How I found my butt muscles at 4 miles and 88 cents

Mr. Wonderful had the day off today. That usually means he wants to put some miles on his wonderfulness....and all the rest of us too. He put us all in the BMW (Big Mormon Wagon aka the Suburban) and off we went to hike the Crags. When we got to the trailhead, just on the northside of Pikes Peak, it was 57 degrees. Fifty-seven. On July 31st. Yeah.

The Caboose is showing off her smarts at the water pump. Notice her mouth--she is drinking from her camelback. At this point, I have asked her no less than 6 times to use the restroom at the parking lot. "I don't have to go!" she insisted. Unhunh. Wait for it.

Just heading out.

Along the creekside. Mr Wonderful is blessed that his boy loves to hike like he does--Boofus at 9 years old is wearing size 12/14 SLIM in Boys because he is so dang tall. Our pediatrician says that when he's finally done growing he will top out at 6'5-6'6" --Mr W is hoping that's true so Boof can carry his hiking gear someday when he's too old.

Still drinking that water...

Dakota on the trail with us...she did really great actually.

Because this is the rainiest/wettest July on record, the meadow was full of mountain flowers! Just every where you looked...

mushrooms growing on the side of a granite rock.

I wanna say these are either bluebonnets or bluebells...

No matter...they were so lovely.

Speaking of lovely...

and she's still drinking...

Indian paint brush flowers...

Boof standing in a creek...

More wildflowers~

Taking a breather with me...I was startin' to suck wind...and it was gonna get worse before I knew it. Oh, and notice the Caboose's face. What does it say? She had just whispered to Nana, "I gotta go." What did I say? WHAT DID I SAY? I knew it! But she didn't want to go--yet.

Gorgeous rock formation

Lookin at the trail ahead...see how green it is! About this point, I asked aloud, "How much farther?" to which the Bee answered, "About 4 miles and 88 cents, Mom."

More bluebonnets/bluebells I think...

Thistle that has flowered and is feathering~

An awesome trunk~

Okay so here's a story. See that big sister? Yeah, she had to talk the Caboose into peeing outside, just off the trail instead of going all the way back to the parking lot. How'd she do that? She promised her little sister three things: 1-that she'd carry her as long as she wanted. 2-Maggie Moos once we got home 3-Five dollars cash. The Caboose knew better than to ask me. Nana is a pushover for Bee.

This is where we stopped for lunch...I was told "we're almost there!" about 20 times. Looking North, we can see reservoirs and Colorado Springs.

Nana got a signal up there...and what do ya know? she started texting. teenagers.

Boof getting his hiking bandana on with Dad's help.

Now, by this time, I was satisfied with the amount of scenery on the hike. I could've headed down....but NO.
My family pressured me to keep going. I had fantasies of just dropping to my knees and rolling down the mountain to the car.




Again with the "we're almost there!" talk. SO I pressed on...but then I looked over to a ledge and saw this:

Nana had reached her goal and wasn't budging. I think Ari was checkin to see if she was still breathing.

Daisie reached the top first, with Boofus and Kent right behind. I held my position for a moment trying to decide if it really meant that much to me to get to the stinkin' top. Everyone was yelling at me to keep coming up...so I got my bahooey into high gear and got it up there....my thought was, "If I go to the top, I never have to do this hike again."

Dark clouds started to roll in about that time, and Nana took Bee and started to descend the mountain. That's one thing you do not want to be on when a storm comes...more people in Colorado are killed by lightening that anything else--did you know that?

SO I got to the Top and met Boofus and Mr W...they were so proud of me. I kept thinking, "don't pass out, don't pass out."

You can see the rain coming....this is looking North.

Daisie and Dakota at the top with Mr W...she is a first class hikin gal...always meets the challenge!

Looking East to Kansas. Oh and Kota's bum.

And how crazy are these rocks? I can't decide if they look like popsicle stix or a library shelf?
No matter, they ROCK!

Finally, at the top.

By this time, the thunder was closer, so adrenaline led the way and we were off the mountain and down to the car in about half the time it took us to get there. It was about midway down that I felt somethign I haven't felt in years--my butt muscles! And they were on FIRE! I tell ya. Muscles that have been dormant for centuries awoke as we scrambled down the mountain to the flat meadows!

As we descended, we ran into alot of Flatlanders...most of them were wearing shirts from Texas...I'm not kidding...so I warned them about the lightening and to be careful. They just smiled and said "thanks ya'll"...

by the time we got to the car (that's 2 miles later), it started pouring down rain. You know those flatlanders got soaked! It was 47 degrees when we got to the car.

