film and found a big black smear under my left eye. But do you think he said anything? Can't wait to see that footage. Why, oh why, did I have to wear a track suit today?

Book Review #21- Water For Elephants

I've waited a couple of days to see if this book would grow on me. It didn't. The book uses the ever popular chapter/time switch by going back and forth between an old polish man, Jacob Jankowski, in an assisted living home and his memories of when he was with the circus. I've never liked circuses...perhaps that's my problem. The living conditions were dank and filthy and the behavior of the characters followed suit. I did like the portrayal of the old man who was 90 or 93 - he just couldn't remember. It must be so lonely and frustrating to age alone - without your spouse (he had been married for 61 years) or family other than on Sundays. I didn't get to know the character other than the few months the story takes place but the younger Jacob and the older Jacob didn't seem like they were the same person.

The author paints a pretty vivid picture of circus in the prohibition era. She admits that she did a lot of research and sort of threw it all into the book. So, a lot of crazy, over-the-top things happen to this one travelling outfit. It's interesting, don't get me wrong, and well written but just not a book to love. At least for me.

A serious case of the yesses.

How many magazine articles in LHJ or Parents does a girl need to read to learn the art of saying "no"? If you've read some of my previous blog, you probably have a sense by now that I'm not the go-go-go type. I need my down time (quickly turning into computer/blog time). But the holidays get me every year because so much of the holiday events need music. My calendar is seriously full. But what do I say when some stranger calls my home today and asks if I'll have our stake choir perform at their stake christmas event? SURE! YOU BET! All the while my head is screaming "NOOOOOOOO!!!" I don't know why I do it. I can't believe I said yes. I think I panicked. Really, I'm totally inept at conducting choirs but have fooled a lot of people into thinking that I know what I'm doing. I am well aware that those who have sung in good choirs know how far away I am from being a good conductor but there are quite a few who don't. Maybe I was flattered. Who knows. There are many reasons for my insanity but I haven't even checked with the accompanist so now I may have to call and seem even lamer by saying, "oops!"

Putting that on my calendar and looking at December made my head spin. These are just some of my commitments thus far:

• accompaning a woman at the creche performance on Thursday night. Practiced today and Thursday before performance.
• watching my neighbors girls all day on Thursday.
  
• performing the entertainment at an office chistmas party at the Coeur d'Alene resort on Friday night. I have to do a 20 minute set. I still have to memorize my songs and practice with my accompanist. I'm doing 7 songs.
  
• Christmas creche choir performance on Sunday.
• playing the piano for the first grade class's "Frosty the Snowman" play and sing-a-long next Thursday.
  
• singing for ward Christmas party next Friday. Seth is also singing the second verse to the Nativity Song during the primary's performance which I still have to teach him.
• taking a dessert for the ward christmas party.
• sending a dessert with Jay for his resident christmas party that is the same night as the ward party.
• taking a savory snack to Sam's preschool Christmas party next Monday.

It would be appropriate to note that I have done absolutely no shopping yet. Last year, by this time, I was completely done. I don't even know what to get for people this year. I haven't even started to think about Christmas card or the gifts for friends and neighbors. I've done no decorating and still have projects to do on the house. The normal day-to-day tasks seem to get pushed to the side or bug me even more than normal. I didn't even enjoy myself at Costco today! (Horrors!) Then there are the holiday parties at friends that I actually want to go to. Add to that the fact that Jay is on call three times this week and I totally realize that I should have said "sorry but no" to some of these things. The thing is, I don't usually get to sing all that often and I really enjoy it so turning those down isn't the answer. Playing the piano isn't something that everyone can do and I feel like I need to help out or take a turn so that others are willing to play when I need them. But suddenly it's like the Lucy blitzkrieg and I worry that I will appear to be a showboater - which is so far from the truth. I find people who ask to perform all the time obnoxious.

I'm sure I'm no busier than anyone else. I'm just sad that I'm already wishing this whole season was over! I'll have to wait until next year to take all of that lovely advice and just-say-no.

Over the River and Through the Woods. . .

