HappY BirThING Day, MOM!

Today is November 18th. As many already know...that means it's my Birthday. I always feel so awkward on these days, because essentially people are celebrating with me for doing something that I didn't really put all that much effort into. Or at least none that I can remember. I'm sure it was rather a distressing moment coming into this world and separating myself from my cozy lil' home inside my Mom, but honestly I think she did most of the work. In fact I know this, because even as a child my mother told me just how painful my delivery was for her...vs. the other two she experienced with my sisters.

So after experiencing the same process of labor and delivery & motherhood, I want to dedicate this day not to myself...but to my Mom. I know we have Mother's Day for that sort of stuff. But seriouslY....One Day out of the year for all that she did, does, and will continue to do for the rest of her life? Doesn't really seem fair.To steal a line from my Dad, I have to say that any good in me is from my Mom. She is the ultimate example of what our Heavenly Father expects from one of His daughters. She taught me so much from simply being who she is. For that I am eternally grateful.She is the voice in my head, the skip in my step, and the smile on my lips.

She was the Mom who would ask as we were driving past some boys, "Do you know those boys?"I'd say, "Yeah, they're in my class."She'd immediately roll down the window and holler, "Hey boys!"She use to dance in the Grocery store to the lovely elevator Music, just to try and embarrass us.She'd stay up all hours of the night making our dresses for church, dances, graduation.She taught me etiquette, decorating, hostessing, and a short attempt at cooking. She loves music and is the reason why I have such a love for it myself. She encouraged our creativity everyday and was honest in her compliments.She taught me how to work and how to not give up.I could go on, but the list is endless of the things my Mom has taught and done for me.So, Happy BIrThingDay Mom! You did all the work really. I just had the fortunate opportunity to be so blessed with you as my Mom.

I Can't Stop this Feeling....Deep Inside of Me!

So our lovely Linda living left of us was watching the kids for us recently. She's watching an interlude between Cal and Pud. Well more like an argument. Cal is getting really angry. We know this because he actually said,
"Isabelle, You're Making Me Really ANGRY!"
I've heard and seen this one many times. He balls up his little fists, starts shaking, turning a little puce & says this exact phrase as though it took all his effort to push the words out without exploding. Come to think of it, I've seen this somewhere else before to. From now on we'll call it 'having a HULK moment.'
Anyways...so Linda's getting a little worried, cuz I'm sure she doesn't know what to do with an exploding boy. And I'm sure she was expecting Pud to just rip him a new one. But instead, much to Linda's surprise, Pud looks at Cal. And in her calm Mom voice (Yes, People! I do have one of those) says,
"Cal, I can't make you angry. I can't make you feel anything. You choose to feel that way."
Linda sort of stood there amazed. Uh...gee...she thought. I guess I should be teaching Finn some of this stuff. No worries Linda. As you can see some kids just get it. And others, i.e. Cal, have to be bombarded with it at all sides. Even from his sister.

A What?

So Sunday night we're all in the kitchen having some soup for dinner. Cal, who can never seem to stay in his seat was over by the back door...Suddenly very excited. "Mom, Dad come here....LOOK! It's a Cat-a-Pooter!" Huh? "Hurry, Hurry! Come See! It's A Cat-a-Pooter!"
We go over to see that it's actually a Ladybug on the floor AND that he's trying to say Caterpillar. We couldn't correct him though. We like Cat-a-Pooter better.

Just another reason why it's my favorite holiday...

Witches Night Out 2009

And you thought you had some weirdos in your family? Well we've made it a traditions for the women in our family to go to Gardner's Village every year for Witches' Night Out. Nik was absent this year, but we were finally able to get Mom to come with us....shocker. But I think Celeste told her she'd get fed and time to shop. What more could one ask for?She usually turns us down when we invite her to come to our girl get-togethers. But this time she was a go. I think they must be regulating her meds better. J/K Mom. Don't worry. People who know you aren't going to believe that one. So even though she didn't dress up, she was present and accounted for. In fact...she sort of became the life of the party! Here she is with some amazing Witches from the party. I can speak for my sisters when I say that we had so much fun, because she was having fun! Nice Pumpkins, eh? 

So all in all, we had a great time together. Next year we're making Mom dress up. We're thinking a White Witch or maybe a silver one...to go with her hair. Suggestions are welcome. Except the Chiquita Pumpkin/Fruit Witch is out of the running. With our genes...not so much.

SIDENOTE: There are usually a few men that show up along with their wives and such. This year there seemed to be a lot of men there. One guy in particular was dressed up as his "Witch's" Black Cat. Pleather pants. Tail. Chain. The Works! He was dancing around with the music. It was sooo funny. It must of been hypnotic as well, because Mom got up and followed him. When we realized she wasn't coming back to where we were sitting, we grabbed our stuff and went after her. When we asked her why she took off, she just kept saying, "That is the funniest thing I have seen!" Random. Uh, Mom could you please not go off without us to follow around other strange men? Must just be the start of that whole Parent/Child reversal thing they talk about.

