Favorite Gifts: Day 3

Gift Received: April 15, 2005

Scott was released after about 6 weeks in the hospital, on April 12, 2005.  One of the best days of my life.  April 15th is right up there among the best days in my life as well.  Ginger's inspired idea came to life on that day.  Family, friends, neighbors, community, strangers- all came together to lift our family through rough times.  Everyone made "the longest journey".  Whenever I wear that t-shirt I remember that day and the faces that were there.  I was overwhelmed by the scope of it all.  So many people, so much stuff, so much time- all for us.  Amazing.  

One of the gifts we received that day was this mini-van.  We were driving our Hyundai at the time with the 3 kids stuffed in the back seat and Scott's wheelchair jammed in the trunk.  We were "makin' do".  A sweet friend from our newlywed days, whom I hadn't spoken with in some time, made several phone calls until she got the answer she was looking for, and secured this van for us.   It had 60,000 miles on it.  We are selling it this week and it has over 140,000 miles on it.  It took us to doctor's appointments, countless therapy sessions, Grandparents houses, California, and the grocery store.  Its brought home new babies twice, taken kids to soccer games, been fishing and camping, and parked in the sprinkler. (It's only been pulled over twice- in 5 years! And only 1 ticket.) It's been kept running by a selfless neighbor, who serves others endlessly.  This van was more than a gift in a tough time, for me it represents the enormous power for good we each have inside of us.  I am sad to see it go, but I will never forget it, or that day.  

Favorite Gifts: Day 2

Christmas of 2005 I received this red box with a tassel on it from Chloe. She's very thoughtful and loves to buy gifts for others.  The timing of this gift was perfect.  My heart was hurting and heavy that year.  Inside the box I pulled out this little glass angel holding a red heart.

The angel was beautiful, but the message in the box is what meant the most.  The little card inside reads:

Angel Worry Box

The Angel in this box

Is the guardian of your heart.

Give her your worries

and your fears,

So hope and peace can start,

Keep this box nearby you,

And know how much she cares,

For when you need love and joy,

Your angel will be there.

Sis helped me remember my worries and pain are not mine alone.  He is always there for me. Waiting for me to turn to Him. One of the most beautiful, timely gifts I've ever received.

Favorite Gifts: Day 1

I decided as a Christmas countdown I would list some of my most favorite gifts I've received.
I've actually been thinking about this for some time and have a little list going in my head.

Received: August 2009

From: Aidan

Last August we went to Yellowstone.  The first day we hit a "shopping" area (West Yellowstone) Aidan hit the ground running. He had money and he had to buy something.  We were all seated outside at the pizza joint in town waiting for our food and Aidan talked someone into taking him into a store.  He was gone a few short minutes and came out beaming.  His excitement shown in his every move and he watched me intently as I pulled his purchase from the sack.

A statue of 2 gray wolves.

I thanked him and my eyes got a bit teary.  The very first thing he bought and it was for me.  It melted my heart. I loved how excited he was to buy something for someone else.

When I am old and some of my great grandchildren find this treasure I hope they don't question my taste, but rather find this story and realize how beautiful this gift is to me.

A Gift? For Me!

Asher came home from school the other day with a question, 

"Guess what I made in computers today?"

I don't know. What son?

"A coupon book for you!"

You have my attention.

He had practiced his typing and made me a nifty book of 8 coupons.

The expiration dates range from 3 days to 30 days.

So I've been busy turning these things in so as to not waste this thoughtful gift :)

I was very impressed with how well my son knows me.  The coupons are as follows:

This coupon is good for 20 mins. of playing with your hair.

This coupon is good for 2 days of 30 min. foot rub.

1 week of fun with friends.  (He would be watching Grace)

This coupon is for 3 days of cleaning the house. (It would probably take that long to get it clean)

This coupon is good for 1 hour of a nap. (again, babysitter)

This coupon good for 30 min. foot massage. 

This coupon is for 1 back and foot rub for 30 mins.

This coupon is for a 2 hour nap. 

