About dang time for a new post!

Well, here are a few highlights from our life over the past month:

Decorating the tree













Done! Tada!



















Making a gingerbread house

Miss Independent decided she didn't want Mom (or anyone else) to pull her loose tooth. I couldn't believe it when she came crying to me (she was scared of the blood) and had successfully pulled her very first tooth by herself!!!!



Sunday outfits before Christmas

On Christmas Eve, we stopped to visit my beautiful Grandma and she showered us with gifts as she so often does during Christmas. Even after 3 days of chemo treatment, she had homemade fudge and candy waiting for us. We love you Grandma!

Christmas Eve PJs. This year, my Aunt Alison surprised Andrew with his personalized stocking! What a treat! It has been tradition in our family to have hand-knitted stockings with our names, something my Grandmother did for everyone when she was alive. I have wanted to learn how so I could do it for my family, but my sweet Aunt Alison has done one nearly every year for us (and my sister's kids!). I can't imagine how many hours it must have taken her! I still would like to learn, but Andrew was the last one that our family needed (unless we have more children). He was SO HAPPY because this year he had noticed that his was the only one different. Thank you, thank you, thank you Aunt Alison!

Whew, that's a lot of photos to take in. I'm sure there will be more to follow, since these didn't even include our Christmas pics! Just wanted to update in sections as it has been too long since my last post.

Santaphobia

We had our ward party on Friday and Santa came to spread the Christmas cheer. There was a room set up, dimmed and decorated, for all the kids to go sit on his lap, tell him what they wanted for Christmas and receive a candy cane. I can understand maybe all the babies and toddlers that would have nothing to do with him. But my Alli, now 6,was TERRIFIED of him and always has been. She vehemently refused to go into the same room as him and easily surrendered her chance at a candy cane if it meant she had to meet the guy. My question today: Is this normal? I keep thinking she'll grow out of this, yet she doesn't seem to be anywhere near. As I think about it, there is nothing entirely normal about sending my children into a dark room to sit on some old, hairy guy's lap, who is offering her candy either, is there?

What's Mom Good For?

This morning I took the girls to their weekly violin lesson. As each girl takes their turn, the other busies themselves with drawing, coloring, reading, etc. My little Alli lately has been LOVING writing letters and drawing pictures, most often for Mom and Dad. During Kendra's lesson, I could tell from a distance that Alli was working on another such project. Here is her letter, word-for-word, from this morning:

"I love you Mom & Dad & Colby. I love you so so so so so so so so so so much. Family I love you the most Mom & Dad & Colby because . . . he is so chubey Colby. Why do you think I love Dad because. . . he is sent to take care of me. I love Mom because. . . she is sent to have sum babys & sum kids." (followed by a cute drawing of Mom, Dad, Alli and Colby).

So, really, is that all Mom is good for? Dad gets to be the caretaker, but I just get to provide the children? Is that how it works? Does she somehow miss what goes on all day everyday, laundry, dishes, vacuuming, cooking, etc. ALL while Dad is away to work? Hmmmm, yeah I have a beef with this one.

Note: Lest you think me ungrateful and downright mean, I hugged little Alli, thanked her, read it and got a great chuckle from it all! The words really are sweet. . .

Late Thanks

Being busy with family, turkey, pumpkin pie and Black Friday shopping, my blog had to take the back seat for a few days. As Thanksgiving approached I had started to compile a list of things I'm thankful for. Though it is short, and 2 days post-Turkey Day, I thought I'd still share some of the thoughts I've had.

I'm Thankful For:

1. Little voices that call me Mommy.
2. Goosebump-inducing music that inevitably brings a smile, followed most often by a tear.
3. My early-morning conversations with God.
4. Though rare, a full night of sleep.
5. A brother who calls for no reason and listens as I tell of trials, then relates, counsels and speaks of truths once lost, then found in his life.
6. A clean house, or even just a toilet.
7. My Grandma, though nearly 60 years my senior, who relates and converses every bit as much as a best friend, counsels maternally, laughs spontaneously, and who I find I'm very much like. My Grandma who is most-definitely my kindred.
8. Old friends who never change.
9. Pleasant faces and satisfied bellies after I've tried a new recipe.
10. Men who still hold open a door for me.
11. A companion who accepts challenges head-on, supports, accepts and loves me completely, is a hard worker, comes home to wrestle and tickle our kids and yes, I'm even thankful for his teasings.
12. The two huge garbage bags of outgrown (but not outused) clothes left on our porch by a visiting teacher, after a day of trying unsuccessfully to find inexpensive jeans for my girls and the giggles, praises and fashion show that followed.
13. The surprise at finding $15 in my wallet by a mother who thought she was being sneaky. Oh, and her sharing her yummy chicken noodle soup with us. Thanks Mom!
14. The ability to cover gray hairs--oh the vanity!
15. Sisters, nuff said.
16. Tropical places, long hikes, the ocean, the mountains, the colors and smells of earth.

