L is for Laughing My Head Off

I have a whole new appreciation for Thomas the Tank Engine books... and Gordon is now my favorite engine.

Laws Help Us

photo from internetjournalist.com

Today's 5-6 year-old Sunday School lesson was on obeying laws. As part of our discussion I posed this question to my class:

What are some laws and rules that are there to help us?

Here are my favorite answers:

"You have to wear seatbelts in the car... except when you're driving to church, because it's just right close by."

"Keep your house clean or it will look like trash... white trash."

"You can NOT marry your sister. Or ANYone in your same family."

PG-13 Bonus Material

(Awesome darkish camera-phone picture)

Allen and I celebrated our 18th anniversary this week with a matinee showing of Lion King, an excess of great food, some needed shopping and overnight stays at two of our favorite Bed And Breakfasts.

The second place we stayed keeps guestbooks in each of their rooms. Last year we stayed in a different suite and discovered a treasure hunt that someone had started in that room by reading the past entries in the room's guestbook. This prompted my reading the book in this year's room - but a different surprise was in store.

You would think that a simple Thanks for a great stay or Loved the room & breakfast! We'll be back! would suffice, but no. We could not believe the things that some people had written in these books; especially knowing that others would read their words and see their name signed just below what they had to say.

Would you like to see a few of the guestbook entries that we found unbelievable and/or humorous?

I thought you might. But let me forewarn you, some of them are a bit... well, racy.

Remembering

bumper sticker found at ihatecancer.net

Ten years ago this month my father was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme, the most aggressive kind of brain tumor.

You may recognize this post at 4 Perspectives from a couple of years ago on my blog, but it's what has been on my mind for the past couple of days so I decided to re-post it.

I just miss him.

White. Styrofoam. Cup.

photo from officemax.com

One thing that I hate about my sometimes-job is that I am required to attend 60 hours worth of interpreter workshops every 3 years to maintain my certification. Most workshops are held at least an hour away and cost a fair amount of cash. However, one of my favorite things about my sometimes-job is when the local university right here in my hometown holds its annual interpreter conference.

The difference between this local conference and the ones held farther away is, in my opinion, significant. For one, I am a sometimes-employee of said university so after I shell out my minimal up front fee to register I am paid to attend for three days.

Score!

Another thing I love is that these workshops always end up being much more entertaining, interactive and just overall enjoyable than any others that I attend. Take today for example.

All of the conference attendees had previously taken the Myers-Briggs Personality Test in order to discuss the various ways that our personalities can affect our work. My personal results were surprising and interesting. In order to help us see the differences in personality styles, the presenter pulled out a white styrofoam cup and asked us to write a paragraph to describe it.

Most people's answers were something along the lines of: A white styrofoam cup. Used to keep things hot or cold. Holds beverages. Breaks easily. Things along those lines. I chose not to share my paragraph, because it was completely different from anyone else's...

At first glance it appears to be a simple, white styrofoam drinking cup. It is only when you really look at it that you can realize its full potential. Is it really just a cup? Look deeper. It could become a planter for a seed. A disposable pencil holder. Perhaps even a future spider trap or roly-poly collector. If you have ever been camping you have likely heard that this cup lets off some sort of toxins when burned. If that's true then it even has a slightly sinister side. This cup, like each of us, can be so much more than we imagine at first glance. This cup actually has some amazing potential, just waiting to be unleashed.

Funny thing is, for the rest of today's conference I started to look at all sorts of things in this way. Popcorn. Pencils. Paper. People.

All filled with potential beyond what we see.

I can't wait to learn what is in store at tomorrow's workshop sessions.

Race For The Cure

This post is LONG overdue...

Waaaaay back in May I had the chance to attend the Susan Komen Race for the Cure in Salt Lake City. A group of friends went to participate in support of our friend Jes who had surgery to rid herself of cancer. (p.s. I hate cancer.) She is doing awesome and is SO loved!

