Sleeping in the Dirt part Deux

Every Fall, Rocky Mountain National Park is THE place to be! Elk are everywhere to be seen, as they come down from the high country to the meadows where they begin mating season. The bull elk are the stars of the show, however, as they appear with their beautiful antler racks, and "bugle" to herd up their harems. That's why I love going. That's why I asked TWICE if we brought the camera. You will notice that there are NO pictures of Elk in this post (the one above is an online copy). Why? I naively asked Diana to be the photographer for this trip. Apparently, she didn't think the massive amounts of wildlife around our campsite, along the roads, on the trails, etc., were worth taking pictures of...I love teenagers. So what we have here are pics that Diana thought was worth having.
It should be noted that while the forecast called for sunny skies and mild temps in the 70s, that was not exactly our experience. It rained. Alot. So we spent more time in the tent than we planned. Someone brought out the UNO cards.
That's me. I'd gone with Diana after dinner to a meadow (again, no pictures!) to look at the Elk...and a downpour ensued shortly after we got there.

I had to ASK what these pics of Dani and Nana were supposed to be? Dani said it was a recreation of a scene in the Lion King....the girls were facing a mountain. I still don't get it. But in an effort to embarrass these girls, I'm puttin 'em on my blog.

Dani & Brad in the tent. Does he look like he knows he's been "caught" yet?

Beautiful Rockies!

Dani likes to share her food experience. And Brad with his "Jim Halpert" face. (I know, right?!) He's never even seen "The Office"--but he makes that face ALOT around us...no clue.
We're all affected by the outdoors...some more than others.

See that smile on my Mountain Man's face? That look alone is why I sleep in the dirt.

Oh, I did actually SLEEP on this trip, taking no thought of bears or other creep crawly things. We listened to Elk bugling and coyotes calling both nights, accompanied by the sound of raindrops on the tent. Sounds all nature-y and stuff--but I also lay next to Joseph who yammers in his sleep and thrashes about like a cat in a bag, just to keep things interesting.

On a sentimental note, I love that Park. There's something about other campers that gives you the warm fuzzies. We respect nature, we are all there to soak it up and remind oursleves of the "bigger picture", and teach our kids to love it as much as we do. There is "trail etiquette"--you step aside, with a nod and a smile as others pass you by, noone's grimacing or huffing--in fact, most everyone, old and young alike, are their "best selves" camping and hiking. I love to see the work of God in nature, soak it in, and leave it to resonate for a season. It makes me happy.

Sleeping in the Dirt.

We're going camping this weekend. We're taking all 47 kids, 2 tents, 50 bottles of water, 250 lbs. of food, 400 sleeping bags....no wait, I am not doing this trip justice by exaggerating. Nope, here is the REAL deal:

9 people, 9 sleeping bags, 9 sleeping bag fleece liners, 9 pillows, 6 duffle bags with clothing ( I have 4 daughters [who will bring their mp3 players, ipods, Barbies, hair dryers, journals, cellphones, etc.], a boy scout [read: gameboy & sticks] and a husband who packs enough for an Apocalypse), and 2 friends(who KNOWS what they'll pack?!), 3 coolers full of water & food, camping stove, 3 tents, 3 tarps, 8 hiking poles, and one Suburban with a THULE on top.

For TWO days.

Now the deal gets sweeter--it does! I LOVE to go to the mountains and spend the whole day hikin, scrambling up rocks, checkin out the wildlife that is so abundant in the Park (that's the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)...I love s'mores around a campfire, just relaxing and all that goes into a long day outdoors. I love a day like that.



The part I hate is right after all that. The sleeping in a sleeping bag in a tent made of nylon...outside. In the dirt. Where animals live. Bears. Mountain Lions. Snakes. I hate that part. I don't sleep. I rest my eyes.



On our first camping trip ever ever ever up at the Park, at an area called Olive Ridge, in the middle of the night, a cub brushed up against our tent and huffed...I was the only one who heard it, sending a panic straight to my heart. I didn't know at the time it was a bear. I just heard the huff and after a minute, I whispered to Kent. He being the Mountain Man he is, put his headlight on, looking quesitonably like a Miner, poked his head out of the tent(!) and announced that whatever it was, had left. He was back asleep in a milli-second.
For Kent, sleeping in a tent is "cheating"--he grew up in the mountains of Montana. He had no tent. "Sleeping under the stars" is not a cliche to him--it's his childhood. There are few things better for his psyche than sleeping with the earth under him, in his ears, under his fingernails, and a full days' beard growth. Camping where there is modern toilets is almost an affront to him--but since he has daughters who would not go otherwise, he has come to compromise his ideals to appease the masses.


