Mara-isms

I know, I know, I hate when parents make their blogs about "I have the cutest kids in the world". But I also recognize that every once in a while I love hearing the fun, quirky things that their kids have done. So, I will share a few quotes from a day in the life as Mara's mom.

1. Eden has a cough that has moved into her chest. Mara said "yea, I've noticed she sounds all rusty."

2. Mara's stomach was hurting a little bit but then she told me she had a big long burp and she felt better. She said it feels like the big long burp has a shovel and digger that dig out all the bad stuff and pull them out with the burp.

3. When Mara was in the bath tonight she farted and said that it sounded like a toad burping under the water.

4. Mara was looking at the case for the movie "The Parent Trap."(BTW one of my all time favorite movies!) She asked what it was called and what it was about. I told her the premise of the movie and then she was guessing as to how they trapped the parents to get them married. Her idea was that they created a force field around the temple so that the parents couldn't leave and had to get married. Hmm, not so bad, maybe I'll pitch it to some church movie maker. "The Mormon Parent Trap". That has winner written all over it.

Being a mom really is fun. These kids are more original than adults any day.

Choosing Christmas Presents

OK, this will tell you what a mean mom I am. When it comes to Christmas and birthdays, I choose presents based upon what I want my kids to have and what I want in my home. Granted, it's easier when they're young. But for example-- I know Polly Pockets are popular with the girls but have I ever bought one for my daughter? NO. Why's that you ask-- because I don't want the little pieces everywhere. Same with Magnetix, regular legos (we do have duplos) and other toys like that. I really hate most popular girls toys-- Barbies, Bratz, most "character" stuff (Tinkerbell, Disney Characters, etc.) So I don't buy those for Mara. Sometimes if something is branded with a character but I like the product I'll buy it-- like a scooter, water bottle. But in general, I will not buy it.

I have it REALLY good. My in-laws, I love them, but they have terrible taste in gifts. *Imagine a turquoise vinyl stuffed pig.* Where do you even pick something like that up? Luckily, they give money so I don't have to worry about birthday and Christmas presents. My mom is pretty good and is awesome about letting me give ideas.

Lastly, I don't feel like they need a lot. So they get one big gift from us (big=20/30 bucks) and one from Santa. Then they each choose a book for eachother and there's the stocking and that's it. I love it! Yay to cheap, easy Christmases with kids who are happy no matter what and here's to dreading teenagers, expensive gifts, and whining about not getting what they want!

"We are all getting too fat and lazy because we use a computer for everything"

That's right! I'm getting fat and lazy because my computer does everything for me-- cleans the house, does the laundry, makes the meals, takes care of the baby.

In short: e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.

I don't know if it is really kosher to post this but I had to share it. I am on the library board here in Pleasant Grove and recently compiled a bunch of data from a survey we did about our new online catalog. We got a grant to put the catalog online and part of the requirements from the grant were to conduct a usability survey. The comments were overwhelmingly positive.
And yet.
I'll let you look for yourself at this survey and you can guess (along with me, as they are anonymous) as to what type of person wrote this one. I personally feel sorry for him (it seems like a him to me). Poor guy, computers are his demise.

Nature vs. Nurture

OK, I've decided that I am kind of an anomaly as a girl. I grew up poor. Farmer's daughter, 10 kids. I was scrawny and got my growth spurt late. I actually wore hand-me-downs from a girl a year younger than me! But, I actually didn't care that much. I didn't worry about the things girls worry about. Now, I have this daughter that I have NO idea what to do with. She likes the exact opposite things from me-- sparkly, pink, atrocious. She is obsessed with makeup, high heels, and getting her ears pierced. It really is amazing and it is a testament to me that kids really come wired a certain way. I always believed really strongly in the nurture side of things. I thought that if I was a good mom my kids would behave a certain way. Yet, I have this daughter who, when I watch her, acts as if she's a spoiled brat who always gets what she wants. She had a rough day at school this week and as I was "talking" to her she was explaining all that went on. She has this friend who is a brat, sorry, but true. Anyway, Mara acts up with her and as Mara was telling me the things she had done I asked Mara why she was friends with her. (She isn't particularly nice.) Mara informed me that she has the prettiest face, is the fastest runner and has the prettiest clothes. Oh, so that's how you choose your friends. I am appalled!! Where does she get this from and how does she even notice this? She is 5! It is truly unbelievable. All the people we really hang out with aren't that way AT ALL so how is it that she notices this and it is important. Needless to say, I quoted a little scripture ("The Lord looketh upon the heart") and gave her a nice lecture and then prayed that maybe the fact that we are dealing with this now means we will have it out of the way by the time she is older and the girls get meaner. I have always had a strong dislike for "popular" girls who treat other people as if they are worth less. That is my biggest pet peeve. And that would be my daughter. All I know, is Heavenly Father sure has a keen sense of irony.