Our team was called "Wish Upon A Star". We were encouraged to wear plenty of pink to show our support of kicking breast cancer in the trash, so I found this amazing ensemble at the local thrift store for only $15 total! Can you believe it? I wish you could see my awesome pink shoes, too. And don't you love the wand?

When we found out that roughly 18,000 people would be participating in this event, we decided to ride Trax in to Salt Lake. That ended up being a very wise decision because the streets were PACKED! On the way up my friend Clint and I lamented over the fact that there was no way we would find Jes among a crowd of 18,000... but all was well. We had a post-race meeting spot all planned out already.

When we exited Trax, miracle of miracles, there was JES and her family! She had ridden in on the very same train as we had, just one car up. We got to walk the whole route with Jes and quite a few others in our group.


The shirts that people came up with were my favorite part. I didn't think to take pictures of everyone's shirts until the end, when I saw this one:


But a few of my other favorites were:

"We're Walkers For (insert name here)'s Knockers"

"Save second base!"

(On a man's shirt) "I'm here for the boobs."

I am not sure that words can really express the awesome feeling of being one person in a sea of 18,000 - all there united in one cause.

It. Was. Amazing.

I am not sure pictures can show it accurately, either, but that's what you're gonna get...


Here's Team Wish Upon A Star:


I think our shirts said it all...

Gerb In The Garden

There is nothing in this world like eating from our garden. The picture above represents one day's bounty. I can't wait for more tomatoes to start ripening! I could eat them with every meal along with cold, sliced cucumbers and oven baked zucchini.

The worst part is that we get used to what these fresh, home-grown fruits and veggies really taste like, then it gets cold and we have to buy the tasteless stuff that they sell at the store. Either that or we just go without. I'm hoping for a late frost this season!

By far, this was my favorite part of yesterday's harvest:


The strawberry plants have turned out to be my favorite investment. They are the perfect amount of sweet and a wonderful topping for waffles and ice cream - if we don't eat them all right out of the bowls on the counter.

Zucchini and cucumbers have been our best producers so far this year. My kids are loving all of the great treats I have learned to bake with zucchini over the years. Tomorrow we're going to make zucchini apple pie - which contains no apples, by the way. Sound gross? I thought so, too, but it's actually amazingly deceiving.

I'll have to share some of my favorite zucchini recipes here...

Stay tuned!

It's About Time

As school has been quickly approaching my kids have expressed their anticipation to return. "You'll just be wishing for vacation days once you're back in school," I reminded them. One child responded with these words: "Well, summer hasn't been that great because you never let us do things with our friends. At least when we're at school we get to see them everyday."

Ouch.

It is not true, by the way, that I never let them do things with their friends. I will be the first to admit that I am a bit more protective than most parents, but I try to be sure that my kids have plenty of friend time intermingled with their family time. They are already running around enough as it is with Cross Country practices (sometimes twice a day), Scouts and church activities, piano lessons, appointments, etc. We are not all at home together as a family often enough.

Here's the way I figure it, though. I only get my kids for their first 18 years. That's nothing! Do you know how quickly we went from this:
to this?
It was like a blink! This month we will celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary - but I can still distinctly remember picking out that awesome peach dress with the big shoulder pads and lace collar for our first professional photo together. Time flies!

So I blink, and 18 years have passed. Then, one by one, we lose the kids to college, roommates, jobs, missions... and even eventually to their own marriages and families. Maybe lose isn't the right word. I do look forward to these landmark moments but recognize that they will have their own lives at this point - they will make decisions without needing my approval. They will take care of themselves and no longer be dependent on me for life's necessities. I do look forward to this aspect of their independence... but at the same time I do not look forward to it. My heart is torn when I think of their futures. More specifically, their futures without me, their mother.

Why can I not pull this jumble of thoughts from my head and form them into coherent sentences!?