. . .to the Childers house we went. It's awfully nice being close to my sister and Christopher. Two hours - one movie - is the perfect distance in my opinion. Long enough that it feels like a trip but short enough that you still feel like you have your day of travel to do something other than sit in a car.

Jon, Tara, and family along with Maureen joined in the festivity. Everyone arrived on Wednesday, we being the first to arrive. The cousins reconnected quickly and scampered off to play while the adults admired baby Sadie and enjoyed Jen and Christopher's new home.

Jen and teeny-tiny Sadie in all her pink glory

We had mexican take-out for dinner and Jen and I went grocery shopping to gear up for the feast. I really wanted to make this a pleasant holiday for Jen and Christopher and not have the regret hosting at their home with a 4 week old. But Christopher is uber-capable and pretty much did everything.

Christopher carving our 20 pound turkey.

I made mom's fruit salad and attempted at homemade cranberry sauce. I bought a sure-thing mormon cookbook and used its recipe but didn't catch the line "put strainer over mixing bowl" and strained the cranberries over the kitchen sink. I realized fairly quickly that what I was doing "didn't seem right" and read the instructions again. AAAAAHHHHH. So there wasn't as much cranberry sauce as originally intended but there was plenty. And it was good.

If you've read Jay's blog at all you know that Seth has become Mr. Football. He loves the rules and luckily had two cousins who were just as into as he was. He, Caleb and Ansel spent hours outside playing.

Ansel, Jonas and Caleb playing football. I can't believe I don't have one of Seth. They were out there on both days for hours.

I don't know exactly how it worked and occasionally there were tears (Seth came in one time saying that their touchdown didn't really count because he had called a time-out! I think he was trying to ice them!) but overall they were three peas in a pod. Sammy, Jonas and Alyssa formed another threesome and were usually found on the trampoline or in the cubby closet underneath the stairs (along with a stash of toys).

Alyssa and Sammy. Two years apart and best buddies all weekend.

Owen, Natalie and Henry were pretty much oblivious to the rest of them and just did their own cute things. Sadie slept most of the time in a tiny ball on whoever's chest. She really is sweet. I can't believe she is four weeks old. She looks a day old to me. So, so tiny. They change fast. Henry isn't exactly huge but he looks like King Kong next to her.

Henry doesn't look big here. He rarely does except right next to Sadie.

Dinner turned out nice. Tara made her famous rolls that were the hit of dinner. We had candied yams and stuffing, potatoes and greenbean casserole. The turkey was moist and Jen made a lemon meringue pie. We also had some storebought ones that were good but not as good as Jen's.

The kid table. This group has a fair share of picky eaters so Thanksgiving dinner didn't sit too well with them.

The kids ate in the kitchen (or had plates of food that some of them picked off of - ate is a bit of a stretch) and the adults were left in peaceful bliss in the dining room. Christopher, Jon and Jay had picked up a conference table from Christopher's office so we had plenty of room and were very comfortable. The discussion was lively and everyone was in a good mood.

The spread. I tried to get Seth to take a picture of all of us but he couldn't get everyone.

Jen took a picture with basically only me and Maureen paying attention.

We talked about blogs a lot which was amusing to me. Am I too open? I hadn't ever thought so before. No arguing that I am open but, believe me, I don't write everything I think. I concede that in that way, it is different from a journal, but I still feel that I am basically keeping a personal history. Tara hinted that she might be interested in starting one but the time factor intimidates her. Jen's got a new look with help from Jon but doesn't want it public so I can't link to hers.

a very Jon face. He was forewarned.

I'm always surprised by the strong feelings blogging exposes. There are some people who are really opposed to it. I'm not exactly sure why I feel its so harmless. Perhaps I think I'm too boring or normal for some random stranger to become interested in. Do other bloggers worry about that? I just doesn't keep me up at night. And when I hear that often-said worry, I pshaw.

Tara and Jen. Jen is using a "blog-on" hand signal.