So I was ready to trade in another coupon tonight.  I handed one to Asher and one to Chloe.

"What, I didn't make those coupons Mom" Chloe says.

Don't you accept competitors coupons? I replied.

Turns out she does.

lucky me.

What a thoughtful boy.  3 down. 5 to go!

Wish I Had Video of This

I was tired this morning.  Usually when it's 5:45 and time to take Scott to the bus I really don't have any thought about it- I just get up.  Today I had an internal battle.  I just wanted to stay in my warm bed snuggled with my baby.  You see she was the 2nd child to climb in our bed last night.  The first one left me with  soaking wet pants and part of my shirt.  Lucky for him his bed was still warm and dry and so he climbed into new pj's and got in it.  I got to use the old "cover it with a towel and pretend like you're not laying on urine" trick for the rest of the night.     fun.

I did get up and got Scotty off to the freezing cold bus stop.  After I got the kids off to school and Grace down for her nap I laid on the couch by Cole while he studied his Spanish (okay, he was watching Diego, I just call it language immersion to feel better about it).  It was fabulous for a long while, especially because my phone was off the hook, unbeknownst to me.  Then I heard a very loud knock at the door that woke me from my slumber.  My instincts told me it was an adult and then I remembered the "sheetrock guy" (friend of the Insulation Guy) was coming to repair that crack.     crap.

I jumped off the couch to run upstairs and put on some needed support system under my  pj.'s before I answered the door (Cole was working on unlocking it, but it's really hard). Still in a half asleep daze in my glasses and oversized pajamas I hit the hardwood floor which was covered with a silky backdrop and  SLAM!  I went down on my right elbow.  It was so loud.  And all I could think was "I bet he heard that and is wondering why I won't come to the door".  My elbow was all bruised and had some skin slicked off.

I straightened my glasses, put on my bra, and answered the door like it was all good.  Wish I'd had some video footage of that fall.  We'd all be laughing.

The Drama is our Reality

Scott and I played a game of "top that" in the car on the way home from the bus stop.  I was pretty sure my day was far crazier (for lack of a better word)  than his.  So I began my long dissertation of what went on in my crazy day.
Breakfast
Drive kids to school
Treadmill
Shower
Grocery Store
Jump car of lady in her p.j.'s parked next to me
Lunch
V.T. Reports
Start rolls
Bake chicken

 With the best of intentions I contacted a company to blow insulation in my attic (for free) if we met the standards.  It is also my "cooking day", which means I cook for our family and 3 others.  Chicken Gnocchi Soup and Maryam's rolls were on the menu.  I go that started when the insulation man showed up.  Nice guy.  He headed to the attic access in Chloe's room which is where he encountered a black widow in her closet. Nice.  He killed it. Okay, not so bad.
He kicked around up there, then nearly fell through my ceiling (slight dramatization) when he stepped on the sheetrock instead of the walkway.  A 3-4 ft. long crack appeared in my ceiling and Cole asked if the man was "taking our ceiling down".  He quickly called a sheetrock guy to come fix that on Friday.  We do not qualify for the free insulation there. BUT WAIT, there's another attic access in the boy's room that goes to a different part of the attic.  He heads in, and the conversation is as follows:
Insulation Guy's Helper: Wow, it's cold in there
Me: Yeah, I can feel that cold air just pouring out of there.
Insulation Guy: Um, yeah, there's snow in here.
Me: WHAT?! Snow? Like what?
Insulation Guy: Want me to get some for you?
Me: Yes.
Insulation Guy: Hold out your hand.
I go to the access and Insulation Guy drops a SNOWBALL the size of a tennis ball into my hand.

What the? Okay, so that would make your house cold.  Why did we insulate with snow?
Really. Why is there snow in my attic. His best guess is it is blowing in through an attic vent.
Good news is we qualify for insulation up there, but we'll need to take care of the snowing in the attic problem first.

I am now late to get 4 dinners prepared, but I rushed through it, burnt my hand, Grace hit her head twice (into Cole's head), delivered dinner, and picked Scotty up at the bus stop.