What I'm trying to say in all of this rambling is that I want my kids around as much as I can keep them here while they're still under our roof. 18 years is such a short time! They are going to be living with Allen and I for probably less than 1/4 of their lives. Why does that seem so unfair to me? I want to build an abundance of memories and share plenty of laughter. I want us to dance and sing together. I want to teach them the value of service and the skills they will need in their individual futures. I want to bake them their favorite treats, cook up the meals that they love and talk about what they have learned in the books they are reading. I want them to have gospel knowledge and strong, unwavering testimonies. I want to help them gain a love for arts and cultures and nature. I want to teach them to be self-confident and kind.

I want our home to be a place where they will long to return once they have ventured out on their own.

How can I do these things, create this bond, if they are away with friends all of the time? Perhaps I am selfish. Perhaps things will be different once some of my younger kids are the oldest still at home. I don't know. What I do know is this:

I love my family. I love having my children here at home with me. I love spending time together, creating happy memories. All I can do is hope that, once they have left the nest, they will see the value in my possessiveness. When it comes their time to go, I hope they will fly away with confidence and knowledge and kind hearts. I hope they will come to their father and I for advice and encouragement and laughter and love.

In the here and now I hope they don't resent me too much for trying to keep them around as much as possible while I can.

And in the future I hope that they will all choose to remain close to our family while doing the same for their own kids.

Subchorionic Hematoma

(10 weeks into pregnancy)

(Disclaimer: Some of you may not care to read this post. It's an attempt to share my experience with a subchorionic hematoma, which causes bleeding during pregnancy. Not an exciting subject, but hopefully an informative one. If you don't like to read about bleeding or pregnancy-related stuff, just stop here.)

Sounds pretty important, doesn't it? Big, fancy doctor-speak which I had never heard of before it happened to me.

At almost nine weeks into this pregnancy I started showing signs of having a subchorionic hematoma (also called a SCH).

Once my condition had a name I wanted to be educated. I looked in the two books I have on pregnancy and neither one even briefly mentioned SCHs. I went to the internet next, looking for reliable sources that were informative. I only found a couple, but they helped me understand things a bit better.

In a nutshell, I discovered that SCHs only occur in just over 1% of pregnancies. There is no known cause and it occurs in women of all ages and races.

Next I searched the blog world. That was actually a mistake. I found that most people who tell their SCH story online have not had a good experience. It caused me more worry and concern than I was already experiencing.

I could only assume that those who have a successful outcome do not tell others about it; maybe they just count their blessings and get on with their healthy pregnancy, which is what I planned to do as well. I'm not usually much for sharing what I consider to be very personal information, but as I thought about it I realized that I should tell my story for those who are searching for positive outcomes. If I could ease someone's worry, it would be worthwhile.

Here is my story...

On a Monday evening I was getting packed to leave for our church's Girl's Camp the next morning and felt a sudden gush. I ran to the bathroom and found that I was bleeding.

I had no idea what was happening so I feared I was having a miscarriage. I debated staying home from camp but after calling a nurse help-line I decided that I would still attend camp and hope for the best. I had mild bleeding for a few days afterward which eventually stopped. I was relieved. Immediately following camp I spent the weekend at a family reunion, where I started to bleed again.

After arriving home I took a pregnancy test which came up as positive. I was still worried and unsure of my condition, and Allen encouraged me to make an appointment with my obstetrician to figure out what was going on. The nurse in the office recommended that I have an ultrasound to determine what was causing the bleeding and (lucky me!) my friend Heidi was able to get me in for a scan that same day. She said that my SCH was moderate in size.

After my first ultrasound (at 10 weeks) I was told to 'take it easy' and not lift anything over 20 pounds. I was also instructed to make time a few times each day to sit down, put my feet up and relax for at least 15 minutes as well as making sure to stay well hydrated. The goal was to have a 2 week span with no bleeding. The doctor told me that most SCHs resolve themselves before 20 weeks of pregnancy - and not to worry.

That was the most difficult part since I am a worry-wart by nature.