But I digress...back to that night--I lay there til daybreak with eyes peeled w i d e like a Watch Tower Guard.


The next morning the camp Ranger came around and told us there had been a cub in the area that night.



Camping has never been the same since.


SO come Saturday morning, when you are snuggly warm in your bed, hold a thought for me, please. And again on Sunday morning. By then, I will surely need all the karma in the Universe after 2 nights of sleeping (and I use that term lightly) in the dirt.

Forgiving Ourselves--book reveiw

This is a book that every person on the Planet should read. Seriously. Wendy Ulrich writes with clarity, compassion, and a perfect understanding of our psyche's and emotions as we all struggle to "get over" and get through our weaknesses. Every page is more and more fulfilling. A few weeks ago, I read the entire "TWILIGHT" series over a weekend. Easy read, nothing complicated. And when I was done, I thought about the series for about 10 minutes longer, and it was gone.

I began reading this book soon after, and found myself transformed with every page. It is not an easy read, it is a HEALING read. I still have not finished it, because it is a substantial amount of thought-provoking movement inside of me. It is not merely going in and running out. Her suggestions linger inside to the point that I find myself re-reading some passages, hoping the words will cement into my DNA!

Some of her words:

"Repentance is not the back up plan; repentance is the plan." Repentance is not what is left after we botched the true goal of obedience and undefiled righteousness. When learning from others' experiences and failure has not been enough, repentance is a blessed part of how we get to obedience and undefiled righteousness--learning by our own experience and failure, trusting in God's love and sure provisions, activating our own reluctant resilience. This is the only path for us."

And another one:

"Self-forgiveness requires a mature understanding of the purpose of life, which is not to get back to God in the same state of innocence and purity we were in when we left Him. Rather our charge here is to learn the compassion, humility, discipline, and understanding of good and evil that come only with experiece and risk, failure and resilience. Our charge is to get back to God much, much wiser and better than when we left Him, something we can only accomplish thought traveling the bruising, bloodying roads of mortal temptation,affliction, and periodic failiure, as well as the roads of triumph, satisifaction, and ultimate joy."

And one more quote from her book, altho it is a quote from President Boyd K. Packer, November 1995 Conference address, talking on the consummate power of the Atonement:

"Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and cannot fix is the very purpose of the atonment of Christ.

When your desire is firm and you are willing to pay the "uttermost farthing" (See Matt:5:25-26), the law of the restitution is suspended. Your obligation is transferred to the Lord. He will settle your accounts.

I repeat, save for the exception of the very few who defect to perdition, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. This is the promise of the atonement of Christ."

So, go get it. Order it online at Amazon, buy it at Walmart, or your local LDS bookstore.

It is worth every stinkin cent.

WHY? Because I said so. And I'm the Mom.

Politics Hit Home!

This is my ambitious eighth grader. Her political stance is one of Fun-dRaising and Ownership for her fellow students.

I am definitely Voting for her!



okay, so when I was in 8th grade, I too, ran for Student Council President. I did.
But I lost to a gal who promised a Pop machine in the cafeteria! A far-fetched dream in my day!
Go Dara!!!!

NEWS for nursing Moms!

As a Mother and a Doula, I am always on the look-out for information that can enhance my mothering skills or my doula skills. I came across this article today from a DONA e-newsletter that I think is one of those "WOW" moments...if you have experienced this, or know someone who is, it's worth passing along!