And just for the record, I loved the hike. I wish we could've taken more time at the top than we did, and can't wait to go again and take our friends too. It really was a beautiful way to spend a day. I love Colorado!

Wedding Joy & Dancing!

I smile every time I watch this!

Kids & Dogs

My favorite movies include Dog movies. "Old Yellar" is at the top of the list. I still cry everytime when Old Yellar gets rabies. "No! No!" I think when that part comes up. "The Adventures of Yellow Dog", "Otis and Milo", "Homeward Bound", "Lady & the Tramp", "Lassie"...oh am I sucker for dog movies! I just can't help it. David Scott's most favorite book when he was younger was "Where the Red Fern Grows"....ol Dan and Annie. The first time he read it was in 3rd grade. I poked my head in to say "good-night" to him on his bunkbed--he was reading the book, with tears in his eyes. He still has that paperback...I bet he's read it a zillion times.

We've had our black lab, "Dakota" for about 4 months now. She's a really sweet girl. She's been sleeping all night since the first week we got her...that was a long week b-t-w. She's trained US to keep the floor picked up...or else.
I think we have half a dozen pair of flipflops with one mate. Oh and she ate one of my sunday shoes. But I forgave her--it was my fault for leaving them where she'd get 'em. She ate a wad of White Model Magic--she jumped up to the table and grabbed it, swallowing it whole before I could even get to her. And yes, it made it easier to poop-scoop--whatwith the white and all. She's ingested nerf darts, barbie shoes, and can unroll toilet paper and eat that too! She has jumped up to our picnic table and eaten the kids' sandwiches when they weren't looking...I don't think she has tastebuds. She frequently brings home neighbor kid's toys and newspapers.
We're training her to "drop it"--sometimes she does, and sometimes she doesn't. She whines like a tea kettle when she wants out of her crate--especially if there's commotion in the house...like kids running through it. She is still every bit a puppy & a bit of work...but hopefully she will turn out to be a great family member.

Monday night, Boofus fell off his bike. AGAIN. He came in the house "wailing like a coyote", as his dad says; and as we cleaned his many scrapes, Dakota came over to him to see what all the fuss was about. Immediately, Boofus was comforted, even smiling. One time Dakota walked away Boofus said, "Come back here, lil girl, I need you. You make me feel better." Awwwww...I just melted, I tell you! So she came back and stood by his side while he pet her and I tended to his scrapes & scratches. Every time she started to walk away, he would fret about the pain until she came back.

That's why every boy deserves a dog. Just thought I'd let you know.

I grew up with a toy poodle named Taffy. We got him when I was 9 years old. He was a tough little dog. Not one of those yappy poodles either. He put up with so much guff and teasing from my brothers poor thing! We loved our Taffy. When my mom took him to the "Poodle Parlor", she'd get him all gussied up with bows on his ears and painted toe nails...he looked like he could work Vegas with Wayne Newton--ridiculous.
Oh and when he came home from the Poodle Parlor, he knew he looked good! He'd run around the house at 50mph and you could just tell he felt good!
Funny story: My mom thought she could cut his hair with clippers and set about to do it one summer. So you know the little puff of hair on the top of poodle's heads? Well she trimmed too much of that puffball, and it looked like he was running-- as the top was nearly on the back of his neck! Hilarious!
When Taffy was just a puppy, we took him on a walk around our block on a leash. One of our neighbors' German Shepherds got loose and attacked our little dog--it was horrible. Taffy was in the Vet hospital for a week, at the neighbor's expense--and when he came home he had a scar down his side for the rest of his life. We were so grateful that he survived.
Another time, he saved our lives. I am not kidding. My Aunt was babysitting us while my folks were out one evening. We all fell asleep in the livingroom and were awakened by Taffy's barking.
Boy! was he ever barking! And he was running from window to window to door to door, just barking his little head off! My Aunt woke up and heard a knocking on the door, as she was unchaining the door, she thought to ask, "Who is it?" A man's voice answered, and it wasn't my dad's...she quickly chained the door up again and woke us all up. We didn't have a phone yet--we'd only been in the new house a few weeks I think; having a phone wasn't as important as it is now--so we didn't have a phone! She woke all of us kids up and had us banging on pots and pans as loud as we could, to get the neighbor's attention and to scare the intruder off. Which is exactly what happened. How grateful we were for Taffy waking us up!
Taffy was a smart dog. My dad taught him to track deer and squirrel. Dad would tell Taffy to "stay" on the back porch...then Dad would take the hide and run through the forest with it dragging behind--over and around trees and bushes--then Dad would hide and whistle as loud as he could for Taffy. Upon hearing that whistle, Taffy would high-tail it after him...following the scent over and around all the trees and bushes too...with us kids in tow after him, until finally catching up with Dad. What a celebration when Taffy found Dad!
We'd ask my dad what we're gonna do with Taffy once he died...Dad replied he was just gonna throw him in the backyard. He acted like it would be no big deal. Well, when I was 16, Taffy got glaucoma in one of his eyes and after being let out one morning, didn't come back--Dad found him on the side of the street. He'd been hit by a car. I came home from school to find my dad's car in the drive--which was unusual.
Dad was sitting in the livingroom in his work clothes, and looked so so sad. He told us what happened...and he cried over our little dog. We all did. Taffy was gone. We missed his little cream colored fur and happy little self.