We really didn't do much other than visit, read, watch television and drink soda. I know that sounds painfully boring but it was relaxing. The kids entertained each other completely and very little interference was necessary.

taking a break from playing outside to watch a movie.

Maureen and Tara ventured out to shop on that craziest of Fridays and even Jen went to a couple of stores. We all took turns driving Maureen's fancy Highlander Hybrid around and attempted to get as many mpg as possible.

Peekaboo with Aunt Maureen

It was a nice weekend. I wish my parents, Emily's family and Sarah could have been there but I am thankful for the good relationships I have with each member of my family. I am truly blessed.

Book Review #20 - Angle of Repose

Two days later and I am still profoundly moved by this book. I can't stop thinking about it.

I am not a lover of words and whenever I read reviews that say, "savor each sentence" and "beautifully fluid prose" I tend not to be impressed. Just give me the story and make me feel. But Wallace Stegner's sentences really do make you want to slow down and read each word. They all matter. They aren't just puffy and pretty even though they are. It serves the time, the characters, the setting...it's just perfect.

I didn't know before reading this that Angle of Repose is actually a scientific term that means when the angle of the ground is such that things stop rolling down. A 50-something historian who has been disfigured and is emotionally scarred heals himself by researching and writing a biography of his grandmother. He reads through her letters and journals, articles that were published and sketches she drew and extrapolates about her relationship with his grandfather, her kids and others she knew. The weaving and changing in time is subtle and I didn't find myself jarred back and forth as I sometimes do when authors use this technique. You feel their lives sliding until the end when things get to the point where they are still. It is beautiful, sad, motivating, and moving. I feel like this book matters. That you can actually gain something other than entertainment by reading it. It is going in my favorite's section.

Book Review #19 - The Innocent Man

I think I've read all of John Grishams' books. I'm not sure really why since I'm not a super fan. Most are entertaining though and not hard to get through. On the back jacket, one review is quoted as saying "his best legal thriller yet" which is a far cry from the truth.

This is Grisham's first attempt at non-fiction. He says he chose it because of it's rarity. A white man in a white town charged with killing a white woman with white policemen, white lawyers and judge and jury. Apparently, the absence of racial tensions is profound to him.

This is no thriller, as you know the accused didn't do it from the title, and you know early on that he is eventually exonerated. So it is a story of his background, how he came to be the kind of guy that could be accused of such a crime and some background on pretty much every other character involved. You know a bit about his family, his friends, the victim, her family, the town, the baseball coach. Really, I found that it rambles and has a hard time staying on task. On the inside of the book jacket, it reads, "If you believe that in America you are innocent until proven guilty, this book will shock you. If you believe in the death penalty, this book will disturb you. If you believe the criminal justice system is fair, this book will infuriate you." I found none to be the case. As with everything, those without resources, friends, money, mental capacities usually get a bad deal. It isn't fair. But I don't think it's a broken system. He had lawyers. Not the absolute best (by far), but lawyers. He refused so much treatment for his mental illness because he wasn't mentally fit to accept it. Whose fault is that? America's? His family's? I don't know. But he was sent to death row for a brutal crime he was found guilty of (that is the one thing that actually does disturb. That someone could be convicted with pretty flimsy evidence.) But that is in hindsight which is always perfect.

As Grisham lashes out at the legal system, I couldn't help but notice that it actually worked for this innocent man. Because it was a capital case with automatic appeals, eventually, someone working for a federal judge who can grant stays noticed the bad legal work. He got a stay, a new trial, new fancy lawyers and eventually a reversed judgment. It worked. He was robbed of time and freedom and there is no doubt that he was a victim of a mistake but he sued, and won several million dollars. Mistakes happen but I can't think of a better place for them to happen than in America.

Overall, I thought this book was too long, too haughty and really not that interesting. It would have made a nice magazine article. Real life is complicated and in a case like this, where there are so many people involved, Grisham stretched the readers interest too thin and in too many directions. If you are looking for a slow meander through a complicated legal system....this is your book.

I'm a believer!