When Breastfeeding Feels DarkBy Alia Macrina Heise, CLC, PCD(DONA) Word about a newly recognized condition in breastfeeding mothers has been making its way through on-line networks of breastfeeding communities. Not yet in the literature, Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER) is getting recognized as a physiological let-down phenomenon by the top lactation consultants in the profession. D-MER is defined as "a newly recognized condition effecting lactating women that is characterized by a brief surge of dysphoria, or negative emotions, that peak before the milk ejection reflex, or letdown, and then dissipate quickly after the milk release." The emotions mothers feel during D-MER can fall into three different spectrums ranging from dread to anxiety or anger. These intense emotions last a few moments, 30-90 seconds, before every milk release. This leaves a mother confused and worried as to why she is feeling these things while she nurses her baby. It also causes an exhausting emotional cycle, as these mothers feel just fine before and after they experience a D-MER. Formal investigation has been underway to figure out the mechanism and treatment of D-MER and the evidence is pointing to an inappropriate drop in dopamine upon initiation of the milk ejection reflex and treatments using dopamine increasing drugs have been effective in treating D-MER. Education and awareness about D-MER seems to be one of the most important aspects because it has been shown that a vast amount of breastfeeding mothers are affected by this phenomenon, and yet each and every one is often silent about their feelings, thinking they are the only ones who feel such horrific emotions while nursing their babies. Some professionals have gone so far as to call it "breastfeeding's best kept secret." It's time to shed some light on Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex and let mothers know they are not alone and there are treatment options.

The Legacy I am leaving?

As a Mom of seven children, I sometimes wonder what kind of legacy I am leaving. They say kids learn our bad habits just as quickly as our good ones. Kinda nauseating, but true.

Yesterday as Arianna (my 7 yo)and I were getting ready for Church, I was fixing her hair and I told her when I was finished to go see if our guest, Brad, needed anything and to make sure he was taken care of.

She then proceeded to talk to me very grown-up and said, "He's part of the family! We always take care of family, Mom. And even if they're not family, we still take care of them, cuz that's what we do! We're the Andersons and we are POWERFUL!" ,She said as she raised her right hand in a tiny fist.

My heart was touched by her boldness, her confidence, and the identity she has of our family and how we treat others. "Yes!" I thought. "Yes!" If that's something she has learned about us, then I am doing something right.

What a Weekend!

These two cutie-patooties are Taylor and Diana. Taylor followed Diana home from 2nd grade & she spent nearly every weekend with us, including most weekdays. Her parents divorced and someone forgot to tell them who had custody. So she chose Us.
She even came out to see us in Idaho and since we've been back, it's like we never left. So we claim her, and against her good judgement, she somehow is okay with that.

We went to Garden of the Gods to take some Senior Pics for Diana...and the light was too bright (it was mid-day), but we still took some fun shots.

It was also Homecoming this weekend.
Nana loved the fun red shoes!
Well these pics are loaded on here kinda goofy, but scattered about are pics of Dani and Brad and Diana and her Homecoming date, Ben...he had several personal references, and was slightly intimidated by Brad who waited up for them both until midnight...announcing,"I got her home on time!"
I like boys like that.

We are going to keep Brad. I don't know if he knows that yet, but we are.
This young face is Dara aka Daisie...she is 13 and sometimes feels left out of all the dating stuff as she watches her older sisters in motion. I hope she is taking notes, because her sisters have some very nice young men in their lives.
I love the beautiful Blue skies in Colorado almost as much as I love her blue eyes.

I think Nana and I decided we liked this pose the most--but seriously it was too bright, so re-takes are a must.

He looks innocent enough, right?

Nope, he can hold his own.

Sometimes they don't know what to do with each other. But they're learning.
So that was my Saturday. Sunday I taught my first Primary lesson as Joseph's teacher in the Valiant 9 yo class. It was about being the Salt of the Earth and the Beatitudes. I challenged all the children to look for opportunities to be the "salt" in their families this week.
Sunday nights are always relaxing: we have dinner, then we play games, bake goodies, dance in the kitchen, have a devotional and family prayer to end the Sabbath. Good times.
What did you do this weekend?

A Mom Moment

I have an 8 year old son who thinks he is an only child.

He's my number 6 and Kent's first child.

He will be 9 in November.

He has a habit that has been since he could crawl out of his own bed and make his way to mine. None of the other children--even Arianna, number 7, does that!

Five out of seven nights a week, this boy who stands nearly 5 feet tall, comes and gets in our bed. I think it's because he was born at home in that bed, and he is like a homing pigeon...it just calls to him like the sea creatures from Homer's Odyessy. We'd have to tie him to the bedpost to keep him in his own bed to keep him out of ours.

Honestly, I have done all I can to keep him comfy in his own bed: a nice mattress, soft sheets, POwer Ranger sheets, Bob the Builder Sheets, a custom-made padded headboard, a down-filled duvet...you name it, I have tried to make his bed a place he would want to be!