Kids and dogs. That's what a mother's life is all about, isn't it? We learn to read kids minds and dogs' whines. Would we have it any other way?

Lucy! I'm HOME!

The house is still standing. The kids are all in one piece and happily greeted me in the driveway Sunday night as I returned home from Utah--yea!

The trip went fast--days and nights blended into one another. I stayed up WAYYYYY past my bedtime...one night didn't end until 4:30 AM. (I paid for that one the next day tho--*note to self: Don't do that ever again!) Another night didn't end until 2:30AM.
Just sitting around talking and catching up is time-consuming, isn't it?
There's nothing better than laughing so hard your eyes water-up, your ribs get a stitch, and your bladder pleads for release!
I loved it.

I took loads of pictures, but as of yesterday, can't find my camera. Wahhh.
We arrived on Wednesday in Springville...cute little town. Their Reams store has a Food Storage aisle! No kidding!
Thursday we (Nan & I ) met everyone else up at Cafe Rio in American Fork/Lehi (?)--Sherry L., Pam I., and Dodee B...we visited for 3 hours there. THREE HOURS! I wish I could do that every week! Too much fun!
Then, Nan passed me off to Dodee and we headed up to her house in Bountiful. I love Bountiful...she's right below the Temple there. Every house is different...and so many lovely gardens to enjoy. There was a huge fireworks show that night--we just sat in her yard and ate Pace's popsicles--so yummy in the 100-plus-degree weather. Man, it was hot!
That was the Marathon 4:30 AM night...and it affected my vertigo so I stayed in bed and tried to sleep it off until 4PM the next day. I was not myself that day, and felt badly that an entire day was wasted on my precious vacation. But rest was necessary. I was back in bed by 10PM and sleep came easily.
Saturday came and we headed out to the Great Salt Lake and Tooele, then down around the mountain to Eagle and up thru Sandy to Bountiful. The GSL smelled like old garbage to me.
Growing up in Miami, Florida, I was expecting the smell of a salty ocean...nope. But now, I can say I've seen GSL and so there ya go.
Tooele. What to say about Tooele. Nothing comes to mind, so I'll leave it at that.
O wait. It's got hills around it...and a nice high school. there.

We went to Fashion Place mall...I sat in the Food Court while Dodee & her hubby ran around ( I was still recovering) and I People Watched. I love people watching. My favorite place to do that is actually the Airport--with LAX coming in "First" for most entertaining.
So we're at the PROACTIVE kiosk for Dodee when her hubby leans over and says, pointing to a couple also at the kiosk:
"Help me out here--is that his daughter, his wife or his girlfriend?"
I look at this young gal about 25 years old and then at the guy--easily in his 50's.
No ring on her hand. Not his wife.
Dressed very skimpily in a revealing tight black dress. Hmmm. Not sure.
Then, I looked at his goofy grin, with a wad of cash pulled out to pay for the face cleaner...
Ah! "She's his girlfriend", I say.
"How can you tell?" he asks.
"He's too dang happy!"
Their body language as they walked away confirmed it.
Yeah, Dad's aren't all jolly as they pay $75.00 for face wash. Husbands sorta wrinkle their nose when they hear the final tally for that kinda stuff. Old codgers who think everyone whose looking at them are thinking what a lucky guy he is--well, those guys are too stinkin' happy!

