Random Thoughts

I've had several thoughts running through my head lately.  I thought I'd share them with you.

* To the clueless driver who stops in the traffic lane and flips on their hazards to check their phone you leave me speechless.  Really you do.  Do you not get that all the other clueless drivers will probably run into you?  Do you not see the SIDE OF THE ROAD.  It's safer there.  Promise.

* McDonald's makes people happy.  I sat watching the people in the drive through lane while the kids were in the play land and 100% of the people that came through were smiling and happy.  There IS a reason for Happy Meals.  Let's give the world a Happy Meal and see what happens.

* How did I live so long without liquid eyeliner?  This stuff has been on the market for how long?  I've just discovered that it stays on my watery eyes.  Nice.

* People who do not live in the D.C. area must think we've nothing to do.  News flash!  It's just the politicians that don't do anything.  Roland and I were meeting with a church leader when someone from Texas called asking this poor guy, who is responsible for thousands of people, if he wouldn't mind picking up her Glen Beck tickets.  S.E.R.I.O.U.S.L.Y.???? The United States Post Office really works!!  Give it a try.  We aren't your errand boys.  Or girl in my case.

* I cannot believe how much Aaron is learning in school.  It's amazing to watch how much that little head soaks up.  We were 'taking a nap' today and he started sounding out sentences on the Happy Meal pumpkin.  He read, "Glows in the dark".  Then he said, "Happy Meals make me happy".  OK, not really.  I'm just trying to see how many times I can use Happy Meal in my post.  He did read off the pumpkin though.

* How did I live 30 something years, going to church regularly, and not realize that the David from David and Goliath is the same guy as King David?  Makes me wonder what else I missed.

* There should be severe consequences for the person that doesn't understand that "next in line" means NEXT in line.  It doesn't mean, "Dude in the back come on down past all these women who are trying really hard to keep their kids from destroying the displays".  Not that mine would, I'm just saying..

* I'm tired of "Celebrating Diversity".  It's time for "Celebrating Similarities".  Maybe then we'd all be nicer to each other.  'Cause when it comes right down to it don't we all just want to be loved? Or have a Happy Meal?

I think I'm done ranting.  Thanks for reading.

Now That's a Sweet Ride!

What do you think of this bad boy?  (You can click on the picture to go to their website).  There are some great options out there now-a-days.  Have you ever seen a dutch box bike?  Those are gorgeous and only several thousand $$$$.  Now we just need to get them to price these fun bikes in a range the majority of the population can afford.

Mystery Solved!

No wonder we aren't getting anything out of our garden!  These thieves are bold coming in broad daylight. 

We see them at least three times a week.  While Roland doesn't like them around the kids and I do.  I think we should give the newest family on our block a warm greeting and a loaf of zucchini bread.  Oh wait, they topped the zucchini plant.  And the tomatoes.  And the hostas.  But, they did leave the watermelon!

I Thought Only Girls Did That!

A few Monday's ago I had another bad migraine.  Roland wasn't going to get home until after 10 and I was in complete survival mode.  As the kids were eating dinner and I'm crying at the table Aaron says to me, "Don't worry Mom, I can put Peter to bed.  You just go to bed".  Sweet, I know.  It was a great offer but even the migraine couldn't induce me to take him up on it.  Instead I asked if he and Peter would just go to bed (it was 6:30) without bedtime snacks or teeth brushing.  To my relief he agreed.  I told them they could read books for awhile and I'd be back down to turn off the lights and tuck them in.  I had the monitor turned way up and I heard nothing that clued me in to the fact that more than book reading was going on.  I went down about 7:30 after I heard Aaron say he was ready for bed.  The lights were already out so I just kissed my cute kids and went back to bed.

The next morning I was getting the boys dressed for school and while brushing Aaron's hair, for the school pictures that were being taken that day, I found huge chunks of it missing.  Talk about timing.  I tried to comb it to cover the bald spots and was pretty successful thanks to his curly hair.  It's very forgiving.  I sent a note to the teacher explaining what happened and asked if possible to pose him with his left shoulder forward.

I finally found the pile of hair next to his bed.  He had climbed up onto the computer desk and gotten his round tipped scissors down and gone to work.  I'm sure I would have been really upset if he'd whacked 6 inches of hair off, or gone after Peter.  But honestly, I think it's hilarious!