Halloween, Shmalloween, what really gets the kids crazy is . . .

OK, many people complain about Halloween and the sugar high of the kids as well as the come down, how their kids are out of control, etc. Well, I didn't think it was that bad. Between our 2 parties leading up to the date and Halloween itself our kids got to bed on time every night(8:30) and weren't that wired. (I'm pretty mean and limit the candy intake.) What really has made things miserable around our house?

Daylight Savings Time

(dun dun dun)

With the change my kids are waking up at 6 ish (which used to be 7 ish) and going to bed at 8:30 (which used to be 9:30) so they are essentially getting 1 hour less of sleep each night. Yes, I know, I could put them to bed earlier but I don't want them to adapt to waking at 6 ish. Anything before 7 is TOO early for me. I want them to adapt back to waking at 7ish. During that adaptation period it is "heaven on earth" at my house. They are cranky, throwing fits, ornery-- truly a joy. And I am, well, pretty much the same since they are getting up early that means I am also. So, although I don't really hate daylight savings times, they really didn't think about the people it would hurt. That's right. It hurts. It is one of a mother's cardinal rules-- never mess with a child's sleep schedule. (Honestly, if any of you ever wake my napping baby, there will be hell to pay!) So, here's to praying that we will all adapt quickly before someone ends up calling Child Protective Services.

In Memoriam: Peg Bracken

I'm a self-proclaimed NPR Junkie. So those of you who get tired of me always saying "I heard on NPR . . ." Sorry, it's not going to end soon. But today I heard the sad news of the passing of Peg Bracken.
I consider myself a fairly good cook. I enjoy it and like to experiment . . . to a point. I am also a lazy cook. I look over a recipe and will discredit it immediately if it has too much preparation (i.e. chopping, ugh) or specialty ingredients that I would only use for that recipe. I do have a few recipes for special occasions or that are really good that break those rules but in general I am a functional cook. I cook to eat. What does this have to do with Peg Bracken you ask? She wrote the "I Hate to Cook Book".
The following is quoted from the la times, click here for the whole article:
Bracken sold more than 3 million copies of "The I Hate to Cook Book," which helped busy women save time in the kitchen by cutting steps and shamelessly relying on convenience foods such as dry onion soup mix as key ingredients. She wrote for reluctant cooks like herself, who knew that some activities -- particularly childbearing, paying taxes and cooking -- "become no less painful through repetition." Her book, she wrote, was "for those of us who want to fold our big dishwater hands around a dry martini instead of a wet flounder." That sentiment struck a chord with an as-yet-unidentified mass of women emerging from the Eisenhower 1950s who did not regard slaving over a hot stove a feminine virtue. Although Bracken disdained complex recipes or menus featuring more than three courses, she included some sophisticated touches. The advertising pro in her advised women to portray their cooking in savvy ways, eschewing easy phrases such as "top with bacon" in favor of the more evocative "garnish with crispy bacon curls." She called such efforts "Good Cooksmanship" and said it enabled women to give the impression that they cared about cooking more than they really did. Bracken sometimes saw cooking as therapy. The prime example was her recipe for "Aggression Cookies," an oatmeal concoction credited to a mental health center in Lansing, Mich.

Her cookbook was hilarious and real.
You'll be missed Peg, but your legacy lives on.

Pachelbel Rant

OK, so, no offense to those of you who love Pachelbel's canon but I despise it. It bugs me. In short, it is the "easy listening" of classical music. I won't go off on it too much because, again, I don't want to offend those of you who love it. Jason showed this video to me and I LOVED it. It is hilarious, so check it out. I would rate this video PG13 because it has a few swear words. Be forewarned. Dang funny!

A conversation with Peggy

Peggy: How much is the weight?

Jason: Oh, I'm at about 176 these days.