Now, honestly.  What would you rate that?  Pretty crazy.

Here's Scott's day, or rather a poignant moment in his day:

He was headed into the JFB building on campus.  It was a double set of doors.  As he entered the first set one of his wheels didn't grab.  They just spun.  Then one grabbed, but unfortunately the other didn't.  This sent him careening into the metal door brace.  When he hit the brace it pulled on the recline lever on his rental Jazzy.  This sent him into a complete recline.  Picture feet up in the air.  Then it ripped the recline lever completely off.  With the lever completely removed the chair shut down.

So there he was.
Stuck in the doorway of the building in a reclined Jazzy with no power.
He waited for 15 minutes until someone noticed his plight and offered to help.  He somehow got out of the recliner and had help walking to the nearest bench. His chair was forced out of the doorway.  He called the lovely company that rented him his awesome Jazzy and they showed up 1.5 hours later to repair it.  He waited patiently on that bench the entire time. The chair can no longer recline, but at least it still runs.

What the?
Is this for real?
We should be making some serious money on the hilariousness that we call life here at the Browning's.

My favorite part about this day was that as I pulled up to pick Scott up at the bus stop, nearly in tears, I watched as he and his good friend Aaron ran (or drove) straight into this huge snowpile.  Aaron jumped in and flew over it and Scott rammed that blasted Jazzy right into the side of it.  The tears became laughter.  Good times. good times.

p.s. The Chicken Gnocchi Soup was GREAT!  I'll post a recipe on Anderson Appetite tomorrow.:)

Powerchair Woes

The bearings in Scott's powerchair are going out.  Not a good thing.  The fear of being stranded somewhere on campus in this weather sent Scott to his repair shop hoping for a speedy fix.  It will be around 6 weeks.  not speedy.
But, the "good" news is that they will rent him a chair while his is getting fixed.
We drove in to pick it up this week.
It was taking  awhile for the man to find us a chair when the sweet receptionist told me they only had 2 options really.
1. Nice chair, similar to Scott's. Downside: Urine soaked pad.  That's right. Someone had un accidento in this chair and they cannot remove the smell.  I suggested a power washer. 
"Tried that" the receptionist quickly replied. Remove the pad? "Sorry, permanently attached".  Okay, so what's option 2.
2. A Jazzy.

We went with the jazzy.  Unfortunately it is built for a much shorter wider person than my husband.  He got in it and the headrest hit him in the shoulder blades.  His knees were closer to his chest.  Bonus number two was that it only has one speed.  I'd say it's a medium fast.  Scott's chair can fly, but it can also go very slow.  Yesterday Scott said he "bounced off four walls" when he took the speedy Jazzy in a restroom at school.  You should see me try to load it onto the lift.  I've run over myself twice. But, it's much slower to get all they way across campus.  It also doesn't handle well in snow.  The slightest bump and it just high centers.  He's had to make detour after detour to avoid getting stuck.

To add injury to insult- Scott slipped on our wet garage floor yesterday while getting in the car and slammed his face into the side of the car.  OUCH!
"It doesn't hurt so much here, or here, but here!" he said in his best Chris Farley impersonation.
He has a bump behind his ear, and his face is bruised.
He may have also bruised his neck meat.

Note to self: Find a squeegee on a long stick.

Reminds me when he first used a powerchair and he did 360's in the driveway while singing "Round round get around I get around.  Ohohohohoh".

Gotta love that guy.

Sorry no pictures.  The man does have some pride.