O.K. So this may come off a bit promotional but I don't know how else to say it. I'm such a believer in the T-Tapp workout. Which is why I've been hanging on for three years. I kind of forgot though, you know? When I was first introduced to it, it immediately struck a chord with me. The biomechanics and reasons behind each move make a lot of sense. It's really a wellness program more than a fitness program. It's benefits go way beyond increased muscle tone and inch loss but also improves lymph function, nerve pathways and activation, alignment, core strength, hormone regulation etc. It's for everyone, the fit, the not-so-fit, young, old, diseased and lame. It also really works your brain. Which I had kind of forgotten about and started to think of it as just a work-out with out music that can get a bit tedious.

I'm so glad I went. You may have noticed from my tone in earlier posts that I had mixed feelings about going. There was a bit of dread. After the initial excitement about Florida and meeting Teresa Tapp, I realized that it was actually going to be a lot of work and not really that much "fun". Especially when I saw the schedule. Each day began with a 6:00 am workout and then there were workouts scheduled every hour to halfhour (depending on which workout it was) until Teresa's master clinics which started at 8:00 pm. Her classes always lasted about 2 hours so we really worked out until 10:00 pm. We didn't have to do every single workout but were encouraged to do as many we could .

Once I was there, I felt excited. Teresa Tapp has such a charismatic personality and really believes and knows what she is talking about. Friday morning, bright and early, we all congregated for the first workout. For two hours, she made us lunge and twist and push and pull but with form tips and reminders so that every move magically seemed harder and different than all the other times I've done it in my home.

a little move called thread the needle

After that workout, my endorphins were out and I was up for just about every class. Bekki didn't have her certification class until 7:00 pm (she's a certified trainer to teach clinics and classes but there are several different workouts and you also get certified to teach different class sizes - she was doing both) so she was really nervous all day.

Bekki before her class

We went upstairs to our hotel room once to take a break for a couple of hours. (I had some granola!) Overall, on Friday, I did 11 workouts.As two of them were Teresa's and each of hers were two hours, it was about 13 hours of workout time. Bekki did fantastic for her class and sailed through her certification. Teresa loves her. We finally got some food from the bar at 10:00 at night and went to bed exhausted.

Plies on MORE workout

Looking good after day 1. Sadly, I looked like this most of the weekend.

The next morning, we realized that Teresa wasn't teaching the 6:00 class and that it was just different trainers so we didn't set the alarm and decided to start when we felt rested. The combination of the three hour time difference, the fatigue from the previous day and no alarm meant that I slept in until after 9:30! Bekki had already left the room and I panicked and went down as soon as I could. I got there in time for the 10:00 class that I really wanted to do but after that first workout knew I was in for a long day. I was just tired and unmotivated from overdoing it the day before. Bekki could tell so she suggested that we take it a bit easier that day and go to the mall (which was a quick walk away) to get some presents for our kids and for lunch.

We went in our workout gear (Ne'er fret...I had my sweatshirt to cover up - didn't want to scare the locals) and it was one of those high-flutin malls with all the fancy stores. Think Cherry Creek or Bellevue square or Chandler Shopping Center. We were a bit underdressed. I'm always amazed how many women choose to shop and walk in high heels. Mind boggling. We decided to have lunch at Cheesecake factory. As always, they had a huge wait but surprisingly none for patio eating. We were both sweating a bit from our walk over to the mall and Bekki whispered to me that it was probably too cold outside for the Floridians. It was over 60 degrees which was like a tropical paradise to me so we said outside would be fine. They led us to a table underneath one of their many heat lamps and I felt like I was in a sauna. It was really hot and I really didn't want to take off my sweatshirt. So we asked for a different table and they took us to the one that wasn't really close to any of the heat lamps. Our waiter asked if we would be warm enough and feeling cocky, we both laughed and said we would be fine (a little condescendingly). While we were waiting for our food, the breeze started up and I noticed we both zipped up our jackets a bit. Then our hands went to our laps and our shoulders came up trying to retain some warmth. We both started laughing that we were cold! The location of our table was completely unprotected from the strong breeze and that breeze took any possibility of getting any of those heat lamp rays. We considered asking for a new table again but pride won out.