That should suffice for now, though I could go on, but kids are pulling to drape our house Christmas . . . duty calls!

Stop and Stand Still

This week has been all kinds of crazy for our little household. Todd has been helping my sister and her husband paint their newly-finished basement and has been gone every single night after work. Yesterday I reached my exhaustion level by about 6 p.m. Why? Here's a brief rundown of my yesterday: I got up at my normal 3 a.m. for work, came back, but really couldn't fall asleep; after getting the girls to school I packed the boys (and lunch, and crib and cleaning supplies) into the van and headed downtown to clean my brother's in-MUCH-need-of-MAJOR-attention apartment for a good 4-5 hours, came home and got the girls ready for their violin recital, took everyone to the recital, came back, bathed everyone and put them to bed.

After all was quiet once again in the house, I fell into bed and opened to read a chapter in the Doctrine and Covenants. I was struck by one phrase and have thought of it all day today, so I thought I'd share. It's found in D&C 5:34 -- ". . . Stop, and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee."

It was another reminder for me to slow my ever-hectic life down a bit. I loved "Stop, and stand still" -- it's the part that has stuck with me and I seem to forget all too easily what is truly important. Maybe it's a quiet moment of meditation before everyone gets up, maybe it's reading a book to one of my children or sitting long enough to watch the sun rise or set; for me it's turning off the phone or the computer.

A dear friend of mine once told me of a book about an elderly woman who was so admired because she knew how to JUST BE. I need to learn how to just BE. It means planting my feet in the sand as the waves of life ebb and flow, allowing, as the scripture states, for the Lord to provide means whereby to accomplish His work for me. Although His work requires ever-busying myself in service, I guess it also requires those quiet times.

So, a re-commitment to slow my life down is in order. Yoga anyone?

New Blog

Ok, for those of you who are interested and want to know some of the good deals that are interesting to me, and perhaps you, I have quickly thrown together a new blog. See link to the right. Note that it is a work in progress and there will be more to come. . .

Sunday's STL

So here's my Sunday STL (Share-the-Love). Still haven't figured out if I'm going to do a sidebar, but until I do, I'll just add a new post.
Many of you around here know, but in case you missed it, Smith's Marketplace just opened up down Highland Drive in Lehi and I think it's my new favorite store! Well for their grand opening, and until Tuesday, you can get a gallon of milk (any quantity) for $.99, ground beef for $1.49 and pound, many $.50 items if you buy 10 like 3L bottles of Arrowhead water, 10-count box of hot chocolate (can you say neighbor gifts?) and many other hot items. They also are doubling their gas rewards until Tuesday as well, so you could earn up to .30 off per gallon. Last I checked it was at $1.99, so you could potentially get gas for $1.69 per gallon. When's the last time gas was that low?
There many other sweet deals throughout the store, so it might be worth a jaunt over there sometime in the next 2 days! (Oh, and their sushi is yummy, if you are sushi-lover like me! Try their samples!)

S.T.L. = Share the Love

Anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE a good deal, so I've decided I'm going to start posting my good deal findings so I can "share the love" with those I love, aka all of you! It seems I find at least one good deal a day and sometimes multiple good deals, so check back often. I'm not sure if I will put them on a sidebar or just as a new post--I'll experiment.
For those of you who look at my blog TODAY and TODAY only, my deal is found at Amara Day Spa, my favorite spa for services when and if I have extra change. It is an awesome spa in Lindon. You can check out their website. But starting this morning, they are taking appointments for free services for their Christmas Open House on Dec. 5& 6. Free services include 20 min massage, glitter toes, waxings, makeovers, brow/lash tints, etc. So, I just scheduled myself a free 20 min massage! Can't beat that! Go to their website and click on the Christmas Open House, but call asap because it has been busy and hard to get through, but keep trying! The receptionist said there were still several appointments available. Loving FREE, FREE!!!

The Modern Day Newsie

As some of you know, this has been a tough year on us financially. Not only have we felt the crunch of the ever-inflating economy, but we more than doubled our mortgage by moving here. Ouch! Never have we questioned moving here because the Spirit powerfully testified to us that it was the right choice. We took that leap of faith, kept paying our tithing and trusted Him, that He would care for us. We have had so many blessings since that our decision to move here has been justified. That being said, money was always lacking and the hole seemed more dark and deep as time went on.