Clear Creek 2009

When I went in to meet Chloe's teacher at the beginning of the year she listed all the great things that 5th graders got to do.  On that list was Clear Creek.  "What is that?" I asked.  It was an overnight camping trip for all the 5th graders, she explained.  The boys went up one day and then the girls the next.  I signed up immediately, knowing my Chloe would not spend the night without me, and really I felt kind of strange sending her off to some camp I knew nothing about with a teacher I just met.  So Clear Creek arrived on Dec.1st.  We loaded up our sleeping bags and headed up towards Scofield, somewhere I had never been.  Whenever I drive through those little towns I kinda want to live there.  There was a lake, people out ice fishing, little tiny houses and mountains all around.  We did get to stay in "cabins" packed with bunkbeds.  It was nice and toasty inside those cabins, but freezing outside.  They did lots of activities; made bracelets, made picture frames, made robots, tie dyed shirts, played team building activities, did skits and campfire songs, had a movie night, and went on a nature hike.  The girls had a great time.  Not a lot of sleep, but a lot of bonding.  I liked the idea that these 5th grade girls got to spend time getting to know each other, and maybe making a new friend.  I enjoyed spending the one on one time with Chloe, and I'm glad she's not embarassed to have me around yet.  

Sign of the Times

Our car is broken down. sniff. sniff.
We use her a lot.
She was a gift, and she has been a blessing.
The morning routine of getting Scott and his powerchair to the bus stop has become grandiose.
It involves a borrowed minivan, a borrowed trailer, hitching it up, unhitching it, returning said minivan and jogging home. Repeat at 5:30 pm.
Today after the morning routine I dropped the kids off at school in our friend's minivan and then returned it to their garage, hit the button to shut the garage door, jumped over the sensors and began my jog home.

I noticed a neighbor ahead with his driver door open pushing his truck down the street.
"Looks like we've got similar problems", I yelled.
He replied with something like, "Poor, broken down car, no job?"
Then he told me he could usually jump start his truck after he turned the corner and headed downhill, and would I like a ride.

So I hopped on the bumper and held onto his truck rack.  There was an occasional jolt as he tried to get it to start while we floated down the hill towards my house.  It was cold and that winter breeze blew in my face.  I found myself silently praying that his truck would start for him.  It finally roared to life, and he stopped at my driveway and I hopped off the back.  I helped him scrape the ice off his windshield.

And then, he turned to me and said, "What can we do for you?"
I'm tearing up just thinking about it now.
It was for me a sure sign of the times.

Chloe's Reflections Project

She has entered a 3-D project in the Reflections program every year.  This year she won!  I was so proud.  The theme was Beauty Is...She came up with the idea on her own and executed it by herself and did it very well.  Her inspiration is the hanging art in the SL Library's Urban Room.  Scott and I attended the award ceremony.  She had just finished basketball practice and slipped on a dress.  I thought her piece was so unique.

e11even

Chloe turned eleven on the 17th.  My how she is growing up.  So fun to see, but I'll always remember that little 5 pound 13 ounce baby they laid in my arms and the way my heart already knew her. Becoming a mother for the first time is amazing- it changes who you are.  It is wonderful.  She is wonderful and we are so lucky to have her.

TAG- you're it.

I was tagged by Kelly.  Thanks, I'm honored. And without further adieu...


5 Things I Don’t Leave The House Without
I'm stuck here. I've left without kids, shoes, a purse, makeup, the list goes on...

1. clothes (usually)
2. contacts or eyeglasses (I'm blind)
3.  freckles, lots of them
4. my head full of my "to do" list

5. underwear (this one time I even accidentally brought an extra pair tucked up my pant leg that kept slipping out, much to my dismay, as I was shopping at Macey's )


5 Cartoons I Watched When I Was Younger 
*Sidenote: Tonight at dinner Aidan was describing a loin cloth that Chloe should sew and sell.  Asher says, "That's something they wore like in the 1980's Aidan, nobody wears those anymore".  I was there in 1980, I don't remember the loin cloths- you?