Isn't it amazing that he doesn't look bald with all that hair in his hand that should be on his head?  I didn't realize how much he'd cut off until I took him to the barber to get it fixed.  When we left he looked like he'd just enlisted.

UNBELIEVABLE Behavior

A few Saturday's ago Aaron went to a birthday party with about 30 other kids.  It was crazy and they had a pinata.  It's a rare thing to have the pinata part of a celebration go well, at least in my experience.  So, I'll admit I wasn't expecting a great outcome.

I could see I was going to be proven right as Aaron stood with his hand high in the air waiting to be called on.  He's not one to get in an adults face and with that big of a group you have to be aggressive.  Luckily, he has a slightly aggressive mother.  First problem solved.

On to the next problem.  The chaos that ensues when a pinata is broken can lead to more things broken then the pinata.  Aaron, still not being aggressive, gets knocked to the ground.  Any chance of making it to where the candy fell is long gone by the time I unbury him from the pile.  He starts to cry.  I start thinking about joining him.

So far this little tale is all pretty believable.  Here comes the unbelievable part.  The unbelievable has a name.  His name is Logan.  He's about 9 or 10 from what I can gather from the other parents at the party.  This kid, and I have a hard time calling him a kid, saw what happened.  He walks from the other side of the dog pile with an overloaded bag of candy.  He looks at Aaron's completely empty bag and with a smile on his face says, "Aaron, I'll trade you."  He doesn't wait for a response.  He takes Aaron's empty bag, puts his full bag in Aaron's hands and walks away.

I was no longer thinking about crying, I was crying.  I stood in that field under a tree in complete stunned silence at the gentleness of a young man who with one simple gesture became my Hero.

Guest Post

We've returned from a great visit to Utah.  We had a great time with family and friends.  I'll post some pictures soon.  While there we had dinner with two couples that we lived near in downtown Salt Lake.  There is always fun to be had with that group.  It made me think of a post Joe wrote that made me laugh so hard my abs were sore for a week.  Maybe it's the fact that I know the players in this little comedy that made it so funny to me.  Hope you get a laugh as you visualise what Joe is writing about.  Here you go:

I have been told this is the stuff of legends. I suppose it could be. Families sitting around the dinner table years from now will look back to smirk and guffaw; and were I totally innocent of doing the same, I might cringe. But alas, I myself still get a chuckle at long ago instances of fast meeting testimony singers and too-detailed health updates and travelogues. So here you go, all those that missed the actual incident. Jest away (everybody else in church did)!

So there I was....I remember it as though it was yesterday. Probably because it was yesterday. It was the end of a fine sacrament meeting and Denny was playing the organ for the congregation. We have been trying to get Emma to settle down a bit in church, so I sat near the front with her. Denny joined us in between hymns. After the last speaker finished, Denny went up front to play the last tune, ol' number 35, "For the Strength of the Hills."
The first three verses went as expected. In fact, if Felicia D. Hermans had stopped writing at three verses, I wouldn't be telling this sad yet fascinating tale. Where was I? Oh yeah, Emma started walking slowly to the front. I was thinking "she won't go up to the stand." I flashed her the sign for "candy" as she glanced back, and she quickly returned. She took off again, having broken the proverbial "up on the stand" barrier and went directly to Denny, who now had her attention divided. As Emma climbed up on the bench, two things happened. The world slowed waaaaaay down, and Denny looked down and asked me to come up and get Emma.

I took off for the stand, ducking under poor Sister Gurr who was leading. As I went around the back of the organ, I stepped down on Denny's organ bag, slipped, and nearly went down like a sack of hammers. Them organ bags is slippery. By this time, any hope of surprising Emma was out the stain-glassed window, and she latched on to Denny's neck like Crusher Kowalski doing a full-nelson on a weaker foe (weren't they all weaker?).

In retrospect, I should have taken my chances with letting her stay on Denny's lap. Instead, I grabbed on and pulled, expecting her grip to give. It didn't. Must have been a fine sight. I'm told that those who were asleep or missed church are still kicking themselves. Denny's glasses were totally askew, and her hair was across her face. I had Emma around the waist, and she was hanging on to Denny's neck for all she was worth. A bizarre sight by any measure, much like a scene from Dante's "Tag team match from hell."

I finally got Emma free after nearly pulling Denny off of the bench. To her credit, and to the amazement of the whole congregation, she never missed a beat! Great work. Eye of the tiger. Battle zone organing.