Later Saturday night, Stacey D. came down from North SL, and others joined us in the kitchen for more laughter and dessert until 2:30AM and I went to sleep with a smile on my face.
It's true.
Sunday took us forever to get home on account of I-70 being closed for 11 hours because of an awful accident. We were stuck on the highway for 3 hours in Eagle, Colorado. Being stuck wasn't so awful--it just gave us more time to visit and be silly singing country songs.

The kids met me in the driveway at 10:15PM --hugs and kisses for everyone!
I appreciate that Nana took care of everyone while I was gone and she said she enjoyed it too. She baked bread and cookies for the family and made delicious dinners. There were no complaints at all--how cool is that?
As fun as it is to take a little trip, it's always good to be home too.

Prayers of a travelling Mother Hen

This Mother hen is flying the coop this morning.
Will be back Sunday.
Saying little prayers left and right:
that the kids will be safe while I'm gone.
That my house will still be standing when I return.
That the doors will not be left wide open
with neighbor kids running through
like chickens with their heads cut off.
That Boofus will not scrape knees or elbows.
That the Bee will not ride her bike in the street.
That Daisie will not get sucked into the TV.
That we'll travel safely
so I can come Home in one piece and resume life.
That there will not be a single crisis
for 5 days.
House Rules:
No hitting, punching, name-calling.
No slapping, pinching, hog-tieing.
Nobody IN, Nobody OUT.
Be kind.
Be true.
BE BE BE
Good.
Is that too much to ask?

LIVE! from the Wells Fargo Theater: David "He's so Dreamy" Archuleta and Demi "Minnie Mouse" Lovato

Where to start? Where to start?
The drive was uneventful up to Denver. To tha big city. We're small-town folks down here in the Springs. The traffic is ridiculous. Not as bad as LA, or Phoenix, or SLC--but it's pretty intense.
I love my GPS.
We got to the Wells Fargo Theater no prob, Bob. Parking was a no-brainer. We found our seats...235, 236, and 237. That's right--2nd row. Now that sounds unbelievably close...but what they call "second row" AIN'T really. There is a whole other section in front of us about, I dunno 15 rows deep..."floor seating"...the seats up there were quadruple what we paid.
We got to our seats, and upon looking around, I felt like Dorothy in Munchkinland. Little bitty girls filled the seats. I mean, little. bitty. girls. Toddlers. Elementary aged girls. All ages of little. bitty. girls. at a concert. 99% of them were sporting Demi Lovato garb--she's a Disney soap opera actress, in case you're wondering. It was actually HER concert, with David Archuleta as her opening act. They also had an entre' act called "ksm"--five girls band--who were just plain awful--absolutely no stage presence--so I figured they must related to someone who owns the theater to be there.
So that was the line-up.
ksm. David. Demi.

ksm-Nana booed them. Told u they stunk.

David....just the cutest thing since sliced bread & cotton candy. We thoroughly enjoyed his performance. You can see from the pics that I took from way back in Second Row, that we could see him pretty good.
He sang some of his oldies, and some from his American Idol days...

The girls went NUTZ when he came out. Daisie squealed, danced, clapped, jumped, the entire time he sang. What fun it was to watch her mouth all the words to his songs as he sang them! It was just a riot.

Just the sweetest performance. First Class. Got her to stand still and look at me...sucha teenage face...see that angst written all over it??

From the Big Screen

Singing along with David. I am eating my heart out...I never got to sing with Donny.

The last song...Crush...awwwww.

Then, Demi Lovato.

The stage people must be deaf, because it was so loud, my ears started ringing. Demi sounded like Minnie Mouse to me. Seriously. Two songs in, and I was sitting, covering my ears. Half-way, Kelly and I both went out into the lobby--ears ringing. We weren't alone. Alot of parents were out there too, holding their little ones, who looked very uncomfortable. Two of the security/ushers out there said it was the loudest concert they've had--louder than Metallica. I'm thinking, why doesn't Management hit the VOLUME control and take it down a couple notches?? Demi's "vocal style" is mostly YELLING like her bum is on fire...so it would make sense to adjust for her "style"--dontcha think?
So we stood in the lobby, as parents poured out like rats abandoning a sinking ship, arms full of souvenirs and weary -looking kiddos.
Nana & Daisie stayed in there happily to the end--and the volume was merely a footnote in their mind. Yeah, it was too loud, but it was worth it. And yes, I took more pics, but seriously, not many...on account of my ears burning.

Tomorrow, they're in Kansas City--oh, and for those of you wondering--there were alot of empty seats--if you wanna go, you can probably still get tickets. There were people in the lobby actually GIVING AWAY seats. No kidding. And of course, guys outside selling them. Oh! and after the concert, there are T-Shirt guys selling the last of their loot for $5 a shirt. SO don't buy your shirt before the concert...unless it's an adult-sized shirt--but otherwise, you get a bargain!