A few months ago, Todd and I sat down and laid all the numbers out once again. It had become so lopsided and we had cut every unnecessary expense out, that the answer was simply that we needed more income. Todd started to look around and has taken up some nightly UVU classes to learn some new skills. I started to look for things I could do at home. I applied for Costco, Gap, Seagull, Kneaders, daycares, Anytime Fitness, Smiths Marketplace, etc. I am experienced in many things and surely in this time of "holiday hiring" someone would hire me, if even temporary, right? Nothing came through. I really felt like I was being sent a message.

Last Sunday, after yet another epiphany of our need, I plead my soul to the Lord. I placed our lives completely in His hands. I had done the work, but He must have another plan for us. Monday I was unusually happy--odd I know. I worked on the house and simply waited, trusted that something would come through. Tuesday night I got a call from the Media One district manager. A paper route in my neighborhood had just opened. Though it's not the job I saw myself in, I knew this was a direct answer to prayer and by Wednesday I was working. I decided not to speak much about my "glorious" job, yet here I am blogging about it only a week later, for reasons I will explain.

I guess I've needed some humbling, and this has truly humbled me. I am an educated mom, with a Bachelor's in Social Work degree; my husband has both a BA in Microbiology AND an MBA; I'm in my 30's--I shouldn't have to wake up at 3 a.m. to flip papers, right? Why is it I can see others, without degrees, making millions and taking the easy road? I know I shouldn't compare. Truth is everyone has their set of problems. I think I would gladly take financial issues over what others have to face. Though it's not glorious, we do what we have to do to pay the bills, right? I don't have to leave my kids. That was a huge priority for me. I don't have to adjust my schedule (except going to bed much earlier) and despite popular belief, a paper route does pay decent money.

I learned something my first day from my 59-year old boss. He flipped papers for 15+ years and claims to be "the best paper-flipper I've ever met!" He really is good at what he does--that's why he's district manager. The thing that got me was the PRIDE that he took in his work. He takes his job very seriously and is happy to be doing what he does. Did you know there is an art to flipping newspapers? I didn't. But he is teaching me. Believe me, it's not the easiest thing in the world. (You have to flick your wrist a bit.) I guess what I've learned is that no matter what you do, you can take pride in doing it. We are who people depend on day in and day out. We don't sleep and we don't get a day off--ever. It's true that the Lord answers us in ways that we really don't expect. NO WAY did I see myself sleep-deprived, stuffing and flipping newspapers. Again, humble pie.

So, if you see me in my pj's at noon, my eyes a little bloodshot, you'll know why. Neighbors, if you're up getting a drink or putting a child back to bed about 4 or 5 a.m. and happen to see my green van driving erratically on the wrong side of the road, don't be alarmed. If I don't stay late to meetings, book groups or other such get-togethers, don't be offended. It's just your friendly neighborhood newspaper carrier.

Oh, and wherever you are, if you take the paper, please tip your carrier. Believe me, they deserve it.

I've been Tagged!

Ok, so I am frequently sent tags, but I never do them, mainly because I'm just plain lazy and don't take the time. My friend, Jo, tagged me on her blog the other day, so I thought I'd take my turn at least once. Besides, all I have to do is list 7 random facts about myself. Here they are in no particular order:


1. I have many secretly desired occupations namely, a marine biologist, a geologist, a spinning instructor, and a dairy farmer (don't laugh). Why did I choose social work over any of these? Logic. I live no where near an ocean; what can you do with geology really?; the dairy farmer could come from my brother brain-washing me by calling me "Milk" all through childhood, but I think it is more likely the country child in me--doesn't it sound fun?; and the spinning instructor I still might just do one day.


2. Even though FiberOne granola bars are tasty and are only 2 points for Weight Watchers, they are DANGEROUS! I don't recommend you eating them if you intend on sleeping in the same bed with your spouse.


3. I have a few passions in my life, things that really get me excited down to my core: dancing--I love to do it, watch it, anything related to it. Another is babies--I love them all: kissing squishy cheeks, tiny toes, little fingers, cuddling, smelling them and watching them see and experience life for the first time. Also, I love to travel. Anywhere. Cultures and people fascinate me and I love to witness the diversity of people and the beauty of all this world has to offer through travel. Lastly, I love to exercise. There is nothing more therapeutic for me than to work up a good, stinky sweat.