I have lectured him...both sweetly and firmly. I have sent him back to his own bed a zillion times. I have tried bribery...5 nights in his own bed earns a reward.

But truly, I am going to blame Kent. YUP. It's the Man's fault.

Because!!! because because: Joseph doesn't come to My side of the bed to crawl in, nope, he goes over to Kent's side, whereupon Kent in a half-conscious state, SITS UP and allows Joseph to crawl in behind him, over his pillow and right in the middle!

The next thing I feel is a little cool arm drape over my neck and a soft voice say, "I love you Momza."

I don't stand a chance. This man-child will be in my bed until he's 7 feet tall and grows a beard.

Home Stagin Tips part 2

This is the diningroom AFTER we moved the formal table into the real diningroom, took the contemporary one out, took off the white lace table cloth, and added a nice live plant. Because the rustic fireplace and mantel set the tone, along with her custom drapes, this diningroom set really compliments the room.
If u noticed the fireplace/hearth before, it was heavy on the decor which distracted from its natural charm. We're still going to add a color-coordinated candlescape to the left side of the mantel, but you get the idea. Oh, the TV right there is still in negotiations. ahhh, there's the sofa...we're making the former dining room back into a livingroom. Not totally finished, but it's getting there.
Now the color on the walls is like a blackberry/maroon/wine color. That is in negotiations too. I love the lime green matelasse bedcover, but the walls need to be toned down for this master bedroom to feel "relaxed, romantic, and soothing", don't you think? Oh, and a taller lamp is in order. Also, notice how we used to the pillows to create the image of a bigger headboard? Just prop those big fluffy pillows up!
Staging a home to sell is NOT the same as designing it to live in--our homes should reflect our personalities, our priorities, and lifestyle. And if I may be so rude, they should also reflect "a place" as in the place we live. I cringe when I walk thru Target and see "French-flavored" decor items! Why??? Do you supposed the French have pics of Americana on their walls?
We have too many beautiful things All-American right here to enjoy. Our homes are our Havens...make it your own.
Having an idea of the kind of "feel" you want from the colors, textures, uses of light help create the mood you want to surround yourself and welcome others into.
Be careful of trendy colors and tones...any of the neons are short-lived trends--so if you want to be "in the moment"--look for bargain priced accessories--for heaven's sake don't paint your kids walls a neon color. And if you do, be prepared to RE-PAINT when it comes time to sell. Neutral tones are the order of the day.
When it comes to spending your hard-earned money on home decor, choose CLASSIC lines, colors, and textures. You can always count on some things to always be in style. If you noticed, there are ALOT of different colors in this home. Too many colors can actually make your home feel/look smaller, or chopped-up--think about when you tour model homes. Most of their color comes from window treatments, fabric on bedding, sofas, and accessories. And the variety of wall colors usually compliment one another. SO be careful when choosing paint colors.
And lastly, when you decide to sell your home, have it professionally staged first!!! You'll be so glad you did!!

TAGGED!

So I am accepting Laurel's TAG. Here goes:

10 Years ago:

I was preparing for a wedding to Kent. We will be married 10 years on Nov.7th. My tummy still smiles when he walks in the room. My world is safer when he's near.

5 things on my To-Do List today:

1. Stage a house with my soon-to-be Partner, Kelly. WAY FUN!
2. Mail a baby package to my nephew Trevor & his gf, Tiauna for my new Grand-nephew, Darius.
3. Go to an Institute class with some gals from my ward! First time ever! woohoo!
4. Gotta go buy Arianna some new jeans...poor girl has nuthin but summer clothes and it was brrrrr cold this morning!
5. Get ready for a Doula client meeting tomorrow. (I love babies!)

5 things I would do if I suddenly became a billionaire:
1. Call Kent.
2. Go change my pants.
3. Scream like my bum was on fire!
4. Get all of the kids out of school for the day and go for italian food, in Italy.
5. Book a flight for Hawaii...for just me and Kent.

3 bad habits:

1. bite my nails. I know, gross, hunh?
2. Forgetting when I ground the kids.
3. Giving into my kids too easily.

Places I've lived:
Miami, Titusville, Cutler Ridge, Homestead, Hialeah,& Croom-a-coochee, FLORIDA; Rock Hill, SC; Charlotte, NC; Houston,TX., Salt Lake, Provo, Phoenix aka "dirthole", Independence,MO.; Spartanburg, SC; Sacramento,CA; Fort Collins, CO; Meridian, ID; and Colorado Springs, CO.