Peggy: 260??!!


Note: Peggy is Jason's mother. She is the sweetest woman but she had a stroke 6 years ago so her communication skills are lacking. It provides for lots of entertainment and fun anecdotes.

Operation: Home Destruction, Method:Sleep Deprivation, Time Frame:24 Hours,Status: Completed Successfully

Isn't it amazing how a happy home can turn crazy in 24 hours with just a little sleep deprivation? Tonight ended as we were doing our "blessing basket" and I was forcefully telling Asher "WHAT'S IN YOUR BLESSING BASKET? You've been given lots of blessings, name one, NOW!" Okay, it wasn't that bad but still, as I was forcefully motivating him to name a blessing, I was thinking that perhaps this wasn't very effective parenting. A little counterproductive to try and get him to think how blessed and happy he is when I am frustrated with him and he is on the brink of losing it.

It all started last night as we get home right at bedtime. We quickly get the kids down; I feed the baby and get her down (YAY!) and I am finally relaxing. Then, Jason comes upstairs to say, "It's smells like gas downstairs." I get up, a little annoyed, go downstairs and, sure enough, it smells like gasoline. So, very calmly I go upstairs and call the fire department where they say to evacuate. How exciting. Who wants to take a sleeping 5 yr. old, 3 yr. old and 3 month old out into the freezing cold? Then the 2 Emergency first response vehicles came, as well as a fire engine and an ambulance. A fuel line on Jason's motorcycle broke, leaking out 3 gallons of gasoline on the driveway which then seeped into our home. So, the EMT told us that while the gas was not at levels where the house could explode (whew!) we should probably find somewhere else to sleep for the evening but after talking said that we could probably just open the windows downstairs to air it out and then everyone sleep upstairs. That sounds like a great idea.

We got everyone back to sleep in their new quarters and I got to sleep at midnight. So today was a disaster. Which events to highlight? Spending 45 minutes pacing the floor with a screaming baby, only to have them sleep for 20 minutes. I think my blood pressure and heart rate hadn't even returned to normal. Asher screaming in his room during that time because he wanted his cup and vitamin. Luckily, Eden was screaming so loud in my ear that I couldn't hear Asher too much. My forceful prayer for help to keep me from losing it. It made me think of the moment in Planes, Trains and Automobiles when Steve Martin is talking to the lady at the Auto Rental counter and says I want a _______ car, right ________ now. Without the expletives, of course, but a similar prayer.

In my blessing basket tonight: I am thankful for bedtime, for everyone.
Yes, it was one of those days.

20 more exciting(that's right) things about me you never knew and probably didn't really care to, but, EAT IT!

I'm too boring. Driving home tonight (in the car without the screaming baby, ahh) I was trying to think of more things for my list and drew a blank. But my lovely sister Kate told me she checked in here to see if I had updated it (wow, unbelieveable) so it has motivated me to update this. I'll just make it up as I go, like I did last time and see what I can come up with.

21. I love being a mother and am sooooo grateful for the opportunity. (I can't put enough o's on so to really get the emphasis but you get the idea.) Despite the fact that I probably complain about it too much, I do love it and wouldn't change it for the world.

22. I am a night person. That makes the above very difficult. Something about breathing in that night air is like a shot of adrenaline to me. The summer after I graduated HS I worked graveyard and LOVED it. In college, I slept through any class that was before noon. (Until I settled down and became a boring married person.) I still love pulling all-nighters (not with a screaming baby of course, but for fun.) There is just something about watching the sunrise after being up all night that is exhilarating. I only hope that after my kids are a little older I'm not too old to enjoy it again. Anyone up for a night out on the town?

23. I like to be spontaneous, silly and fun. I have many stories of the stupid, fun things I did that I won't share them all but I have a scar on my leg from sneaking in and out of a public pool, I also got in trouble with the cops for mooning a bunch of drunks from a hotel room in high school while on a trip to a track meet. Who would've known? Let's just say that the track coach and I had no love for each other.

24. My biggest pet peeve (even more than nails) is people not treating everyone with love and respect. I know I'm not perfect but I hate seeing people treat others badly or treat some people like they are worth less than others.

25. One of my lifelong dreams is to sing in the Tabernacle Choir. I don't think I have an amazing voice but it might be just good enough. (Maybe I'm jinxing myself by putting this on here. It is a little scary putting it out here like this.)