Some poor soul had to then come up and give the final prayer amid the laughs. Emma then jumped down like nothing happened, and scurried into nursery.

There you have it. Use it. Share it. Change the names if you wish or quote verbatim. It's all true. My only hope is that it quickly fades from everybody's memory, or that something even more bizarre happens in church to somebody else. Fat chance. Ok then.

I Will Never Be the Mom Who...

I will never be the Mom who tells her kids they can't play in a summer rain storm.  It's goes against everything I am for a puddle to go un-jumped in.  Isn't there a law somewhere that kids should be allowed to play in rain puddles?  If I, clean freak that I am, think it's a good idea, it should be the right of every child.  No matter how old they are.

I love the drops hanging from his ears.

Watching him play made me think of the first time he played in the rain.  I can't believe he's grown up so much.

Sometimes I Can Be Really Thick

On Saturday I opened the door to a sweet note and gift.  I didn't think anything of it because it came from the RS President and that's the kind of thing she does.  When I checked my email a few minutes later there was the nicest email from some friends.  I did wonder what made them send such a note, but again, it wasn't out of character for them.  Then another friend shows up with flowers.  She said she brought them early so I could enjoy them before we leave town.  Again, a very plausible story, don't you think?  I still wasn't clued in that a conspiracy was in the works.

When the third person shows up at my door bearing birthday greetings I FINALLY catch on.  I decide that my decision to not take a shower that day would need to be rethought.  (I was recovering from a migraine from the day before and had planned on doing nothing but sitting and moaning).  I manage to shower and clean the front room before the next set of friends arrive.

Well, Dear Friends, you made turning fmghth not so bad.  Let's just say that my third decade of life didn't have the most stellar celebrations and I had declared, to a certain someone, that I was hoping to just let the next decade slide by.  Well, she didn't listen and I'm glad she didn't.  It was fun to be on the receiving end of a fun conspiracy and try to wiggle hints out of people as to who pulled it off.  (Here's a helpful hint, if you make people believe that you're in the know they reveal a lot).  :-)

Here is a sample of the birthdays I had in the past decade:
*Telling friends that I thought it would be fun to bike Solitude only to find out too late that the trail doesn't follow the nice meandering cat track.  I walked my bike the whole way down.  Can you say embarrassing?  Just what I wanted to do.  Go for a walk with my bike. On my birthday.
*Arriving in Ithaca for grad school 2 days before my birthday with no one knowing me or I them.  Yay, fun day!
*Spending the next birthday in Ithaca while Roland was doing his internship in Oregon.  Once again no one seemed to know and I'm not the kind to tell. 
*Being somewhere in Canada during our 6 week Canadian Odyssey.  This trip is where I camped myself out.  I honestly don't even know where we where.  Maybe, Prince Edward Island?
*Moving to the DC area then needing to spend 2 months in Utah to help settle Pappy's estate and get things in order.  The first holidays without a loved one just aren't fun.  By the time I got back to DC I didn't know many people.  Although, Roland had been set up with a nice lady for the ward's small dinner group.  I'm sure she would have helped celebrate if we'd asked her.

There were a some good birthday's mixed in, so it wasn't a total wash.  There have been a few years that we've been in one place long enough to have friends to help celebrate.  And, Roland did arrange a surprise party for me in 2005.  He would have pulled it off too if the restuarant I wanted to go to would have taken reservations.  Since it didn't he made plans for the place the "Bush family frequents".  I figured out he had something planned when I asked for the third time to go where I wanted and he said no.  Dead give away.  Not giving the birthday girl what she askes for.

So, wonderful people who helped to celebrate me, THANK YOU!  I think this decade is off to a great start!

5 Minutes = 2 Hours

We took our semi-annual trip to the pick your own orchard last week.  We filled the car up to the brim with friends and headed out.  Peaches are always a big hit and we also came home with a hand full of blackberries, even though we were in the patch for half an hour.  I really think the orchard should start weighing kids, and adults, before they head into the fields.

No trip is complete without a stop at the town market for pulled pork sandwiches that we eat by the river.  It was such a nice day that I didn't object when Aaron went into the water.  Neither did any of the other moms.  We were happy to sit on rocks and tree roots and let our children be children.  I gave a 5 minute warning that somehow turned into 2 hours.  So what if we missed naps?  So what if all the boys had to ride home in diapers or undies?  These kids had a great time doing what they do best.  The Mom's were happy to let the kids explore for a few hours and put aside all the things at home waiting to be done.  For a moment all was right in our world.  Our kids were happy, we had a cool breeze and good friends to chat with.  How I wish everyday could be so perfect.