5 Jobs I've had:

Amusement Park ride Operator
Bank Teller
Dental Asst.
personal Secretary
Chiropractic Asst.

3 Things most people don't know about Me:

hmmm trying to think of something juicy here...comin up empty.
I can eat a whole German Chocolate cake by myself if left unattended.

I can touch my nose with my tongue. I know, cool, hunh? Put me in the circus!

I hate scary movies. I won't even watch tv trailers of them.

Ok, so if you've read this, consider yourself TAGGED!!!

New Home for Denver

We had to say goodbye to our sweet yellow lab, Denver today. His new owners are co-workers of Kent's in Westminster. Lotsa tears from the kids, and I even got choked up. This little dog is so sweet. But we moved into a home with an un-fenced yard, and having sold Aspen, our Golden Retreiver before we left Idaho, poor Denver was so lonely. It just wasn't fair to him. His new home has a huge fenced yard, and another yellow lab to keep him company. To keep him would be selfish of us.

Hopefully, we will get to keep tabs and updates on this little guy from his new owners.
That was hard to do.

Alone and so long to my BFF Kenmore Series 70 washing machine.

Today is the FIRST DAY I have been alone in my house while every child is at school, Kent is at work, and so is Danielle in over a year! No kidding!
The only noise I hear is little Denver in the back yard bark bark barking...as usual.

I want a nap. Today is gray, overcast and chilly (42o here this morning)--perfect for crawling up with a book and dozing off. But it ain't gonna happen today.
Nope, my annoying mother-genes are pushing me to clean up the house while noone is around to mess it up. Does anyone else feel that way?
When Kent is home, I am pretty sure he doesn't examine a mental to-do list. Pretty sure. I KNOW my kids don't think, "well, goodness, I'm alone in the house, so I should probably clean my room extra special today." But here I am, alone in the house, craving a nap, and at the same time thinking about re-organizing the pantry.

Is there a Pill I can take for this ridiculous compulsion?

Oh! Best news: a new (but used) washing machine is being delivered today! I am so stinkin' excited about that I think I dreamed about doing laundry last night! My 10 year old washer broke the week we moved here so I've gone to the laundromat, and once over to Nannette's, but that was week before last. So I thought I might find one on Craigslist, and I did find several, but none of them offered a Warranty. So I looked at a Store here in town that sells re-furbished appliances and offers a 2 year warranty. So I got a really nice Kenmore Heavy Duty Super Capacity PLUS, blah blah blah Model 4@E$%R**UE#%, with delivery, set-up and haul away of my now deceased B-F-F (of 10 years!)Kenmore washing machine, for $256.00. The washer repair guy told me specifically which kind to get--and surprisingly he said to NOT get one of those new high-falootin' front load computerized ones--he said his service calls to those makes his mortgage payment every single month and pays for his kids' college tuitions to boot! He cautioned that they sell, not because they clean clothes exceptionally well, but because women think they're PRETTY!! No kidding?! Thanks John of Anytime Appliance!
Yup, I've got about 400 loads of laundry to do today. And all of them will smell like "Mountain Rain" TIDE, and "Lavendar" Downy, and "fresh" Bounce. AHHHHH.
Our iron died too, so I got what I thought was a $10.00 iron, only to discover when I got home and looked at the receipt it was a $30.00 iron. I stared at it for a moment, in shock I suppose, and debated on whether it was worth the $6 bucks in gas to go back to the store and return it.
Noone tells you that when you're 46 years old the highlight of your day could possibly be that you're getting a new (but used) washing machine. To do laundry. To work. And that you'll be so stinkin' happy about it, you might even have vivid dreams about fresh-smelling laundry.
What next?

Family Pics

 
 
 
 

Okay so I am messing with Picasa tweaking family pics from Mother's Day. I'd ordered some online (from Walmart.com) but they arrived and were too dark. So I'm trying to tweak them before ordering them again. A great gal in Boise took them as a gift to me last Mother's day, Andra Shosted. She was so patient--it isn't easy getting 10 faces with the right lighting, and the right looks all in one shot and I htink she did fabulous! So forgive my indulgence as I test my skills.