So, go for David --he was worth it. Take ear plugs though for Demi's show. You may need them even if the volume isn't too loud.

It was raining when we got out of the theater...not a downpour though. And it rained most of the way home, but again, nothing frightful. Daisie & Nana went to bed with a smile. Just as I climbed into my bed at 11:52, a storm blew in that rattled the house! It hailed so loudly the kids woke up...it's a wonder none of the windows cracked. Hands down, the loudest storm I've heard in a long time. Oddly, the noise wasn't even close to the concert.

Note to Self

It's Monday. A gorgeous Monday at that, and I have already dissappointed myself. At 11PM last night, I told my self: "self, get up early tomorrow morning, put your sneakers on, grab the dog and hit the dirt! GO for a walk in the cool Colorado air."
I woke up at 6:30am, let out the dog and told myself, "Self, check your mail, and don't mess around on the PC for longer than 30 minutes, then, go on that walk!"
It's 8:59Am. My bum is glued to the chair. I've been reading blogs, People.com, AOL, and whatever else popped up at the click of a button.
Now it's 9:00. I officially suck.

Today is David Archuleta day. Remember I told you I'd gotten tickets. It's today. Daisie is thrilled...she may spontaneously combust. I am prepared for her to thoroughly embarrass me in public tonight. She cannot contain her enthusiasm in any context. I'm bringing Nana with us so if needs be, we can hogtie Daisie to get her home. Note to Self: Bring rope & duct tape.

In other random news:
I got to go to Relief Society yesterday...for the first time (other than Mother's Day) in a year.
I waited for Sharing time and Music, but that didn't happen.
My "cup" was bone-dry, and now it's not. As much as I enjoy Primary--and I do-- Relief Society is "home" to me. I love sisters.

The dog is whining like a tea kettle next to me, so I'm gotta get off my bahooey...there's still alot of morning left. Note to self: turn off the pc, get that rope & duct tape, oh and ear plugs.

Real News of My Real Life

We're dead in the middle of summer. It's alot slower than I thought it would be. We've only been camping once! ONCE! That's not like us at all.
In my efforts to save money, we have stuck near home for the most part. Which is fine, I guess.
The troops aren't protesting too loudly.
Mr W and Boofdog rode bikes on the Sante Fe trail for a couple of miles last weekend...which is always relaxing for Mr W.
The girls' babysitting jobs have filled their pockets with spending money for treats, movies, and accessories like toilet paper and silly string, and enough leftover to meet their Kohl's habit.
The house is still full of friends & missionaries stopping by to play games and eat brownies.

Other than that, it's been pretty quiet. We decidedly miss the pool we had in Idaho. We spent 70% of our day in the pool and haven't been swimming once this summer. Not Once! I need to fix that.
We did go and see a matinee of Harry Potter yesterday. It was well-written and directed, but the end came and we sat staring at the theater screen wondering what just happened at the end there? Did they run out of material? Money? What? It was a dreadful note to end on...having not read the books, I was expecting something that tied things up. But no. The only interesting character for me continues to be Prof. Snape...whom I think will end up the series champion, but because I haven't read it, could be totally off the mark. Anywho, the kids liked it. Even Ari who watched it thru her fingers.

We'd hoped to see the Boise couple this summer...but that's not looking promising. Too long to drive here, and too expensive to fly. David Scott has changed his school plans, which I think is going to be a blessing for them both.

Dani & Mr. Idaho are in Utah this weekend for a family reunion. I wish I were a fly on the wall for this and that's all I can say. She is 5 months pg. and it's hot over there. And they're going to Lagoon. Better them than me.

I'm heading over to SLC next week with Nan...to spend totally unplanned days with Dodee. My most fav vacations are of those kind. I've been to London where we run around like chickens with our heads cut off, from Westminster Abbey to the Tower of London to Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly and everywhere in between...even in the week we were there, it wasn't enough, but boy! was I tired at the end of each day.
No, next week will be alot of sitting and visiting and walking in the morning up towards the Bountiful Temple. I can't think of anything better than catching up with a good friend.

We haven't had Dean down this summer yet. We ran out of days until this month. So next weekend I want to have him down for a visit. I miss him so much my bones hurt.