1. Gummi Bears
2. Fraggle Rock

3. Kissyfur

4. Smurfs
5.Rescue Rangers

5 Things That Terrify Me
1. Spiders
2. Falling in a deep hole and having dirt fall on top of me (recurring nightmare)
3. Getting lost in the ocean 
4. Old meat
5. Big changes (not really TERRIFIED, but uncomfortable, whiney, complaining, stubborn)

5 Things I Hate/Dislike That Everyone Else Seems To Like
Again, this was a challenge, so I just came up with things I dislike, I don't know if EVERYONE else likes them

1.  My muffin top (see, I only know 3 people who like it.  HA! Gotcha, i don't know anyone who really likes it)
2.  Canned cream of broccoli soup (any takers? This is connected to a bad memory. First solid food I was able to eat after having my tonsils out. Blech!)
3. Oh I got one!  The Twilight  movie.
4.  When people won't try a new food.  I don't really hate it,  but I can get irritated.  Just try it. Open up your mind. More often than not, you just haven't had it prepared in a way that suits your tastebuds.  Unless you're allergic to something, don't put certain foods mentally off limits.  Disclaimer: I use to do this with lots of foods, so I feel safe saying what I've said. :)
5.  Cleaning urine around my toilet. I know some people just LOVE that.  If you are one of those people, please contact me yesterday.


5 Things I Want To Do Before I Die

1. Go on a walk, hand-in-hand with Scotty
2.  Go on a sibling vacation to relive the good ol'days and have some good laughs
3.  Go to NYC 
4.  Learn another language
5. Take ballet classes 

5 Friends/Family I Tag

1.   Kenz 
2.  Sharlene W. 
3.  Mike 
4.  Em 
5.  Katie H. 


Can't wait to read these.

A lot of Firsts for the Firstborn

Is it a sign?  Is there some message I'm suppose to be getting from all this?  I don't know.  Chloe's birthday is coming up, and we had her "Amazing Race" Birthday Party last weekend.  It was a lot of fun to plan and watch.  She'll be eleven.  One short year before she'll graduate from Primary.  I mentioned this to her the other day.  I said, "Sis, only one more year until you get to go to Young Womens".  She said, "I don't want to leave Primary- I like it there".

*flahsback: I thought back to being 11 and my 2 best friends had left Primary in April and gone on to Young Womens- glorious, coming- of- age, Young Womens.  I was still in Primary, AND we were to sing in Sacrament Meeting for Mother's Day.  I felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb as I sang, "Mother I love you, mother I do..."  I couldn't wait to be included in Young Womens.

Anyhow, it seems Sis is happy in Primary, but soon enough she will move on.  Anyhow, this is about firsts so lets get on with it.  She was asked to babysit by a neighbor friend on Saturday!  She was so excited as she packed a bag of games and Halloween candy.  She's babysat for us before but never a neighbor.  Anyhow, she did great and had a great time.

Next first, she got a phone call on Saturday letting her know that she her 3-D project had won in the school Reflections program.  She has entered a 3-D project every year, and this is her first win.  I am so proud of her.  She came up with the idea all by herself and executed it so well.  She used the hanging art in the Salt Lake Library's Urban Room as her inspiration.  The theme is Beauty Is..., so she did a little replica of a monarch butterfly on a book.  The book tells what she thinks beauty is and she aged the pages.  She also printed off a picture of a monarch butterfly so she would know all the details to paint on hers.  It is made completely of clay.  Anyhow, I haven't taken a picture yet, but I will.

Lastly, she is playing city basketball for the first time.  Turns out, she's good.  She's got a great shot, and some good coordination.  We all went to watch her first game on Saturday.  We cheered and yelled, and she had a great time.

She's growing up, and she's doing it beautifully.

Sink Bath

She may be 2 short months from turning 1, but she still fits in a sink for a "sink bath", and in my book that makes you still a baby.

What are the requirements for toddler status anyway?

Sleeping on the job

As I was taking the kids Halloween pics Scott was manning the backdrop.  When it is pulled to it's full height it can be a bit tippy.  So he was laying behind it keeping it stable.

Or so I thought.

 I heard a bit of snoring.  I ignored it and kept working.

Then Pretty Baby decided to stand an yank on the backdrop.

Down it all came, and this is the shot I got of the help, who was sleeping on the job.

Do You Know the Muffin Man?

Conversation @ Dinner Last Night:


Aidan: Mom, when do people get muffin tops?

Asher: What's a muffin top?

Aidan: You know when people's bellies grow over their pants and they can rest their arms on it.