At this time I was much more tired than my usual early pregnancy-induced sleepiness. It was a huge blessing that I have older kids who were willing to help out as needed, but I did not change too much of what I was doing on a daily basis. However, I did follow the doctor's advice to put my feet up and relax often - and drink lots of water.

I was still spotting when I went in for my 12 week ultrasound. The SCH had diminished in width, appeared to be clotting (good news), but had grown longer.


I continued spotting for another 2 weeks before the bleeding finally began to cease.

At almost 17 weeks I had another ultrasound which showed that the SCH had completely resolved itself and was gone. There was no trace of it during the ultrasound.

I am now happy to report a healthy, SCH-free pregnancy at 18 weeks with a sweet little growing baby boy!


My next obstacle?

To find maternity clothes that are stylish and do not hug my growing belly. Wish me luck.

UPDATED 6/24/2013:

Some who read this post may not get to the comments so I thought I'd let everyone know that the rest of my pregnancy went great!  I had no more bleeding after the SCH went away at 18 weeks and my darling little X (who I was pregnant with when I had the SCH) is now a healthy and happy 2 year old!

And She's Only Seven

photo from runnerspace.com

As I was dropping off my two oldest girls for Cross Country practice yesterday afternoon, Cowgirl noticed that one of the boys at practice was not wearing a shirt.

"SICK!" she exclaimed. "Why doesn't that guy put his shirt on?!"

When we returned to pick them up awhile later Cowgirl pointed out the same shirtless young man.

"I wish that guy would just put his shirt back on! That is gross."

"Stop looking at him, then, Cowgirl," I responded.

"I can't help it! I'm not trying to look at him!" she told me in an exasperated voice.

Then, from the seat behind her, Princess flashed a sly smile and piped in, "Well, I am..."




Heaven help me.

A Cookie Dream Come True

Don't you hate how the Girl Scouts only sell their cookies once a year? Are you already pining for a box of Samoas, Tagalongs or Thin Mints?

Well, today's post at 4P just may be a dream come true. It was for me!

This Girl Scouted Some Cookies

I somewhat fondly remember my days as a Brownie Girl Scout, going door to door in hopes of selling enough cookies to earn a ticket to the annual trip to Disneyland with my troop. I always emerged triumphant, often out-selling the rest of the girls and earning the coveted '400+ cookie sales' badge to proudly display on my sash.

The cost of Girl Scout Cookies has changed dramatically from the time I was selling them, which I suppose is expected. Now that I'm on the purchasing end I willingly shell out my cold, hard cash for a substantial stash of Samoas which I can ration out to myself until they are available for sale once again.

Okay, let's be honest... they never last longer than about two months.

Alright. One month.

FINE! They don't even last a week. And then I'm driving all around the neighborhood, pulling up to the Girl Scout Cookie tables in front of every grocery store and Stuff Mart in town, yelling out my window like a crazed lunatic, "HEY! GIRL SCOUT! PLEASE? DO YOU STILL HAVE ANY SAMOAS LEFT?!" in hopes that they haven't sold out.

Why, oh why do they only hold their cookie sale once a year? Also, what is it about buying them that makes me feel like I'm being conned into a "Once-a-year opportunity! Act now before they're gone!" sort of deal?

Well, Girl Scouts, I've got news for you. My days of stockpiling a stash of Girl Scout Cookies in the back of my freezer every year are over!

OVER, I say!!

Last week I was perusing the snack aisle at the grocery store when what to my wondering eyes should appear? Girl Scout Cookie knock-offs!


I thought it was too good to be true, but at the screaming deal of 3/$5, I couldn't resist a little taste test of my family's top 3 flavors. And guess what?

I am in love.

I would even go so far as to say that the store-bought knock-offs are better. More flavorful. And most importantly: available year-round.