4. I hate pickles. I always have. I have tried to like them, but it's just not happening. My brother even bought me a pickle-green T-shirt that says, "Pickles are cucumbers soaked in evil." Very, very true.

5. Though I'm not very good at any one thing, I've recently discovered how much I enjoy using my hands to create. Cooking, sewing, writing, reading, making music, crafts, you name it. I thoroughly enjoy it.


6. Call me crazy but I prefer natural child birth. I've had two of each and my last delivery with Colby was my favorite. After his birth was when I started to suggest to every woman I know to use the birthing ball. It was heavenly. Not too crazy about epidurals (personal preference) but it might come from the same reasons that I hate laughing gas at the dentist's office. Simply put I can't stand being out of control of my own body. I can fully understand why a young Joseph Smith refused to be numbed by the bottle.


7. I've always had this strange obsession with the Incredible Hulk. When I was young I used to watch the series all the time. From what I thought was a fear of him (I used to have a recurring nightmare) grew into some sort of unexplained crush. When I was 7 or 8 my family went to Universal Studios and we got to meet a bulky Hulk actor. He rubbed off some of his green on my arm and I remember never wanting to wash my arm again. The recollection of all these feelings surfaced last weekend when Todd and I watched "The Hulk". After pondering a bit, I think I finally understand why. I have a bleeding heart, a deeply-rooted compassion for this man who struggled so much with this side of himself that he felt he couldn't control. Likewise, I think I have my own temper, or hulk, surfacing more often than I'd like, when I get upset with the kids or life in general. I guess I can truly relate to him. Maybe we all have our own inner hulk lurking in our darkest corners. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm altogether weird.

So there you have a few tidbits about myself that you perhaps didn't know before. I guess now I'm supposed to tag 7 people and tell them to copy and paste the graphic below and start over. Let's see. . .Nicole, Kilee, Ally, Nat, Emily, Melissa/Craig, and Shawn. Tag, you're it!

Happy Halloween!

We had a great one, how about you? Can I brag about my $7 "Renaissance Wench" DI find, tags still intact? I thought it was pretty darn cute right up until the phone call with my sister-in-law Ashley, who yelled out to all her college friends, "Hey, my sister-in-law's a wench! And she's got 4 kids!" Still, made for a good laugh. My kids all looked adorable and I did convince Todd to dress up as a 50's football jock. Only problem is his wirey, curly hair will not slick back! Go figure.

Halloween brought too much candy as usual, but this year we decided to do something a little bit different. I got the suggestion from something I read and from my friend Dawn. Many of you know I'm a health freak and I've only gotten worse over the last year. (Bless Todd for his patience, support and understanding!) We've been trying to cut certain things out of our diet, namely artificial dyes, hydrogenated oils, preservatives like BHT and TBHQ. Challenge: just go to your cupboard right now and try to find something that doesn't have any of these--it's hard! Anyway candy has most or all of these, not to mention the sugar (did I mention Alli's 8 cavities last dental visit?), so we made up $5 coupons for the kids in exchange for a toy of their choice. We did let them keep about a dozen of their favorite pieces and put them in little ziplocs with their names on them. Just so you don't think I'm some sort of ogre, I DID give my kids the choice and they hands-down chose the toy, which elated me of course. Leftover candy filled an entire grocery bag! Bad thing is it is still here and chocolate is my downfall for sure and Todd was born with pure sugar running through his veins, so we need to rid our house of it quick! I think my kids' favorite part of Halloween, though, was answering the door and handing out the candy!

Can you say hypocrite? I know, why do I hand out the very stuff I'm trying to rid our lives of? Well, quite frankly, $4 bubble gum pack at Costco that would put smiles on 215 faces of children was much more affordable than the $10 pack of natural fruit snack that would run out after 80 kids. Lame excuse? Yeah, I'd agree.


How do you like the witches' fingers and monster toes I made for the holiday? My sister Kilee refused to eat them--they do look rather disgusting.

Happy Birthday Mom

I love you.

Alli's B-day

Alli had a birthday last week--she's 6! The excitement leading up to her birthday was unmatched by any other birthday of any of my other kids. I'll let the photos do most of the explaining, but she had a great day.