So I was watching "Hannah Montana"...no, really, I was actually watching it. Normally, it is on TV constantly, but my "mother ears" tune it out in the name of sanity--like all the other Disney Soap Operas(HM/ Sunny with a chance/Wizards of Waverly Place/Jonas Brothers/Josh & Drake/Suite life of Dumb and Dumber/etc.--where all of the kids lie to all of the adults and each other week after week, but never learn any character)--but yesterday, since Boofus was watching TV in my room, it was on, and I sat down next to him for a minute. I really looked at this little actress and then! a light went on and I called for Daisie to come upstairs! Her hair has been growing out since she cut it herself a little over a year ago, but her bangs are just awful. They hang on her face and cover her eyes. My English/Irish Granma always always got on me about having hair in my eyes, so I have come to have total disdain for hair drooping in the eyes...boys or girls--it looks retarded.(*I can say retarded b/c I am the mother of a special needs son who calls US "retarded" all the time so it means something totally different in our house. just saying) You ever see people speaking at Church and all they do is mess with their hair the whole time?? I'm like, CUT IT! PIN IT! STAPLE IT! Get it out of the WAY! It's like, ya know, the most annoying thing in the world when, like, the speaker has no control over their hair and they, like, constantly are pushing it back between sentences. ugh!
So, back to my Hannah Montana inspiration...her face is round, like Daisie's-- so I talked her into letting me cut her bangs like Hannah's. Nana walked in, mid-cut, and kidded Daisie about how she would never let me touch her hair--but then changed her tune and said it looked great.
So thanks, Hannah Montana. Wow, did I really just do that?

Okay, more good news:
Nana is still on for Oregon.
Boofdog is nearly recovered from his accident.
The Bee is smarter than all of us put together. And she's eight. The Lord did bless me with a smart one at the end. hehe
I also sent my resume to LDS Social Services offerring up my doula services to unwed pregnant mothers whom they work with...I've been feeling this for awhile and just did it. So we'll see.
And I'm not in Primary anymore. This Sunday I'll go back to Relief Society. I'll miss my Primary kids, but I'm ready to get my cup filled in SS and RS.

And that's all I got.
Oh wait!!-- I got these cute but AWFUL sandals at Kohls...they "SHUSH" when I walk...I mean every stinkin step sounds like I'm shushing someone. Even my Primary kids asked what's wrong with my shoes on the way to class! I sound like an Air Ballon ready for take-off when I walk--AND I am not kidding...total strangers look at me when I walk by cause they think I'm doing a "PSST!" at them!

Homeward Bound

Homeward Bound Lyrics by Marta Keen

“In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing
And the sky is clear and red,
When the summer’s ceased its gleaming,
When the corn is past its prime,
When adventure’s lost its meaning,
I’ll be homeward bound in time.

Bind me not to the pasture;
Chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling
And I’ll return to you somehow.

If you find it’s me you’re missing,
If you’re hoping I’ll return,
To your thoughts I’ll soon be list’ning,
In the road I’ll stop and turn.
Then the wind will set me racing
As my journey nears its end,
And the path I’ll be retracing
When I’m homeward bound again.

Bind me not to pasture;
Chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling
And I’ll return to you somehow.

In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing,
I’ll be homeward bound again.


Now go here and serve:
http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/

One act of beneficence, one act of real usefulness,

is worth all the abstract sentiment in the world.

~Ann Radcliffe

Okay, so I registerd and got our own soldier! So cool! DO IT!

The Nightmare Of Ordering a Pizza

http://aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf

Something to think about, eh? I can so see this happening, can you?

Let's Take a Peek, Shall We?

It was a great day at the birth clinic yesterday! I love being there so much. It'd been 3 weeks b/c of vacations--so good to be back.
As I was telling Mr W, it doesn't feel like work when I'm there. Yes, I'm busy but it's a "happy"
busy--I love our clients and it's fabulous to meet new ones too.
The day just zooms past us as we visit. Midwife appointments last an entire hour. We catch up on the Momma's activities, answer questions, listen to the baby's heart and take a peek thru ultrasound sometimes too. The flow is mesmerizing. The clock zips past hour after hour.
Yesterday a couple came in that has 2 sons already. Momma was getting her first ultrasound, and they both wanted to know the gender. Momma said for her it was like Christmas Eve--she couldn't sleep the night before b/c she's so excited to find out if it's a Boy or Girl. Both of them were just so cute, they were about to spontaneously combust! SO we take a peek...baby's legs are crossed.
And baby is moving so much we couldn't get a peek....then finally! we see what looks like 3 little lines...indicative of a GIRL. Momma is so excited, but refuses to believe the first look, so we look again, and again, and again. Three lines every time. We all smile big smiles and hugs all around! It's a Girl!
Dad starts talking about buying a shotgun.
Momma can't wait to get home and "tell about 100 people who are anxious to know too!"
And off they went...so diliriously happy to know they are going to painting the nursery Pink.