Don't worry Girl Scouts, I'll still buy a couple of your boxes when you come knocking at my door once a year. I have too many memories of people saying no to me when I was in your shoes. But when you show up this year I won't have that crazed, sign-me-up-for-twenty-before-it's-too-late!! look in my eyes... because way in the back of the bottom shelf of my freezer, behind some freezer-burned venison and nestled inside an empty bag of mixed vegetables, my personal stash of elfin-made Coconut Dreams will be replenished and waiting for me.

Samoas, you have met your match.

Missing Family

This family picture is proudly displayed in the hallway of our home. It is the one we get the most comments and questions on, which always leads us to do a count of who is missing since this photo was taken.

Allen came up with the idea of just placing a sticky note in the corner so that we wouldn't have to do the count every time. Brilliant.

The people you see here are our immediate family on Allen's side. I have written before about his parents, the best in-laws a person could ask for. (Go ahead and read that post so you can understand what amazing people they are. Seriously.)

Most people who see this picture are amazed that it only contains the children, children's spouses and grandchildren of the same two parents. Apparently the size of our group is unbelievable - and then we tell them how many are missing. This picture was taken in the end of 2004. Almost six years later and we're already missing 25 people.

You would think that the solution is simple, right? Just get another picture taken.

We wish it were that easy. With so many people involved it is inevitable that someone will be on a mission, out of state and not able to make it, having a baby, or even stationed far away with the military.

So not only are people missing from the photo, they are missing from our lives much too often as well.

Until the time that we are all able to gather for another group shot we will continue to count how many are missing from the photo - as well as the number our hearts are missing.

School Shopping

photo from wikimedia.com

Don't ask me why I did it. I'm not so sure myself. But last weekend I took all of kids back-to-school shopping. At the same time. Yes, you read that right. All 9 of them.

The truth of the matter is that aside from it being completely exhausting and mind-numbing, it was actually kind of entertaining.

I paired most of the older kids off and sent them in search of clothes while I helped the younger ones with their selections. It turned out that Coolister didn't think he needed any new clothes with his recent bounty of birthday clothing so he took the two youngest non-school goers to peruse the toy and book sections of the store. Thank you, Coolister!

All of the kids had fun finding various articles of clothing that they tried on and narrowed down to "the ones", and I enjoyed helping them with their selections, but my favorite was Hubba. Let me first mention that I have never taken him shopping for clothing before - it has always just magically appeared in his dresser drawers.

When Hubba and I approached the dressing rooms to try on his pile of jeans, shorts and shirts he immediately informed me, "I don't need to go to the bafthroom!" I explained that these were not bathrooms but places to try on clothes to see if they fit. He cautiously opened a door, peeked inside and turned to me with a huge smile on his face, yelling loud enough for all to hear, "THERE'S NO TOILETS IN THESE FUNNY LITTLE BAFTHROOMS!" and let out a long giggle. I had to laugh as well. They did look like bathroom stalls.

I handed him a pair of jeans and told him to go in one of the little rooms, try them on, and then come out and show them to me. (Let me add here that I would normally just go in with him but I had to be available to see what my other kids were trying on in their own dressing rooms as well.)

Hubba thought this was a lot of fun and would come out each time, strutting and jumping to show me all angles of his clothing, and each time proclaim, "It fits! Let's keep it." Even when the pants came up past his ankles or the shirts showed his bellybutton. In his opinion, every item was a keeper. He also became aware that there were other parents waiting for their kids to try things on so despite my attempts to get him to stop, he often talked to them whenever I was preoccupied with another of my kids' clothing.

"Hey, lady. Did you see these great pants I got on? They're for school. P-cause I'm going to kinnergarden!"

"Excuse me, man. Did you see my cool shirt? Do you wanna see the back, too?"

"Hi there, guy. Like my shorts? They fit, doncha think? Hey, mom, that guy says my shorts are good. Let's buy 'em!"

It was more like a comedy show than a shopping spree. If I didn't have to stand the entire time (when did they stop putting chairs near the dressing rooms?) I think the whole experience would have even been enjoyable.

It's pretty amazing how something I dreaded was changed when my 5-year-old let me see things from his perspective.