35: Not Just a Tetrahedral Number

October 4th, 1974 my parents were sealed for time and all eternity in the Provo, Utah Temple. Mom made her own dress, while Dad was left to defend himself in an outfit that I can only describe as something you might find hanging up in a really seedy motel. Hey, it was the 70's. Too many fashion faux pas to count.Soon after they started their family and produced 3 lovely girls. Dad was always hoping for that boy, but alas the Lord wanted all his children to survive to adulthood. They are a bit camera shy, so I don't really have a lot of pictures of my parents together. That and most of our family pictures were polaroid...not a very reliable technology as far as record preservation and duplicates go.Some of the best memories I have of my parent's marriage is when they would put on some music and slow dance in our kitchen together. My Dad is a great dancer and my Mom would lean her head against his chest with the most contented smile. Even when she'd get so mad at him for teasing her, I could feel the love and devotion they had for one another.

And of course...there was always laughter. My Dad is a natural comedian with his quick wit. They both have laughs that just burst out of them. And even if it's at the expense of the other, they're both good sports about it...most of the time. And as the aches and pain of age have begun to set in, at least I know they'll have a great sense of humor. Whether it's Dad asking where exactly he puts his new "Cherry-flavored" medication or Mom is being chided for her "Senior Moments", they have each other to get them through it.

Most of all...my parents taught me what it meant to love your spouse. I had parents who knew that they weren't raising children to be children. They were raising children to be wives first and then mothers. My Dad often told us that next to the Gospel, the greatest gift he could give us was to love our Mother.
Thank you Dad.
For always showing your love for my Mom. For demanding our respect towards her and protecting her...even from us kids.
Thank you Mom, for always loving my Dad. Because of your example I have learned to love my eternal companion. I have learned that love is not simply a feeling, but an action. Love is not simply the words, but the choices we make towards one another.
Keep up the good work! 35 down...an eternity to go!

How Do You Do It All?

Women are always telling me and asking me..."Cory, you seem like you have it all put together...snicker, snicker...How do you Do it ALL!?!" Well Ladies...it's not for lack of messes. We all know children come with messes. It's a package deal. But I'll let you all in on a little secret. Here it Comes...

...MULTI-TASKING!

Kid has to eat...Kid eats. Naturally, Kid gets dirty. Clean Kid in the closest water source available. Dump the dishes in with the Kid. Teach Kid to wash dishes while washing self. You just marked off 4 things in one easy event: Grooming Lesson for Kid, Teaching Kid valuable work skill for possible future vocation, since he did both washing of self & washing of my dishes I had to do neither! Who says motherhood can't be a Breeze?

I'll Be Back...

I'm just a little busy right now. And let's face it, being self-indulgent in blogging all my happenings becomes low priority when life gets busy.
So I'll get back to bragging about my fabulous life in a week or so.

A First for Our First

So our first lil' kiddle had her first full day of the first grade yesterday. Here she is before we walked her to school with the boys. We had picked out her outfit the night before. I was so nervous for her, I woke up at 3:30 that morning and couldn't go back to sleep. I felt as though I was going to school all over again. What a Nightmare! I mean, School is good....we all Love School.
Pud strolls into our bedroom at 5 mins to 7am all dressed and ready to go. She was so excited...she couldn't wait!

So the boys, along with some awesome neighbors, walked the big kids to school. Last year when Pud was in Kindergarten...I didn't take it very seriously. This whole 1st grade business seems too real and on your permanent record sort of thing. And surprisingly, I've liked walking her to school these past couple of days. I know Kat/Molly...you girls are probably gasping with shock. Proof though that you can teach an old dog like me a new trick! Just as long as I don't have to do it everyday. We have no bus system for our school. It's called Central Elementary because it's so...Central. Nobody lives so far away that a bus is necessary, but man there are days when I would sure appreciate a bus stop in front of my house. Yee-gads, it's only the 2nd day, and I'm already complaining! Well it wouldn't be a decent blog entry without a little vent, right?
Here she is in line with her class. I don't know where all the girls are for her class line-up, probably in the class behind her. But Pud was so easy-going. When I asked her how school was she gave me "Good." And after a lot of questioning and probing it all came down to..."Good." How the heck did Adam and I get such a laid-back kid? Nothing else earth shattering to report. We'll have to see where the 1st grade takes us. We have started brain-washing her...she's already saying, "Think A!"

OHhhhh What do you do in the Summertime?

Our neighbor and friend Celeni was taking pictures and caught this non-posed, wink-wink, picture of me and the kids. I think Miss Pud's new slogan should be, "Pose to your Toes!"
What brought us outside on such a hot day is that the Pleasant Grove Firefighters were testing our hydrants in the neighborhood and we have one just across the street from us. Which was good for us since our lawn had not been watered for 4 days, due to someone turning off our sprinklers and stealing our filter...yes even in Utah.
I loved this picture. It really isn't everyday when you get your very own instant swimming pool in your front yard. Walking down the sidewalk in front of our house was like walking down a stream. What was so cute was that not only were all the neighbor kids having a blast...I think those firefighters got a kick out of watching them play. Let me tell ya though, that water is FREEZING!
As Jones shows us here in this picture, being wet...not always as fun as it looks. It may have also been that he hadn't eaten in the past 20 mins. Take your pick.

SIDENOTE: And yes Jess, all the Firefighters were young and darling. Though I know you'd pick different adjectives, I edit my adjectives because this is a family blog. ;)