The very next couple is the total opposite. They are a professional couple in the Movie business.
This is their first child. They've been living in LA but will be here thru the winter for work.
She is due next month, and they do NOT want to know the sex! They want the big surprise at the end of the birth. We need to do an ultrasound because upon palpation, cannot confidently say the baby's head is down...they squint their eyes like we're playing pin- the- tail- on -the- donkey.
"Don't tell us!" they chime.
We discover that yes, the baby's head is up on the left side. SO we tell her some things she can do to help the baby get into a better position.
Once they leave, I whisper to Dotti, "its a girl." She smiles and says, "Yeah, I know."
I supress silly giggles because I'm so dang excited for them...they're going to have a daughter.

A girl, A boy. What difference does it make?
To know or not to know. Does it make a difference??

Dani, Dan-ell, Nellie, Punkin Britches...

It's your birthday.
It's a BIG birthday.
2-5.
Really? It's been that long
since you came into this world?

Some Random Things about You:

You were born on a Tuesday.
In Independence, Jackson County, Missouri.

You could swim before you could ride a bike.
You were potty-trained by your second birthday.
And you loved your Bambi underoos.

You loved Barbies. But didn't really play with them.
You were super shy as a little kid in school.
But you made "friends" everywhere we went...including Kmart.

Your love for Dean
has earned you a
Golden Ticket.
You'll see.

Your presence in a room
is felt by everyone else there.
Be wise with that, k?


Favorite Food?
Sugar. In any form.

Favorite Activity?
Travelling Anywhere.
You like to "GO!"
and you're never homesick.

You never follow recipes,
they're most like "ideas" for you
to take and make your own twist on.

When you're thoughtful
you're awesome.

Having a Son will mold you
into a Mother in Zion.

That's so much more than

I could've ever made you.

Byu's Come Thou Fount

For anyone whose day could be a little better.

Do You Know Where Your BGPs Are?

Early Motherhood is physically exhausting. The middle of the night feedings, sea of diapers and wipes for the first couple of years, hunts for the binky in the middle of the night, baby earaches and fevers, stretchmarks that run like the London underground, dark circles on your puffy eyes, on-the-spot meals, endless mounds of chicken nuggets because it's the only thing besides mac-n-cheese, cheerios and fruit snacks, that your toddlers will eat without a fuss. And let's face it, somedays that's all you can hope for...and this is all before they [the kids] learn to talk. back.

This metamorphesis caused me to dig around and find my Big Girl Panties. When my special needs son was born, I had to wear my BGPs all the time. I needed them. I couldn't pout when things didn't go my way. Well, I could and I did occassinally, but I had no audience. I had to be the Mommy even when I didn't want to be. No, I had to put on my BGP's and suck it up. They were tight and foreign.

Around 4-5 years old, they[the little curtain-climbers] start to become real human beings. With the limited ability to reason...meaning you can actually go to the bathroom without a siren outside of the door. It starts to get good.
You know that day at the grocery store when you're walking down the Baby Aisle, and you KNOW it's the last time you'll ever have to buy diapers?? You fantasize about how you'll spend the money you'll be saving. It is as good as winning the lottery. Ahhhh no more diapers. No more wipes. You pass the formula...the babyfood...and a tinge of nostalgia washes over you, but stays only for 2.3 seconds and you are back to the glorious reality that you are out of the trenches of all things "Baby" and if you could, you'd get on the loudspeaker in Alberstons and tell the entire store full of Parents that you SURVIVED!

"Attention Albertson's Shoppers...I just wanted to say that after 7 children, which equates to approximately 21 years of babyhood, I am OFFICIALLY finished shopping the Baby Aisle. That is all. Oh, clean-up on aisle 4, Bob."

My BGP's had helped me survive the Baby Years. Sure they were covered in a bit of baby poop, strained squash and they smelled of baby wipes--a smell that triggers a gag reflex to this day--but my BGP's held strong. They gave me confidence. NO longer did I shrink in the face of whiny teethers, diaper blow-outs, and cold dinners. I took it all in stride.

