Thank the Heavens!

My friend had her colonoscopy today and it's NOT cancer. Crohn's disease, which sucks, but doesn't kill you. Thanks everyone for your prayers and well wishes on her behalf!

Fall

It's been a little bass ackwards, if you know what I mean, winter came before fall this year, with the snow, and now the leaves are finally falling. They are everywhere, in my car, in my house, all over the yard. There is a steep price to pay for the wonderful trees here, it's called a backache after hours of raking. I need to get my kids on it...

Beavers been busy

The Elders Quorum in our ward has a wood cutting day every fall. They take wood to the elderly, widows, families in need. Some people in our ward still rely on fire for heat in the winter. Chris went this year, because we need some too! Our power bills are out of control, and we need to find a cheaper way to heat the house. Plus, since our landlady replaced all the windows in the basement, but not upstairs, the family down there gets too hot when the furnace is on, even though we are still only hovering at 60*. We lose so much heat out the windows, one drawback to living in an old house. Anyway, this is not all our wood, we just happen to have the biggest backyard to dump it, till it can be cut up and split. I assume our backyard will be humming with the melody of chainsaws for the rest of the fall. It's ok. We are just really grateful to have free wood.
When Chris went on this outing, we didn't know how we were going to burn our wood. We have a fireplace, but no insert, which means any fire we light in there just sucks the heat out of the house and up the chimney. We have been shopping around for a wood burning stove for a month now, but if you've ever priced these puppies out, they are spendy. Like $2000 spendy. If we could afford that, we'd just crank up the furnace and be done with it. So why cut wood you ask? Well, we felt like we needed to exercise some faith. Sort of like, "If you chop it, the stove will come" or something like that. Well, wonder of wonders, the day after, I remembered our friend Bonnie has an old wood burning stove out in her backyard. She once used it as an outdoor fire pit, but it's mostly gone unnoticed for a while. She had been thinking about putting up for sale on Tradeo, when we asked her if we could buy it from her. She asked the steep price of $50 and 2 meals. Done and done. I'm already one meal down, and as soon as we get paid next month, the stove is ours! How's that for divine intervention? Oh, and get this, the stove fits by 1/2 inch into our fireplace. Chris will have to cut off the legs, and do a little jimmy rigging, but it will be perfect.
So, Chris' hard work (he couldn't get out of bed the day after, 8 hrs. cutting and hauling wood was a bit much for his old body I guess) paid great dividends. Bring on the cold. We're ready.

Sisterhood

"What is a friend? A single soul, dwelling in two bodies." --Aristotle

This post is about women and sisterhood. Since my last post, I've been thinking a lot about how much women need other women. Men don't seem to need friends like we do. At least Chris doesn't seem to... I need friends. It's the first thing I set out to do when we move to a new place. First order of business, is find a friend. Preferably 2 or 3. Maybe it's because we are home all day with just kids to talk to, that we need another outlet, maybe it's because the men can't understand what it's like to be home all day every day dealing with kids and household stresses. Don't get me wrong, Chris is very compassionate, and helpful, but he can't be with me all the time, and some days, I just need to be with a friend. Since my last post, all my friends here in Cedar have offered their support so that I could go and support Joanne. Babysitting, meals, carpools, all were taken care of in an instant. I couldn't just run off and leave my family without the support of these women. I'm so grateful for my friends. In the church, we have the extra support network of the Relief Society. Joanne's RS is taking care of her carpools, bringing in meals and helping her out because she has no close family. Since we live away from family, I too value and cherish the sisterhood of RS. I love meeting with the older widows in our ward, to glean a little of their wisdom, and in turn, I hope I can help mentor some of the younger girls in our ward, since there are few things that I can say "Been there, done that" to. So to all my good friends, in the many cities all over the country, I just want to say I LOVE YOU! Thanks for the precious pages you've added my book of life.

A prayer

My very good friend Joanne (in the yellow) in Vegas emailed me today. She has been very sick. The doctors suspect colon cancer. She's my age. She has 3 children. She's a very private person, and I hesitated to share this, but, I am who I've always been, not very good at keeping my feelings inside, and since I've been crying all day, and this is a journal of my life, you all get to hear about it. I'm asking, no begging, for all of you, since I know you are all either friends or family, to pray for her. She should know what she's facing on Thursday, so there's still time for a miracle to occur, and I know that the power of prayer is real. Colon cancer is not a good one to have. I'm going down on Wednesday to be there when she most needs a friend. Please keep her in your prayers. Please.