We ate and asked for cheesecake to go (I know, shocking, but I didn't know if that would be our only meal for the day) and we took it back to the hotel. I did three more really hard workouts that day and then saved myself for Teresa's master class that night. Watching all of the different classes was fun though. People have such different mannerisms and ways of teaching. Some I liked and some I didn't. We got the giggles watching one girl who had the catchphrase of "nice". She said it all the time. "Lean over.....nice. Get your shoulders back and down.....nice." We started to count how many times she would say "nice" and once we got to 15 lost count. There were a few "beautiful"s too. Everyone was fading and the last workout of the day was led by the only male trainer there. I had considered doing it but chickened out at the last minute and was so glad I did. He killed his class. Moves that normally only take 3-4 minutes were taking over 25 because he kept them in positions for so long.

Dan the Man during a 22-minute PBS (or Primary Back Stretch)

Everyone was shaking. During his hour, I think they only did four moves. Teresa felt how tired everyone was and instead of her working us out more, did a Q & A.

Again, we didn't finish until after 10:00 and Bekki and I were starving. We walked over to a BBQ restaurant (again in our fashionable stretchy garb) and had nachos and a sandwich (as you can see, I didn't sustain myself on my granola and almonds). By the time we got back the the hotel, showered, and in bed it was after midnight and the alarm was set to go off at 5:45 to be down for the 6:00 am workout.

Luckily, the 6:00 am workout was different than all of the others and was basically an aerobic workout called Sweep away the Inches. We all had brooms that we held above our heads and pulled down behind our backs to activate our back and stomach muscles while we marched in place with T-Tapp form. It's all about the form which is butt tucked, knees bent and out, ball of your feet down with big toe up, shoulders back, rib cage up, belly button in. Makes marching in paces way more intense. I took a break during the next class and then did one more class. It was so hard that I actually got tears in my eyes. I couldn't believe I was crying and mentally shouted at myself to buck up. There's no crying with T-Tapp! Well...maybe there was but I didn't see much of it and didn't want to be a novelty. I don't think anyone noticed and after a few minutes regained my composure. But I knew I was done after that. I went and showered and got ready to check out. We went back down to take a picture with Teresa and then went to the airport.

Teresa is so photogenic and me...not so much. But I had to prove I met her even if it's a terrible picture of me.

Neither Bekki's nor my flight left for several hours so we had a long lunch and then went our separate ways. It was a lot of fun to be there with Bekki and I'm glad she got me into this whole thing. She really is an inspiration and a great trainer and source of information. There...my plug is over.

We were hardly ever outside enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. To prove how nice it was.

There rest of the day wasn't so great. I used to like flying and was looking forward to a day of reading but airports and airlines are so annoying now. The plane was late so we left Tampa about 45 minutes late. It took us forever to taxi and take-off so I had a really tight connection in Phoenix. Running and one of the last to board, I just wanted to be home but that flight turned into a nightmare. We were descending into Spokane, trays put away and seatbacks fully up and locked when they announced that the de-icer on engine #2 wasn't working and it wasn't safe to land so we were being re-routed to Boise. Andrea was coming to pick me up and I knew she had probably already left and that I had just made her night very late and annoying. The flight to Boise was about 25 minutes and just as we were getting there, they announced that air-traffic control said the best chance of landing safely was in Seattle. We would be enroute there for about an hour, then they'd fix the plane and get us back to Spokane just as quickly as possible. We got to Seattle at 11:30 pm and I called Jay and Andrea to let them know what was going on. Friends in need are friends indeed as Andrea and Jason proved to be. They didn't want Jay to have to wake up our boys so while Andrea was already out at the airport, Jason drove over to our house, got our van and drove it out there to leave it in short-term parking for me. Totally inconvenient and altruistic of them. Thank you!

The flight finally got to Spokane at 2:00 am and I crashed when I got home. I can't sleep on planes and had almost been up for a full 24 hours - 12 of them crushed into a window seat. I read almost the whole time so my neck really hurt (but I got a couple of books read - one a real gem).