A Message from Sis

The kids gathered a lot of candy on Halloween.

  They placed it in large baggies, zipped shut, with their name on them.

Chloe took it to the next level to protect her supply.  She knew where the real danger lies.

 I found myself mysteriously in the candy cupboard today and this is the message that greeted me:

Chloe: do not eat, that means you Mom

Halloween 2009

This is the break down:

Pumpkin Princess - can I just say I love that she still loves to be something beautiful! She doesn't want to dress up like a dead cheerleader and I'm cool with that too. Stay a princess sis.  Please don't grow up and bring boyfriends home to my couch that want to marry you. please. At least not for 15 years.

Ninja - asked to go trick or treating with a friend instead of his Mom! What?! Really! Is it me?  Or do you just want to see how much candy you can collect without having to drag Mom up and down the street?  Hopefully it's the latter. Not confident enough to wear this costume to school this year however.  Hmmm? He always keeps me thinking, this one.

Transformer- RAN from house to house, so excited, no coat needed.  Removed mask within 7 minutes- too sweaty.  Loves to share his candy.  Good for him.  Not so good for me.

Cowboy- Mustache lasted 3 minutes.  Guns lasted 4.5 minutes.  Actually trick or treating lasted 8 minutes.  Then he curled up with his 10 pieces of candy in the bottom of the stroller and chowed.

Angel- This costume was for photos only.  Pretty baby actually wore some warm wooly jammies and a blankie and fell asleep in the stroller.  Her photo was the most difficult one to capture.   Outtakes to come shortly.  Oh boy.

Sweet Ride

Scotty took the kids to church today alone.  I was home with a coughing Pretty Baby.  Thanks honey, sweet ride.

Redheads=Feisty?

I had a friend recently ask me if I thought all redheads were feisty and fiery.

I thought of those redheads I know best.

Mom

Ging

Em

Me with mustache made from my own hair

He made the connection that perhaps they actually become feisty and fiery as a result of the reaction people have to their hair.  You know, sometimes redheads are teased.

As a child/teen I heard things like  -

 carrot top, Big Red, redheaded step-child, and others not fit for this blog. Those are just names for the hair and not the freckles that come as a packaged deal. I've been asked if I have fire in my belly, am I more sensitive to pain, do I have a sharp tongue? When I tried out for the part of Shelby in Steel Magnolias I was denied for a brunette actress, and told later the playhouse worried about finding a short red wig that would match my hair well, and be cost effective.  It may have just been my acting, but the hair came into play. I once had a neighbor man (grown man) ask if all redheads had a strange odor because he'd known one as a child who did and assumed all did? Huh?

However, as I got older things changed from teasing to envy.  The "different" color was something others wanted. I actually had a lady(whom I didn't know) in WalMart ask if this was my actual hair color. When I replied in the affirmative she slapped my arm and said, "I hate you." This hair has never seen a dye bottle, but I assume it will as I turn to gray one day and then struggle to match the color.

Of course I can't take any credit for my hair color- I give that credit to my mother, and her mother, and well, I'm not sure how far back that goes, but it was through no effort of my own.

All in all the redheads I hold closest to my heart are fiery women. Smart women. Strong women. Really funny women. Adventurous women. They've entered slip n' slide competitions, fought wildfires in the mountains, overcome polio and lived in an iron lung for a year, danced like no one was watching, sang like they knew every note, and loved with everything they have. Fiery-check. Feisty-check. Can it all be attributed to "the hair"? I don't think so, but it's an entertaining thought.

I would like to invite all those redheads I know and love to save their money and let's attend

  Redhead Day in the Netherlands together! 

And for all those who know and love a redhead- go get her something here: 

Realm of redheads 

Good Morning Sunshine

Morning on the Street Where I Live

When I am up with or before the sun, with a song in my heart and a prayer on my lips, loading up the laundry, unloading the dishes, enjoying the quiet of my house before children wake, whipping up a hot breakfast, it makes the day better.

What morning ritual makes your day better?