Facebook

So there's this 'new fangled contraption' out there, called Facebook. My cousin MADE me join, and then once I did, all these old HS friends starting coming out of the woodwork. Apparently there are ways to find people, heck if I know how though, it took me 20 min. last night to confirm that Chris and I are 'in a relationship'. First I had to add it to my profile, then he had to 'confirm' it. It was more complicated than actually getting married for real. And then my FB account had some kind of a 'glich' where I couldn't do anything, and I had 5 friend requests, and I couldn't confirm them for weeks. Can I tell you how much I worried about those 5 people thinking I was being a snob or something, because I didn't confirm them right away? It's like we're in kindergarten, "Hi. I'm Kristin. Do you want to be friends?" and then you wait, awkwardly, to see if indeed, they do. Some people have hundreds of FB friends. Hundreds. I can't imagine how busy their walls are.
I feel like an old dog trying to learn a new trick, and I really have to wonder, what's the point? You don't really 'communicate' on facebook, it seems like you just post random comments about what you happen to be doing at that moment and then your 'friends' can comment on that. Comments on comments. No real communication. And if you don't know what you're doing, everyone and their dog can read your comments. Everything you say or comment on, is right there on your wall, for all to read. Literally, I feel like I'm eavesdropping on people's conversations, and I don't really even understand what it is they're talking about. 'Mindy just commented on Susie's photo.' Great. Who is Susie? Is she one of my friends, should I be commenting on the photo too? Why does this information show up on my wall? Geez!
I suppose the point is to 'network'. But isn't that best done face to face? Am I really going to find a new best friend on facebook, or even a new hairdresser? I doubt it. So far, I've only found old friends, not new ones, and now I know who they are 'poking'. I think I prefer email, or even blogging, that at least, gives you some idea about a person's real life.
Alas, society and communication in general has gone from live conversations, to just 'poking' each other on FB. Seriously, I don't even understand what that means. It sounds crass to me. Chris 'poked' me on FB. So... what? Where am I supposed to go with that? I don't think I'd really enjoy a real 'poking' let alone a 'cyber-poke' (the pg kind people!). Am I just too old for this high tech age? I don't know, I thought I was doing pretty good keeping up with the blogging world, and just as I start feeling pretty techie ... along comes facebook. *Sigh*.

Our wise old sage

Chris went on a canyoneering trip with some other GWU students/mentors, and decided to take Luke along, since he's part mountain goat. Apparently, it was an interesting adventure, involving some scary rapels, through ice cold water. At one point, one of the women in their party refused to go off the ledge of a rapel, and it took a while to talk her through her fears. She later said she would rather go through childbirth than that again (um, I think I'll take a little rapel any day. If my 11 yr. old can do it, how bad could it have been?). So at the end of the trip, they had a little 'testimony' meeting of sorts, and the leader asked everyone what they had learned that day. When it came to Luke, he said, "When I was going down sometimes I had to push the rope pretty hard to keep going because it would get caught. It reminded me that sometimes I have to push myself in life too. Sometimes you just go, but sometimes I have to push myself to do something."

Welcome Welcome

All my 'private' friends/family. I hated to do it, but I guess it is a scary world we live in, and one must exercise some caution when one posts naked pictures of ones 2 yr. old, as I have done previously.

So, for my first 'private' post, I think I'll break from tradition (stuff about the kids) and post something about... hmmm...what? what? Oh come on man! Surely there is something else I can write about....

Nope. I got nothin'. I guess I truly am 'just a SAHM blogger' these days. When you can't come up with an intelligent thought that doesn't include kids, cooking, or housekeeping, it's time to admit defeat. Well, let's not call it defeat, let's just say it's not my 'time or season' to be intelligent/interesting/witty/cute/popular, wait, what was I talking about?

Oh! Oh! I remember! I did participate in a conversation this weekend that included politics/conspiracy theory/Thomas Jefferson, but alas, I can't remember it. I know it was interesting.... well, I hope it's filed up there somewhere, in that big empty space I call my brain.

