Guess what I got?!

This is my eye:

This is my eye with pinkeye:

Any questions?

my eyes are burning as I write this

you know the feeling, eyes burning, body aching, throat scratchy, forehead hot . . .that's right the familiar signs of the flu. Let's not mention the fact that I got a flu shot this year when I usually avoid them. Some of it may have to do with my trip I took this weekend. I know, I'm at home, how did I take a trip and get back already. Well, let me tell you, the story starts and begins with UDOT. (Utah Department of Transportation)

Mara decided that for her birthday she wanted to go to Boise to spend it with my family. So we were planning on leaving for Boise today(Friday). The weather report said that a storm was coming in on Friday so we checked UDOT and thought that it would be better if I left Thursday at noon and come back Saturday at noon. (Another storm was coming in on Sunday). We decided that Thursday morning. So I quickly packed the car, got everything ready, cancelled piano lessons as well as took the kids on a field trip for preschool. Then we were off. After about 2 hrs of driving I saw a sign that said the road was closed at the Utah/Idaho border. I pulled over and called Jason who got online to check road conditions while he gave me the number for UDOT. Both places said nothing about road closures so I continued on my way. I hit the mountain pass and it was HORRIBLE. I was driving 25/30 mph in a 75 zone because the roads were snow covered and if I went faster I would have slid off the road. I get to Snowville and find out, sure enough, the road is closed. SO I get to turn around and go back through the hell I'd already driven. I lost it with Mara at one point because she pulled out the weather stripping on the window. (What were you thinking child?) Anyway, I drove for about 7 hours yesterday and proceeded to end in the same place I started. I did get to stop at the McDonalds by Hill Air Force base which was definitely worth the trip. I mean, how many McDonald's have army paraphernalia all over them?

So, now I'm sick which might have something to do with my adventure yesterday. I'm really bummed because I was going to finally get my birthday and Christmas presents from my family but alas, it was not meant to be. So instead, I'll spend the day in bed cursing UDOT.

I found this picture online to show similar conditions but would you believe it, these are actually better that what I was driving in. You can at least see the road in these pictures. I really couldn't see the road at all yesterday.

Q& A Session: How do you get rid of your child's friend

Mara has a schoolmate that I do not particularly like for her. Plain and simple. Mara played at her house and I didn't like how it went so I thought we would only let them play at our house. I feel stressed like I constantly have to be watching them or someone gets hurt or something inappropriate is said or done. Now granted, it isn't anything horrible but nevertheless it isn't what I want for my child. So, now what? It makes it harder because I know her mom and really like her. My current plan is to tell Mara that she can no longer play with her and Mara can communicate the message so I don't have to. Sound good? I know, I know, pretty sleazy. Any ideas?

Addendum: I spoke with Mara this morning about "Jane". She told me she tried to tell "Jane" she wanted to take a break from playing with her at recess (she came up with that on her own-- I was impressed) and "Jane" cried and told the aide (who happens to also be her aunt) who then told Mara to be nice to "my litte Jane". (As quoted by Mara.) She said she's tried to tell her she wants to play with other people but she gets mad.

Did I mention I'm 30?

Now here is a real picture of me on my 30th birthday. No airbrushing, NOTHING. I didn't even get rid of the red-eye. (My photoshop is not working.) It's with my dear sweet baby to show how old I am and how far I'm come. I have to say that I love her to death but I am so glad to be on this side of things and not where she is. It's been hard work getting here but I am grateful for where I've been, what I've learned and the road I'm on right now. Honestly, I wouldn't want to be doing anything else at 30. Being a mom is a blessing every day.

I'm 30.

I say that with all the excitement I can muster. For my birthday I got a new cut. I figure I should have a new 'do to go with my new 30 year-old demeanor. What do you think? Fitting for a stay at home mom like myself, wouldn't you agree?

Huckabee vs. Romney, An American "Holy War"

This election year has been lots of fun. No really. It has been one of the most fascinating in a while with both parties chock full of candidates it makes for interesting news.
Especially with a mormon running.
There are stories all over about what mormons do and don't believe. The journalists have at least got one speck of the truth in the stories, and then a whole bunch of their own interpretation on what that may mean. One of the main stories was about Huckabee who said in an interview to New York Times "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?" Which in and of itself isn't so bad, it's what he said later that I found laughable--
Huckabee later told CNN his question was taken out of context. But he also apologized to Romney face-to-face. "I said, 'I would never try, ever to try to somehow pick out some point of your faith and make it an issue,'" Huckabee explained. "I said, 'I don't think your being a Mormon ought to make you more or less qualified for being a president.' "
Now, I don't mean to offend anyone who supports Huckabee but, come on! Shall we really go into all the ways that he is trying to say that Romney shouldn't be president because he is a mormon? ("I'm not going to air this ad, I'll just give it to you press guys and you do what you feel is best.")
Historian Jan Shipps (considered one of the foremost non-mormon authorities on mormonism) says "It seems so bizarre to me to see politics going in this direction." And Shipps wonders whether we should do stories now about what Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee believes. After all, Huckabee suggested his surge in the polls is due to divine intervention.
So, on a lighter note, here is a link to a great article about "an unfortunate typo".
Enjoy the politicking!

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.