26. OK, this is really embarrassing but I had an awful nickname as a baby. My middle name is Rose and my parents do still sometimes call me Rose but as a baby my dad called me "Rosy Rotten Crotch." Nuff said.

27. Sometimes my siblings and I like to pretend like we are gangsta and talk tuff. Forget the part about growing up mormon, on a farm in hicksville. Yo. Werd. Ya? So's your mom.

28. I have lived in 5, that's right, 5 exciting places. Umatilla, Oregon pop. 2,000 (in 1973, I was born in '78 although now, the hospital is gone.) Hermiston,Oregon (about 5 miles from Umatilla) where the population was about 10,000 (we moved to the "BIG" city) but is now around 14,000 residents. Then Ringsted, Danmark (as an exchange student in HS) pop. 29,000. Off to Provo, UT home of BYU Cougars (woohoo), then downsize a little to Pleasant Grove, Utah where I am somewhat happily calling this place home. (Utah, you know, if you weren't born and raised here, you feel like a foreigner even if you are mormon.)

29. I won the spelling bee at my school several times. (I don't have an exact count.) I also won a reading contest where you are part of a team and you have to read 15 books and then you get quizzed on them. You go against other teams and the winner moves on. We (but I was pretty much the team) won the regional competition and I was the youngest kid. I was accused of cheating. But no, I actually am really that nerdy.

30. Speaking of nerdy, I like school, I like studying, I like tests. I miss it. My dirty little secret is out.

31. I like to talk. Too much. I am always kicking myself after social outings for talking too much, interrupting others, monopolizing the conversation and not listening enough. So, if I have done this to you, I'm sorry. I know, and I'm working on it!

32. Subsequently, I am always saying things I regret. I am still learning that there are times to NOT say something. I guess not EVERYTHING needs to be talked through. I can be a little too honest and open. Just a tad.

33. Being an exchange student in High School was the best thing I did for myself. It helped me discover and develop my own unique identity. On the flip side, my mother thinks it was the worst thing I ever did, never wanted me to do it and felt that after I came back I was a hellion. Up until that point, my nickname was "Little Miss Perfect" so aptly put by my third grade teacher. (I told you I was a nerd.)

34. I am extremely forgetful and absentminded. (I'm sorry if I forgot your birthday or any other important thing.) Case in point, for carpool my days to pick up the kids are Wednesday and Thursday. Last Thursday I sat out on the steps waiting for Mara to be dropped off because I thought it was Friday. Apparently the school called my house (I was outside), Jason's cell and then another mother because no one was coming to get the kids. In my own little world, it was Friday. I swear.

33. And another example. (Look at the number, I didn't even do that on purpose.)

36. In college, I couldn't decide if I wanted to major in accounting or music. I auditioned when I came down in the fall and got into the music program and that's where fate took me. Too bad, I'm sure accounting would have been just as much fun!

37. I love celebrating holidays. I created my own holiday calendar and it has random holidays on it such as Feb. 27 International Pancake Day, March 24 Yo-Yo Day, May 1st Mother Goose Day, July 15th Gummy Worm Day, and so on. (If you want to know more, just ask.) I don't always celebrate them all but it's fun to pull it out and see what's coming up and celebrate it with the kids. A break from the monotony.

38. I was a teenager when I got married. ( I still can't believe it, I thought I would have gotten my undergrad, served a mission and working on my post-grad by the time I got married.) My parents were less than thrilled, shall we say. At one point my mom threatened to disown me. The summer I was engaged was one of the worst times of my life. But now look how it turned out, 10 years later and Jason still makes me laugh. Here's a picture of us from February.

39. I love to travel and Jason and I have travelled a lot since we have been married. I'm a pretty low maintenance traveller. Last year when I went to Europe for 8 days I had a backpack with a couple pairs of pants, one pair of shoes, a few shirts, a jacket, and not much else. I really wouldn't have cared if I had worn the same outfit the whole time.

40. On the same note, my personal hygiene is disgusting to some people. I'm European at heart. I shower about once a week. I'm conserving water. (Yes, I like the oil in my hair. It gives it texture.)


Well, you've survived another installment, do you think you are willing to check in and stick it out for 3 more? I hope so.