This morning hasn't been much better as I found some fraudulent pay pal charges that cleared our bank account. $2000! It's clearly fraudulent and the wheels are turning to get our money back but it stinks. I had a definite feeling of vulnerability that someone hacked into that account and purchased what looks like a bunch of porn (I know...gross. Why can't anyone be a bit more like Robin Hood if they are going to steal?).

I don't like these long recap posts. I wish I could have posted each day because there was so much going on and to me, the interesting things happen in the moments and not the days. I'm glad I'm back!

All smushed together

Normally, I'd separate these thoughts a bit but I'm down to the wire getting ready for Florida and when I get back...poof....these thoughts will be gone.

I hosted book group last night and we had a nice time. Discussed Memory Keeper's Daughter. I really do enjoy discussing books with other people. There is always a different opinion and for me it makes reading the book that much more worthwhile to know that there are other interpretations and feelings out there about it. Jay was on call so I put the boys to bed when everyone got here and they did great. I had to go remind Sammy once about the party rules (we prep a lot for it during the day) and then it was lights out. I'm fortunate to have boys who can handle women gabbing and laughing and still fall asleep. Everyone was still around after midnight but left before being caught by Jay again. No worries there since he didn't get in until after 2:30. I can't remember exactly how this commercial came up but we were talking about working out and getting in shape because they were all wondering about T-Tapp (it ISN'T any form of tap dancing as is the common assumption) but Alisa mentioned this funny clip floating out there on the internet so I went searching for it on youtube and this is what I found. Hilarious.



Today was very busy getting loose ends tied up before I go. I had to get a new sports bra for this trip because it's three full days of working out and I just don't have that many guns in my arsenal. I'm a bit nervous for this whole experience. There are online forums and people chatting about what to bring and someone asked what the majority of people were going to do for meals. Someone replied, "I'm just planning on munching on granola and blueberries!" Um.....so I guess there won't be very many french fries being served. Not wanting to be left out of that whole scene...I went and purchased some of my very own granola AND almonds. I can totally fit in there. There might be a little room service ordered later on but I will be there in my spandex with my high fructose corn syrup free food.

Many other annoying details that I won't bore you with but I was busy all day. I had very little down time. Jay called and wanted us all to go to the Gonzaga game tonight so I took all three boys and we met for dinner and then headed over to the arena.

Go Bulldogs!

I only stayed for half and then took Henry and Sammy home because they were both losing it and no one was having a good time. Seth was wearing his Adam Morrison jersey and very into it so I wanted Jay to have that fun experience and put the others out of their misery.

Someone is having a great time and someone isn't. Can you tell who is who?

Now it's crunch time and I have to pack, fold laundry and set everything out for my babysitter tomorrow. Jay is taking Friday off and has the rest of the weekend off so who knows what fireworks are going to go off here. I'm looking forward to some entertaining stories.

Wish me luck! I can feel the burn already!

Le Cafe

I almost tagged this onto the last post but found myself with a little too much to say about it. So it gets a mention of its own.

One of the perks of Jay's residency is a family meal card. The first year we lived here, Jay got several green cards with actual dollar amounts to cross off and then several pink all-you-can-eat family cards depending on how many call nights he had that month. The pink cards had no date on them and were just like magic gold tickets. We purposely saved a lot of them so that we could use them during his first six months of radiology (they have no call because they don't know anything yet) when he wouldn't be getting any more. Unfortunately, some greedy interns decided to basically grocery shop for their move and racked up over a hundred dollars worth of snack food. The cafeteria staff had a cow, complained to the administration and voila....all the pink cards got stamped with an expiration date after the given month. We had at least 20 unused pink cards that were now worthless.

Radiology call is different than pager call. The residents have no breaks. Their shift ends at midnight but they are stuck at their computers from 5:00 until the last dictation. Unless they get called away to do a procedure which means images start stacking up and then they play catch up the rest of the night. They usually run down to get their dinner and then take it up to their dark little room to eat. The point being, it's not a good night to meet Jay at the hospital for dinner which is what we did his entire intern year. The next day is post call so he never wants to go back to the hospital to eat and often times, the pink cards would expire before we ever made it to the hospital for our free food.