Peter and his new BF watching the older kids.

Huck Aaron

Peter before his new BF pushed him into the water.  Even that didn't break the good mood.

Both kids with dirty rears.  Isn't that the good life for a little boy?

You're Never Too Old for a Swing Set

Grandma and Grandpa S. came out for a visit.  We decided to go to Elk Neck State Park and Fort Delaware.  I still can't believe that I agreed to it, but we stayed in the "rustic cabins".  Let's just say that the first 5 minutes were sooooo bad that it could only get better.  I got dive bombed by numerous bugs when we went in the door and the spider the size of Peter's head HAD TO DIE. 

Here are some highlights of the trip:

Notice that I'm not on the swings.  Those things are torture for my hips.  I brushed a female deer tick off of Peter when he got off the swing.  I think it's sad that I know the difference between male and female deer ticks.

Peter kept knocking on the cabin windows.  The real fun came when he found one open and tried to put his head through it.

Aaron and I had to wait for the slow pokes to catch up on the hike we took.  I was wishing I'd worn running shoes.  Aaron is fast on the trails.

See?  I wasn't lying.  It's, I should say was, the size of Peter's head.

Six Pack

My FIVE YEAR OLD has a SIX PACK. 

I was watching him play in the pool from the kitchen window.  I cannot believe he is so well cut.  I think I'm going to have my hands full with the girls. 

I've never in my life had a six pack, have you?

Feed Me! FEED ME NOW!

Do you ever feel like your kids are just screeeeeching to be fed?

I've never felt like sticking my head down their throats but I have shoved cookies in their mouths to stop the noise.

Moms have a tough job no matter what the species.

A Glimpse Into the Future

Last week I did a family photo shoot for a friend. She also wanted some pics with her sons. It was pretty hilarious. Ian kept getting texts while I was trying to get his picture; the man has fast fingers. So, I just kept shooting and got the below picture. All too true for the American Mother today, don't you think? This will be me all too soon...

This is my favorite family shot. I know it won't be her favorite since she is looking for a closer crop but I think she looks gorgeous and the men around her look good so I'm posting it. My camera, my rules. :-)

How to Cope with a Migraine

I get asked frequently how I cope with being a Mom and having migraines. Here is an example of one way I make it to bedtime.

Sit yourself down in a comfy chair. In my case Grandma Helen's big velvet deep armchair. Grab your camera and tell the kids that you're going to play a game. Whoever can get back into the bedroom before the flash goes off wins. Just aim the camera in the general direction and take a picture in between stabs of pain. When that gets old tell them that you're now going to see how fast they can run. Change the setting on the camera so it blurs the picture and tell them, 'Wow! look how fast you run'! This is good for at least an hour.

Peter's Revenge

He's little but he's scrappy. He has his big Brother running from him more then you'd think.

Don't Ever Tell Roland a Knock Knock Joke

I've a darling niece that writes me letters. Who doesn't like getting good mail? I sure do. In her last letter she recounted a conversation that happened over 6 years ago, which is about half her lifetime. Wow, what a memory.

The following conversation occurred between Roland and her Brother:

S - Knock, knock
Roland - Come in!
S - No, you're supposed to say 'who's there'!
Roland - Who's there?
S - Boo!
Roland - Hi, Boo!
S - No, you're supposed to say 'Boo who'!
Roland - Well, you don't have to cry about it!

Seriously, the man has a quick mind. Engage in conversation at your own risk.

Latest Creation

Here is the Rose Quartz Ring I told you about earlier. I also used Swarovski pearls and crystals.

Thanks to Aaron for being the hand model.

If You're Going to be a Bully Don't Document It!

Didn't know what to say when I found this picture on the memory card and I still don't. I'm torn between scolding and laughing. And kids wonder how their Moms know things. Chocolate smeared across faces, chairs pulled up to counters, images on digital cameras. We ain't dumb! We're pretty good at connecting the dots. It's a trait we build on for the teenage years.