Blog Oscars Thank You Speech

Well, I feel like I've won a Blog Oscar and need my acceptance speech. So, here goes: Wow, I'm speechless. I never expected this. I mean, wow . . . I just have so many people to thank and so little time. I have to start by thanking my husband for all his support. (That's obligatory.) Then I have to thank Shea, Jamie and Colleen for showing me how cool a blog can be and inspiring me to start my own. I also have to thank all those people out there who read my blog and commented either online or to me personally. I hope you will continue to read my blog. Thanks for all your support. Oh, and there's the music so, I have to go. Hi mom, hi dad. Love you kids!

jumping on the blog bandwagon

Yes, so here I am. I know. Joining the masses. I'm doing this more for me than for anyone because I enjoy venting and then I'm not bugging my friends and family in the process. The name speaks for itself. This is me. So you know what to expect up front. You won't be laughing when you read this. Don't expect it to be too exciting. I already decided that if I was ever to start a blog I would do one of those "Hundred things about me list" so maybe I'll start with 10/20 at a time (whatever I can think of right now) and add to it as I go. (Thanks for the idea Colleen.) It is in no particular order and I will be brutally honest. Here is me in all my, uh, glory?

1. I have a birth defect (my ear is missing part of a lobe) so although I wanted my ears pierced, I did it and realized how ugly it looks seeing the front and back of the earring at the same time so I took them out the day after I pierced them, which by the way was for my 21st birthday. (My parents were extremely conservative and said we couldn't pierce our ears until we were out of the house-- yea, take that mom and dad!) Some people notice this the first time they meet me and then there are people like my brother, who all of 6 years ago noticed, and asked what happened.

2. I am a book snob.

3. I love to go dancing and first met Jason disco-dancing at the Omni. (That ages me.)

4. My first kiss was when I was 16 and the guy asked if he could kiss me (he knew it was my first). At the last minute I chickened out and turned my face so he kissed my cheek. Still, that night in my bed I was all afloat that I had my first kiss.

5. I am a horrible artist. I like good art which makes it even more awful because I realize how much I suck. Which makes me push my husband to develop his talent more because he doesn't realize how lucky he is to have that natural skill.

6. I like to eat good food. Alot.

7. So, I like to cook.

8. Luckily, I've been blessed with a fast metabolism, a dislike for candy, and an enjoyment of running. Otherwise, I would probably weigh over 200 lbs.

9. Many of my pet peeves have to do with hands-- cracking knuckles, biting nails, and long nails on kids that are dirty. One time I sat next to a girl in a church meeting who was biting her nails. I was also biting my tongue to keep from saying anything.

10. I am constantly at odds with myself because I am a very rational person but also very emotional so my rational side is trying to keep my emotional side from doing something stupid. Unfortunately, I have ruined many friendships by letting my emotional side overreact before letting my rational side get the upper hand.

11. I am a boob, and I hate it. Well, sometimes, see 12.

12. I was pulled over in highschool for speeding countless times. I cried every time. I never got a ticket.

13. I am a terrible housekeeper. Organization is a skill that I DO NOT possess. I am surrounded by clutter and dust. It drives me crazy and I try my best but, again, it is a skill I just don't have.

14. I hate spending money. I can never gamble because it makes me sick to throw away money.

15. Which is why I love 2nd hand shopping. A great deal for next to nothing.

16. I love rocking out in my car. If you stop next to me at a light, you can see me singing away. LOVE IT. You can also catch me at times dancing around my house to good music. Love it, love it, love it!

17. I don't really like to wear makeup much and I'm happy with that. If I do, it means mascara and lipgloss. Although, maybe I should wear it more often, and I quote my freshman year roomate after I put makeup on to go out for the night "Wow, Luisa, you look good? (with surprise in her voice) You should wear makeup more often." (I'll definitely have to do a blog entry about roomates, since we all have great roomate stories.)

18. I don't take compliments very well and feel very awkward. Unfortunately, I have a hard time believing them.

19. I am even more self-conscious at 29 than I was in Junior High, when I was flat as a board and the shortest girl in my class.

20. I am anti-cell phones. My problem is that people think that EVERY time is an appropriate time to be on the phone. And it's not.

Well, I will add more later. I should have been in bed 3 hours ago when my baby went to bed but I'm living it up because it's Labor Day. Peace out y'all.

BTW-- please, give me feedback. What do you think?