They have since switched to gift card type deal that deducts the amount from a sum given at the beginning of the month, again depending on the number of call nights but we have never even come close to using the amount up. Jay is sick of cafeteria food and I have to beg to bring the family. Sometimes, on nights when I'm taking the missionaries pizza and don't want to come up with a meal for our family and don't want to spend any more money, I request Le Cafe. It was an o.k night to go.


Pasta bar, ginger chicken salad, and some interesting sausage sandwich. They always have a salad bar, deli bar, soup and premade salads and sandwiches not to mention a full array of desserts! I had the ginger chicken salad, Jay choked down some pasta (after aimlessly wandering for awhile with a resigned look on his face), Sammy had spaghetti and Seth had a ham sandwich.







Jay may be sick of it but I think when the day comes when he can't run down and get a free soda and three cookies for a dollar (although I think he might not do that anymore) he'll look back with fondness at Le Cafe.

An inconvenient Truth

For the last couple of years, the missionaries in this area haven't been able to come to ward members' homes for dinner unless that ward member had someone at dinner as an investigator. I believe the mission president thought that the dinner hour could be better served working and tracting. Instead, we signed up to take the missionaries dinner at their apartment. For some reason, they always needed their meals by about 4:30 pm. After a few months of doing this, I became so frustrated by the extreme inconvenience to me that I decided to stop signing up. It was too hard for me to have two meals ready at two different times. Not to mention loading all of the kids in the car, with hot food....getting to their apartment and usually leaving my kids in the car while I ran the food up to their apartment. Once, one of the more socially awkward missionaries made a sarcastic comment about yummy salad (his actual words were "yum.....salad" while holding up the ziploc bag with a disappointed look on his face). I don't feel like I've suffered much forgoing the privilege of feeding the missionaries.

In July, a new mission president came and the rules changed back to feeding missionaries in our homes. As I've never had anything against actual missionaries, I signed up right away. Jay and I both feel that having missionaries in our home to eat and share a message is a great visual teaching tool to our young boys. Of course that first month, the same socially awkward missionary came and an entire hour of conversation with him was interesting. After they left, I asked Jay if they taught missionaries basic etiquette (i.e. conversational skills) at the MTC. He didn't remember if they did or not or thought not and I think that if it's not part of the current training then it should be added. Maybe it's their ages or just these missionaries in particular but they are odd!

I avoided signing up the last couple of months for a variety of reasons but had signed up this month. Yesterday was our big day! But Sunday night, they called and said that they had a discussion scheduled for the dinner hour and would be unable to come any time after 5:00 pm. I didn't understand at first and thought they said they couldn't come until 5:00 and I said that wouldn't be a problem but then it became clear to me what they were saying. Socially awkward missionary was of course calling and I didn't know if he was canceling, asking me if the discussion could take place at my house, or rescheduling. Turns out it was none of the above. They were asking me to bring dinner to them at 4:00! That way, they'd be sure to be done eating and at their discussion on time. I hung up the phone and irritation oozed its way into my body. What's wrong with Taco Bell in this situation? I can understand the financial burden of always having to feed themselves but at that late notice, their conflict becomes my scheduling nightmare?

At first I planned a crockpot recipe that I could take some out at 4:00 and serve the rest to my family at 6:00. But I realized that I didn't have any disposable containers to take them and I've learned not to "loan" missionaries dishes. So I decided on taking them pizza. When I rang their doorbell at 4:10, holding that pizza box on my palm I felt like shouting "Delivery!" Anyway...it's over now. Socially awkward missionary then called out as I'm walking back down the stairs to my van, "we'll come by and share a message with you soon!" I can't wait.