For the next few years, the Building Years, you become a taxi driver...carpools, music lessons, sports training, PTA, scouts, science projects of the Eiffel Tower made out of sugar cubes and gumdrops, birthday parties that rival Vegas shows...those years zoom by compared to the "baby years"....you're busy, you're looking better, (I looked my BEST in my late 20's and 30's because I honestly felt better. just sayin'.) and your tired but you're not exhausted.
Whereas in the Baby Years, I was "chief cook and bottle washer", the next few years I was more of a Search and Rescue Patrolwoman. An Expert at Searching for kids, shoes, homework, etc...yes, my uterus was a tracking device!-- and Rescuing bumps, bruises, owies, hurt feelings, lost text books, latch-key friends, and the like.
Busy years, dedicated to the building up of little minds and characters.

My BGP's lost some elastic those years. I relaxed. I laughed more. Started to sort things out about the kind of mother I wanted to be to my kids & learned to say "Yes" more often and "No" when needed.

Then come the Ungrateful Years. Come on. You know what those are...ever hear yourself echo the sentiments you heard ringing in your own ears, "The World doesn't revolve around you." "Look at me when I'm talking to you." "When I was your Age....".
Luckily for me, I'm a quick learner. By the time #4 (ok not so quick) came into those years, I was seasoned like a ironcast griddle. I didn't let all of her drama become my drama. I could pull back and let her figure things out without getting all in a knot thinking I had to "fix" it for her.
That was not the case with her older siblings. I wanted to fight their battles for them. And in the end, it was not necessary or appreciated. I had to grow up and let them learn their lessons--sometimes their processes mimicked a carwreck, but in the end, they did learn how to solve problems and live with the consequences.

And just when you think you've raised a child of darkness, something clicks in their noggins and a REAL person begins to emerge. And then you mentally thank yourself for not taking them down to the Baby Races in Mexico at 3,

selling them to the circus when they were 8,

or sending them to boot camp on Jerry Springer at 14,

or that you didn't shave them bald in their sleep at 17.

...Or packing the car and heading for the horizon yourself.
"Self: Thank you for not

losing your mind in the sea of laundry

or the tunnel of tattletales."

My BGP's saved my teenagers' lives. While they wanted to wear less clothing, let their drawers drop to their knees, dress like they're homeless, stay out too late, get up too late, skip homework, or let their mouths run whilst their brains were elsewhere, my BGP's allowed me, nay, encouraged me to stand up to them.

Let them know I was still in charge and had gumph! left in me to see this mission to the end, even when I wasn't sure just how much gumph! I had left. To trust in my wisdom. To know when to get on my knees.

To say sorry when I was wrong. To admit I don't know everything, but I know enough.

To enjoy learning from them too.


Motherhood is not for wimps. There's a reason Mothers have their own day...and on that day more flowers and cards are bought than any other holiday besides Christmas. Mothers are compared to Angels in literature. Is it any wonder? As a Mother who has been through the trenches, I say, hear! hear! We deserve every acclamation afforded us!

So my BGPs are worn-in. They're comfortable, they're always in my size, no matter what the numbers on the scale say. Recently, I had to pull them out again for my own sanity--to suck up the challenges thatI was facing.

And now I'm "thisclose" to becoming a Granma!!-- this is where the fruits of my labor
begin to really show themselves.
Just as Dani is at the age where she thinks she knows everything, Heavenly Father has blessed her to become a Mother. She doesn't even know what she doesn't know. If any of you are fans of that show The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe, there's a line "That's a man who knows where his towel is." --is a classic and if you've seen the movie, you know what the meaning is...so here I am proclaiming:


Do You Know Where Your Big Girl Panties Are?

Missionaries + Water Balloons = Good Clean Fun!

It all started July 11th, twenty-one years ago. The day Elder Nevels was born. The Celebration continued at our house Saturday...starting with breakfast of crepes and strawberries and later that night it ended with the following:
Posted on the Front Door. reads: "grab your guns and come to the back"

These were laying on the porch, each labeled with their "rappers names": Merdur and Lunch Money


My poor attempt at graffiti. It says "Word: Lunch $ "Legal" --he's 21 now.



We had 250 + water balloons and silly string ready...




The Bee had her stash.





Boofus taking cover.







With his personal stash.



Scenes from the fight!


When the water-balloons were gone, the hose was used!



Both hoses.







Soap with your shower, Dara?











E. Macy (Ohio) and E. Nevels...with his "ugh, I'm no longer a teenager look."

















Like I Said, Good Clean Fun!