Alli is funny. She is my child who says her legs hurt too much to walk three houses down the street, yet her favorite thing in the world to do is rock climb! So when I found a party at the Lehi Rec Center that included a rock wall that was affordable, I booked it. She and 12 other kids had a blast--I thought an hour climbing would be sufficient, but they proved me otherwise. Three, four, even five climbs up the wall for some of these kids wasn't enough. Sheesh, talk about muscle! Thanks to everyone who came and made her day special--she really had a great time. Note: I did decide, however, after this party that we will keep parties to the even years only, meaning a party every other year. It's too hard to keep doing these kinds of parties!





Alli is such a sweet girl and I'm so glad her spirit chose to come to our family 6 years ago. Each child of mine is so different, yet adds so much to our little family and I can't imagine ours without her. Love you, girly.

Uh Oh Folks!

He has officially discovered his nose!!!

Shoo Fly!

So this afternoon I got in the car and had just gotten the boys buckled. We started to leave, when I noticed a pesky fly in our car, the one that likes to buzz right into your face every two seconds. I flicked my hand across my face and said, "SHOO FLY!" and I heard Andrew's small voice from the back sing, "don't bother me." I glanced back, smiled and decided to play his game:
Me: "Shoo fly!"
Drew: "Don't bother me."
Me: "Shoo fly. . . "
Drew: "Don't bother me."
Me: "Shoo fly. . ."
Drew: "Don't bother me."
Me: "For I belong. . ."
Drew: "To bumblebee!"
I laughed hysterically, while Drew looked at me a smiled, totally unaware of what was so amusing, but perfectly content with the fact that it was his fault that I was laughing.

Happy 10th Anniversary

Happy Anniversary Mel! Wow, I can't believe it has been 10 years, where has the time gone? I want to tell you how much I love you and appreciate all that you do for me. Here are the top 10 things that I love about you.

1) You are Beautiful
2) Wonderful Mom
3) Spirituality - you love the gospel
4) You like to stay active - Triathalon, biking, etc...
5) You think of me and the kids before anything else
6) You make our home beautiful
7) You push me to be a better person
8) Beautiful smile
9) You love a good deal
10)You put up with me and all of my issues

I love you! Thanks for all you do. I look forward to many more years with you.

Love, Todd

Daddy

Today marks 25 years of my father's death due to a plane accident. Dad, here's a few memories for you today, one for every year you've been gone:

I remember dancing on your feet.
I remember the smell of Old Spice.
Stubble on your face.
BIG hugs.
Silly faces--all the time.
Your amazing magic trick of pressing a penny through the table! Still don't know how you did it!
Your ability to scare all us kids half out of our skin.
I remember your straight, white teeth.
Your stiff hair after a day at work, in front of the camera.
Your perfect enunciation.
Your big smooth hands.
Safe, strong arms.
Your daily, and then some, kisses for Mom.
Your utter appreciation for the outdoors.
Camping and having our own outdoor sacrament meeting.
I remember your beautiful singing voice--you loved to sing.
I remember the same lullaby that never got old.
Your love and respect for your mom. . .and your dad.
Your crooked smile.
Man, were you a tease!
You had lots of made up, silly words.
I remember worrying about you as you lay on the couch for days after our bees attacked your foot.
You never got mad, upset or angry.
I remember you holding my pudgy hand.
I remember you loved us more than life.

I love you Daddy. I miss you every day.

Family and Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year. The painted mountains, the scent of crisping vegetation, the breeze that carries a hint of chill and the sun that holds off that chill from reaching your bones. Refreshing.
I met my sisters and their families at South Fork in Provo Canyon on Sunday to take in the beauty of the earth. I forgot how much I really enjoy this spot. It's where I used to come to contemplate life, to pray, to focus and find peace. Todd and I had one of our first dates here with a group of friends, where there was singing, guitar-playing, campfire, marshmallows, chocolate, ahhhh. This mountain park was my literal "mountain of the Lord" pre-temple years. In fact, it was over 10 years ago that I knelt and prayed here to ask if I should marry Todd. I already knew and my Father confirmed it. Glad He approved. Now, seeing our children's faces, we realize we aren't the only ones who really enjoy this place. And there's nothing better than sharing in it with family.