This and That

We've had a nice weekend. On Friday, we went to the YMCA as a family to swim with Jason and Andrea's family to celebrate Jack's one year homecoming. It was insanely busy with three birthday parties and surprisingly cold for an indoor swimming pool. Seth and Sammy went down the waterslide over and over and Jay and I just watched them come out pretty much the entire time. Sammy always makes me a bit nervous because he just goes under and starts kicking but he always comes back up with a smile. He can swim! Jay took Henry down a few times and it looks like we might have another crazy kid on our hands. He loved it.

We came home and put our kids to bed and Jason and Andrea came over once they had put their kids to bed and we played Scattergories(sp?). It worked out great not having to get babysitters but still getting to hang out child free.

Saturday morning, I had the goal to get the house picked up and then paint but hurt my toe on a toy fairly early in the morning. I T-Tapped on it and all my KLTing (that's Knee to Little Toe for the non-Tapper which I'm sure makes it clear as mud) caused me further injury, I'm afraid. The rest of the day I was quite lame. Jay spent the day raking.

At least he has his itunes.

A necessary evil.

It was a brutal job and it took a lot longer than he thought. I watched him off and on (is that rude??? I suppose I could have gone out there and helped him...) and he'd look up and pause. I could tell he was surveying the amount of leaves left. We had way too many leaves for our little yard refuse cart so he ended up making a dump run. I washed my dining room curtains and slipcover on the living room couch. I bought it when we first moved here and had just discovered pottery barn. I was so excited about it looking like the couches in their catalogue but I've realized that you actually need one of their big couches to make the slipcover look good like that.

My parent's hand me down. Mom, does it make you long for the good ol' days? My mom thought of putting foam on the arms to make them a little fuller but to really fill up the arms for the slipcover I would need like a 6 inch thick foam pad.

Mine pretty much looks like ill fitted tarp most of the time. I did take care to pin it in a lot more places than usual but it still doesn't fit very well and doesn't really look that good.

Just like pottery barn.....right?

Someday, I'll have a great couch in my front room. But not for a few more years.

Seth and Sammy helped their Dad in the morning and then entertained themselves watching college football. Seth's friend, Emma, came over and there was a lot of giggling for a few hours. I like that Seth still loves his girl friends and can happily play with them. It helps that the girls are usually willing to play football and soccer.

Kids playing hard need a snack

It was a chilly day so I decided to make chili and finally got out my Cuisinart from my birthday. New things intimidate me and following written instructions to try to figure something out isn't my modus operandi. After yelling at the instructions out loud a few times, I finally figured out how to put it together and then threw my green pepper, onion and celery into it to get it all chopped. I'm pretty sure I had the wrong blade in or something because within seconds, my mixing bowl was a pastel green paste. I figured it had to taste the same so added it anyway. (I was right...it tasted pretty much the same...but less chunky) My toe was really hurting so I was pretty cranky by the end of the day. I took a long bath and went to bed pretty early.

Dad saves the day from cranky mom with an evening game of Candyland

Today was a fairly typical Sunday. We had choir for an hour before church so we got all the boys ready right after breakfast and then ourselves and then it was time to go. We haven't had a ward choir for like 6 months and it was nice to go and sing. Sacrament's theme was happiness so we had happy hymns and talks on being a happy people and the plan of salvation. I had to stay on the stand the whole time because there was an intermediate hymn so I watched Jay struggle with Henry the entire time. He's really getting to be a handful during church.

Feeding him a bottle is impossible. He just likes to do it himself. But he gets distracted so it takes him at least an hour to finish a bottle. Poor kids needs a new diaper. Would someone get his mom?

I had him during Sunday School and spent most of the time in the hallway or feeling like I should take him out to the hallway. Jay took him back for priesthood. I love that Jay considers Sundays his day to be with the boys.

I had a great turnout tonight at Stake Choir. 55 people! We are singing the Hallelujah Chorus for the last song and I think that is what's drawing people there. It's just so fun to sing and we hardly ever get to! And it doesn't even sound bad. There are some really strong singers so I'm not embarrassed at all. It's going to be great.

Nothing earth shatterning here...just a bit of this and that. Florida in four days! I hope my toe gets better!