Let's talk about memory. I'm losing mine. I do my Sudoku puzzles every week, I attempt the crossword, still, nothing seems to help. I ask my kids the same questions over and over again, and they frequently have to remind me, "Mom! I already told you that!" Oh, right. This is also the reason I only have one password, for EVERY account. If you ever figure out what it is, you basically have access to every account I have. If I try to be creative, I invariably forget the new password, and have open a new account. Do I need Ginko? or big doses of Omega 3? I found this fun statement while researching memory loss:

The brain is a very complex, sensitive organ which needs to be nourished in order to function properly. Over time, the buildup of toxins in the body from pollutants, drugs, residues and other sources inhibits proper circulation.
As a result, the brain receives less and less of the vital nutrients and antioxidants it needs to function properly. When the brain is not functioning properly, memory loss and a whole host of problems ensues.
Senility and Alzheimer's will affect 14 million Americans by the year 2020.

So I guess all those drugs I did in the 70's really messed me up. Oh wait, I wasn't old enough to DO drugs in the 70's. Does caffeine count? (I'm off...AGAIN!) I'm sure there are plenty of toxins in my body to do some damage, but how to get rid of those? A cleanse? You may remember my lemonade cleanse didn't go so well. Apparently you must posses a modicum of self control to accomplish such things. Bother.

Well, for now, I'll just have to work on not taking in any more dangerous drugs or toxins, and redouble my Sudoku efforts. The kids will have to be patient with me (in all fairness, it's not just that I forget I already asked, but I just wasn't listening to the answer, therefore, the need to repeat). And since you're all friends/family, if you notice I start posting the same things twice, just give me a friendly reminder... or you could recommend a good old folks home. I hope I still remember you all by tomorrow...

zzzzzzz....wha? wha? What am I doing in this room?!

Blog stalkers listen up!

Ok, so I know I've asked for my blog stalkers to fess up before, and I think I got 3 people to confess, because of my site meter, I know there are more, but I decided not to worry and just take it as a compliment that people cared to waste their time reading about our lives. Well, that time is over people! I am officially a little freaked out. So here's the deal, I'm leaving my blog public for one more week, if you want to be able to read it after that, you need to say so, so I can send you an invite. For this, I will need your email address, if you aren't sure that I already have it. Be prepared to prove to me you are not some scary stalker that is going to show up and kidnap my kids. I don't want to have to hide details, like our names, and where we live, because this is my journal, and I intend to have it made into a book for posterity (snicker snicker). Sooooo if I don't know you, you can still get an invite, but you must tell me how you know me, ie. you are the sister of my friend down the street. As long as I can ask someone I know about you, to be sure you're not crazy. I'm really sorry if this offends anyone, but my families safety comes first, and there are a million other SAHM blogs out there to fill up your time. Sorry. Oh, and if you frequently comment on my blog, and you know that I know who you are, don't bother, I'll send you one. That goes for family too. You'll get one. And ONE more thing, if you have my blog listed on your blog rolls, TAKE IT OFF! Thanks.

What does this say about Ella?

Ella wanted some of the cookie I was eating. I broke her off a piece and gave it to her. Noooo! she said, and threw it over her head all the while scowling at me. I shrugged. She turned around, walked over to the cookie and stomped on it. Then she looked at me. I ignored her, so she picked it up and forcefully threw it in the garbage. Then she came back and asked for a cookie. I said, yours is in the garbage. She scowled at me and stormed off in a huff.
SHE'S ONLY 2!!!
(and I thought Kate was strong willed.)

NO NO NO!

Seriously!? Snow already! The last snow was in June, and this is what? Only four months later!?! None of the leaves have even turned color here yet... let alone fallen, or been raked up!
Of course, I drug out all the 'winter attire', but I just know, if I put away the summer stuff, it'll get back into the 80's. Happens every year. I wish my closets were bigger, then I could just leave it all out, alas, old house = small closets. Good thing I picked all my tomatoes before the snow came. Guess the gardening season has officially come to a close. Now if only we can get a few more weeks of warmish- coolish weather, so the leaves have a chance to drop...

Must ...not...sleep....