Nap time, Snack time, Reading time

It just looks like a tragedy.
It wasn't.
The box was empty.
I was downstairs braising Asian short ribs in the heavy cast iron pot.
(see the Anderson Appetite for this recipe)

He was napping.

 Does this look like a guilty face to you?

Well, it is.  She just devoured a $30.00 snack! Naughty Pretty Baby. Naughty.

The first time we went to the SLC library I had forgotten my camera.  Turns out Scotty needed to check out a book there and had to purchase a library card.  He actually needed some books about the world renowned architect Moshe Safdie.  Moshe Safdie is the architect whose design ideas won the chance to build the Salt Lake City Library.  And so because of this paper about the architect who designed the library we had to get a library card.

It was meant to be.

So we made a trip back to Salt Lake.  I took the children to the library while Scott had the opportunity to receive an MRI on his arm.  lucky.

I had my camera this time and wanted to show anyone who hasn't been how awesome the architecture is.  The library has a real urban feel, with little shops to buy a croissant or fresh flowers, and glass everywhere allowing you to see from the bottom floor clear to the top!  

Chloe loves this hanging art.  It is made of butterflies perched on little books. So cool.

This is actually referred to as the Urban Room.  It is the space between where the stacks are located and a really cool curved structure that houses study/reading areas. The two are connected by bridged walkways.

This is a kid favorite.  The Willy Wonka Elevator.  It is all glass.  Before we left we had to take it all the way to the 5th floor and then ride it to the bottom.  Grace squirms every time, everyone else smiles.

This is the Children's Library Area on the bottom floor.  Unlike any library we've had a card to before. It had every and any book they were looking for. They were limited to 10 books each as Scott would be the one returning the books during his school hours.  Wonder how this will be affecting his injured arm?

This is one of the reading rooms in the Children's area.  Aidan thought it looked like an ice castle- thus the dramatics.

Another reading area- more like a tree house.  Looked a lot more comfy to me- so this is where we settled in.  This trip got them all excited about reading their "new" books.  We have a pile a mile high in the family room and we're slowly making our way through it.  I got an awesome cookbook that I will be trying a few things from and posting success stories on the Anderson Appetite.

Family Profile

My uber-talented sister Jen made my Mother a very cute stitched portrait of our family.  There's my parents, all 8 of us siblings, and my brother's 2 dogs. Uber-talented Jen says that my Mom gave the 411 on who should wear what, hairstyles, etc.  I guess Mom thought back in her memory bank and pulled out dusty memories of what our signature style was as a child (why isn't Ginger nakey?) and the hairdo that accompanies that age.  There are sweet blonde piggy tails, curly hair, polka dots and denim, bows and frills, and then there is this one child with a RED MULLET, a blouse, and a schoolmarm skirt.

Guess who?

 That'd be me.  Yep. I'm just wondering where those enormous thick glasses are?  I think Jen's stitching hand must've been cramping. I have been saved forever in DMS floss as a 3rd grader with a real bad haircut and a very proper uniform. ( I am tempted to scan in my 3rd grade school photo right now. But my pride people, my pride!) Ah well, whenever I visit the folks and take a minute to enjoy my uber-talented sister Jen's art I really love the feelings of love and family and togetherness it pulls from me. I love the 3 older girls to the right of Dad and Mom and the 5 younger kids to the left-depicting that age gap. I love baby Emily with her sponge-roller induced red curls.  I think of family vacations to Disneyland, the raspberry patch, gardening, and cleaning those enormous hall closets.  I think of our long kitchen bar with us on one side and Mom working her heiny off on the other side.  I love Dad's loooong Levi's and Mom's yellow shirt- a favorite color of hers to be sure. It really is a great representation of our family- even if I was captured at the height of my dorkiness.

I apologize for this picture.  Very challenging to take considering the lighting and the glass.

The Secret

Remember the Secret of NIMH?

The terror of the Spring as the tractor comes to plow the fields and also the homes of all the cute little miceys.  And there's that one mouse that's sick and might not get out in time! Mrs. Brisby must do all she can to save her children and her home.