**No Peters were harmed durning this photo shoot - that we know of. A lot may be revealed when he decides to talk....

A Sad Goodbye

The sad day of saying goodbye to Old Blue came on Saturday. After the last hit Roland took him in to get fixed and the mechanic took his bumper off. Didn't ask him to, wish he wouldn't have, but he did. There was not another bumper to be found and Roland decided that another summer without A/C wasn't on his top 10 things to do this year. So we sold him on Craigs List for $300.00. The insurance company totalled him for the THIRD time so we also got a pay out of $900.00. This little car just keeps on giving. We've fared (I had to look that word up. I thought it was spelled faired. Huh, learned something new.) pretty well with our $79.95 investment, don't you think?

Here is a copy of the ad Roland posted: This is your chance to own a little piece of folklore. Old Blue has been through a lot, but he still keeps going. 1989 Dodge Colt, about 130,000 miles. Runs amazingly well, engine smokes a little (but never in the house), back bumper is missing. No a/c, manual everything. Fun to drive and a great topic of party conversations.

We're now a Honda family. Roland found a little civic that's only 11 years old. He says he feels like the bees knees driving it. Guess that comes from driving a 20 year old car for 2 years. Most anything is a step up. If you ever need an attitude adjustment go without something you think you need for 2 years, like a/c or power steering, you realize it's not so bad not having a new car.

Here are some pics of our little Old Blue:

The last time he was inspected his defroster wasn't working so our trusty mechanic fixed it. Then the inspector people broke it again. So our mechanic fixed it again and attached a note that said, "Move levers SLOWLY", and advised Roland to not move them if he could avoid it. The post it is faded but Roland kept it on anyway.

One day Roland was getting in the car and he hit the door handle with his briefcase. Did you know old plastic is rather brittle?

Aaron playing Old Blue's "radio". Since the radio didn't work Aaron offered to keep his keyboard in Old Blue, much to my relief, so he could play it for his Dad when he wanted music.

Old Blue sat in our driveway for a month or two. He needed a little kick and some time with his pal Bessie. The little red car in the back ground is what our neighbors moved up to when they sold us Old Blue.

All the friends together.

The boys playing in Old Blue one last time. They loved him. Sniffle, sniffle. That car had heart. And character. Bet your car doesn't flash the dome light when you hit a bump or give you big muscles just from steering. Or survive being hit by a tree and being a target for big SUV's. Old Blue was always being underestimated. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

Joke of the Day

A wealthy man died and when he got to the pearly gates he was distressed that he couldn't bring any of his wealth with him.

He negotiated and negotiated until St. Peter agreed that he could bring ONE piece of luggage with him. He returned home, changed his money into gold and packed it into a bag. When he returned one of the angels asked St. Peter what he had brought in his suitcase. St. Peter replied, "Pavement!"

Quick Update

It's been too long since I last posted so I thought I'd give you a short run down on what's been happening.

My brother and his wife, Heidi, came for a visit. Great fun. I'll post pics soon. Aaron went back in for his follow up blood test to check if the tick infected him. Not so fun. Haven't heard the results so I'm assuming he's fine. Peter has been in to see a speech therapist and for a hearing test. They tell me all is well except that he isn't talking. Oh, really? Thanks, I didn't know that!

My Mom came out just in time for Aaron and I to catch a stomach flu that is going around. Yuck! Hoping she doesn't go home with it.

Roland is heading to his 20 year reunion at MIT. Can he really be old enough to do that? After he gets home his parents come for a week. If anyone else is planning on coming please speak up now.

I have a migraine. So I'm going to go take some serious meds. Wish I had a Dr. Pepper to chase them with. Oh, well. You can't have it all, can you?

Quote of the Day

"Hola! Como a pasta?"

Looks like Aaron's spanish class is paying off!

Peter, Where Are You?

Don't you just love when little kids hide and giggle so hard because they think there is NO way you can see them? Such tricksters!

Peter's Turned 2!

Happy Birthday my little Pumpkin Pie!

Peter loved trying to blow out his candles. He enjoyed smearing cake all over his face and he loved his new truck!

Boys and Water

What is it with boys and water? They just can't seem to help themselves. It doesn't matter that they're fully dressed. Or, that I told them NOT to turn on the water. It certainly didn't help when Dad joined in. They can't help it. The water must be turned on. Peter felt like the King since he had control of the hose which doesn't happen very often!

Going, Going, Gone!

Going,

going,
gone!