Uh huh. Sound asleep. Light on. At what point do children realize sleep is a good thing, and stop resisting it? I don't remember at what point I decided I preferred to sleep to... well, almost anything. I swear Luke and Tess go to bed saying this mantra must not sleep must not sleep must not sleep....

20 Q's

On our way back from SLC last weekend, the kids and I were playing 20 questions to kill some time. It was Luke's turn. It went something like this:
Is it an animal? no
Is it alive? no
Is it man made? no, but it has electricity going around it in a circle...
At this point Kate blurts out.... Is it a dead moose?!

BTW, it was a molecule. Chris and Luke have 'science' discussions at night. He didn't agree with me when I tried to explain that electrons circling a nucleus was not the same as electricity. Right? It's been a long time since I took 2 years of Chem.

McDonalds night

So my kids think I'm nuts, taking pictures of our dinner, but I just wanted to share a very popular meal at our house. Well, it's still not as popular as cereal night, but it's neck and neck with pizza night, and WAY ahead of left-over night (yeah, I only cook 2-3x a week. Gotta keep myself in the running for mother of the year award somehow!).
This meal also requires no silverware, so less dish washing!
Here's the basics, comment if you need more details and I'll send you the actual recipes.
Chicken nuggets: Coat in BBQ sauce mixed with peanut oil 2:1 ratio, toss in bread crumbs, bake at 400* for about 15min., just till they're not pink anymore. Serve with more BBQ or honey.
Fries: Cut potatoes into...fries? Coat lightly with olive oil. Arrange on baking sheet in single layer, salt. Cook at 400* for about 30min. or till they start to get crunchy. Serve with fry sauce...duh!
Asparagus spears: OK, this is NOT on McD's menu, but I have to sneak in the greens somewhere! Can be steamed, stir-fried, or broiled for a few minutes. Coat with olive oil. Serve with lemon mayo or shoyu mayo (that's lemon juice mixed with mayo or soy sauce for all you gringos).
Always a winner at our house. Fast easy prep, perfect for nights when the kids just wanna go get a burger, and you don't want to dump $20 on all that garbage they pass off as food. Not that we don't eat there, we do, and I love a good Big Mac, but occasionally my 'mom conscience' gets the better of me. Not often, but it happens.

End of term festival

The kids are officially done with their first term at the Charter school, which meant that the last day was a 'festival' to show off all they had done. It is nice to have everything crammed in together on one day, but that happened to be the day we were heading north, so it was a whirlwind day. Here are some of their accomplishments............................One of her art projects.The Lewis and Clark expedition play that Tess' class did. Tess was an Indian woman.This is the wicki up that she built with a few fellow students, I thought it was pretty impressive.
Luke's class was studying the Egyptians. This the obelisk he built.He was a merchant, so he built this scale to weigh the monies. The pyramid that the class built. The white things lying around are 'mummified' stuffed animals.
And now we have 2 weeks of boredom. It's only been a few days, but every day starts the same. "What are we doing today?" nothing. "But we're bored!" go out and play in the street. *Sigh* It's gonna be a looooong 2 weeks....

Early Halloween

This weekend found us in Bountiful, attending my sister's one year old bday party. His birthday is Oct. 1st, but she decided to do a costume party. Here's 'kissin' Kate and Luke, the eternal skeleton. This is his 4th year in this costume, and it was the best $15 I ever spent. He's thinking if he goes as a skeleton every year, he'll make it into the Guiness book of world records... hmm.... It's not going to fit next year...

Tess the gypsy, she agreed to this costume solely on the basis that she got to wear those hoop earrings.

And our own little cave girl, Pebbella. She's doing some kind of fire dance here. This was leftover fabric from the car seat I recovered. Add a dog bone, and voile, costume presto. I'm not sure this one will work when Halloween actually rolls around however, it's a bit on the breezy side.
I actually did start out in a costume. A slick little disco number, silver, flares, you know, shows all the bulges and bumps in a most unflattering way, very reminiscent of Abba, sadly, I had to run out for the Pizza, so I changed, and never made it back to the hippie era...

Be Humble

We were discussing Pres. Hinckley's 'Be's' last night, and stopped to talk about what it means to 'be humble'. Not being conceited about how you look came up, to which Kate replied, "I like to be pretty and beautiful." Well, I guess a good self image is a good thing at this age...