Yeah well, it might not be the right season, but I am living this movie people!

I'm actually that house that lives by the field that is being plowed.  All those little terrified mice are escaping the field...and finding refuge in MY GARAGE!!

ARGH!!! YUCK!! and BLECH!!

Several sticky mouse traps and some D-CON later and I have "caught" 9 mice.

If I find rats in my rosebushes I'm moving!!!

 

Road Overkill

There's been a lot of road construction out in our area lately.

Widening of roads and new roads.  Parts of these projects are nearly completed and they are wonderful.  HOWEVER, I think it's taken a toll on the 4 year old. 

Conversation at bedtime:

Cole: Mom do cows lay roads or do cows lay milk?

Mom: Milk son.

Cole: That is correct.

Whew.  I was getting nervous.  

Pretty Baby Stands

YeeHaw!

And THAT's what Grandma's are made of.

She has the bone density of a teenager you know.

Tradition?

I always buy school pictures of the kids. I have a scrapbook that is just waiting for me to line these little wallet portraits up in order .  As I looked through the picture flyer I noted that the cheapest package was $15.  That means $45 for me when all is said and done.  What if I didn't buy them this year?  It feels almost unmotherly not to purchase pictures of your flesh and blood with their hair all done and a clean shirt on.  I'd be breaking "tradition".  But I'm not buying those photos because they're great pictures of my kids, I"m buying them because I always buy them. So I threw caution to the wind and told the kids that we would not be buying school pictures.  I still got them all dressed up and fixed their hair because they'll take your picture regardless of you purchasing, and also because I decided I'd take their school pictures myself.  We can then print off exactly what sizes and amounts we want for a fraction of the cost.  Sounded good to me, and the kids were happy about it all. Here's to changing my thinking, throwing that guilt out the door, and saving some money too.  

thanks! indeed

Scotty's taking a psychology class this semester to fill some credit hours. It's suppose to be an "easy" 3 credits, and I suppose it is when it's stacked up against an Architecture class and a Physics class. Anyhow, this Psych class is online and requires a lot of typing, so I am there.  I figured out a while ago that if I am to be an effective typist/editor I have to know some of the subject matter, it helps.  So I glean bits and pieces of info from this class.  The actual title is Enhancing Happiness & Life Satisfaction.  Sounds like a class for all of us huh? The text includes a book titled, "thanks!  How the new science of gratitude can make you happier" by Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D.  When Scott brought it home it caught my eye and I've been wanting to read it.  So here is a little excerpt today that resonated with me, tell me what you think:

     ...there is a more basic reality about gratitude that we can learn from children.  When we were children, we had no illusion of self-sufficiency.  We were aware of our dependence on our parents for survival, security, and comfort.  As we grew, we were taught to look more and more to ourselves for the meeting of our needs.  Eventually, we came to believe in the myth of our own self-sufficiency.  For many people it takes disease, disability, danger, or death to challenge this illusion of self-sufficiency. We all begin life dependent on others, and most of us end life dependent on other.  In between, we have roughly sixty years or so of unacknowledged dependency.  Gratitude takes us outside ourselves where we see ourselves as part of a larger, intricate network of sustaining relationships, relationships that are mutually reciprocal.  Modern psychology has placed great emphasis upon individual autonomy and self-sufficiency.  Gratitude requires, however, that we affirm our dependency on others and recognize we need to receive that which we cannot provide for ourselves. 

Will the real Grocery Guru please stand up...please stand up...please stand up.

I just thought of a way to cut my monthly grocery bill in half.

Okay, but really, after the initial distaste baby Zuri moved on to things we enjoyed watching her do like climb over a log, play with her ball, itch her leg with her other leg.  She was adorable, all 300+ pounds of her.  And if you were wondering, I know I was, baby elephants are just like human babies in that they put everything in their mouths.  So in goes poo.  However, this has benefits ( I know right!) the mama's poo has bacteria the baby needs and this is how she can get it.  Zoo staff was nearby and I got the 411 on the dung dinner.