Beauty

Last weekend I watched a chick flick. There was a scene that I keep replaying in my mind. I'm not sure why, but I think it has to do with the truth that it holds.
A young couple was observing an elderly couple, walking, helping one another. The young woman says (and I'm paraphrasing because I can't quite remember the exact dialogue), "Now there's love. I'll bet that couple has been together for at least 50 years." to which the young man says, "See that's the problem with our day; everyone is too concerned with making themselves younger, better-looking, etc. The beauty in a relationship is being ABLE to grow old with someone and still love that person unconditionally."
Growing old with someone. There is beauty to growing old. Having someone right along side you for the journey creates balance in a way. Todd and I are coming up on our 10 year anniversary. We both have a few more wrinkles and gray hairs than we did 10 years ago, but I wouldn't take any one of them away. Each represents an experience we shared; a joy, a fear, a heartache, a worry, a smile. It has shaped our relationship. What's so exciting is how many more there are to come. How is it our world has been blinded by counterfeit beauty?
I watch Todd's Grandpa now in his last days on this earth. He and his sweet wife have loved each other for over 60 years. You'll still find them caressing one another, kissing, holding hands. When I think of them, it's hard to imagine one without the other. They are one. Their love is real, unconditional and eternally rooted and bound. There is beauty to that.
Out with the fountain of youth obsession. My vote is to see more of the real stuff.

Just Wrong

I had a "mommy moment" this week that I would just as soon forget. In fact I wish I could have lived my entire life without experiencing it. It was Tuesday, my crazy morning days, I had just returned from taking the girls to an early-morning violin lesson. It was 9:10 a.m. and I had just dropped them off at school. I had Joy School at my house this week, so 6 preschoolers were arriving at my house in 5 minutes. Was I ready? Was the house in order? Did I know where the Joy School cd was that I needed for that day's lesson? These and many other thoughts fleeted through my already tired, scrambled mind. As I walked in from the garage and through the laundry room, I smelled something bad, nay nasty. I remembered that I had put in a load of laundry the night before, so as I dashed in to put violins away and make sure all was in order, I made a mental note to switch the laundry. Could they be that stinky already? I brushed the thought off, thinking they'd be just fine if I could get them into the dryer.
I quickly found the cd, pushed play for welcome music, got Todd sweeping up breakfast off the floor and getting breakfast dishes in the dishwasher, found the weather and date charts I needed and then the doorbell rang. I shuffled the first child through the door and remembered I still needed to change the dang laundry. If I didn't do it now, they'd only get stinkier.
Before anyone else arrived, I ran into the laundry room and started throwing the wet clothes into the dryer. Whew, this stuff really smelled bad. Knowing I didn't have time for anything else, I threw the last of it into the dryer, the last item being a very water-logged empty diaper! My brain circuits started to connect as I realized what I had been smelling. I opened the washer to find it covered with chunks of poop, some large, some small, smeared around the entire inside. Jaw on the floor, I went back to the dryer, looking at the clothes and upon closer examination I found many more chunks of poo throughout the whole batch of "clean" clothes. I closed the doors, all of them, grabbed the air freshener, hoping to mask the stench before all the moms arriving thought they were sending their kids to Cesspool School. Disgusting. Gross. Just Wrong.
Finished Joy School. Sent them out the door and knew I had to clean up the mess. How do I do that? Lots of bleach, lots of hot water and lots of cycles. Here's hoping I got all the chunks.
I couldn't fairly put the blame on little Andrew, who did help me put the laundry in the washer the night before. Here's the most accurate explanation I can come up with, however weak it may be: Sometimes when I load up a basket of dirty clothes to bring downstairs, and if I have a fresh poopy diaper I need to bring as well, I'll stick it into the corner of the basket that is already going down, POSITIVE that I will remember to put it in the garbage before I decide to dump the load into the washer. I should have learned by now not to rely on my non-existent memory.
So to all moms out there, here's a fair warning: don't dump, sift the laundry. Then you will know precisely what is going to be washed. No, there is no such thing as "clean poop".

Can I Give Him Five?

A few weekends ago, Todd and I took the kids to the first BYU home game--go Cougs! We sat close to the front, on an aisle seat. Those of you who know our little Drew also know that when he sets his mind on something, he perseveres until he accomplishes what he has so-stubbornly decided to do--(heck, I think I could say that about the other 3 as well!) Because we were so close to the front, he had a clear view of Cosmo and was determined to "give him five". Todd's mom, sweet, compassionate and the pushover-grandma that she is, picks him up and marches him right down to the front. All it took was a few shouts of his name and, even through the costume and all the crowd noise, he turned and came over to perma-grinned Andrew. He held out his hand and scored his own little touchdown with a high five from Cosmo the Cougar.
About a week later, we were in church, trying to listen to the speaker. Andrew was on the ground, playing with cars and the speaker was quoting a scripture or something where the name of Jesus was said. Andrew's little ears perked up and he suddenly got a sad look on his face and said, "Mommy, I wuv Jesus, I miss Him." It was so sweet and tender that I had to scoop him up and hold him and tell him that Jesus loves him too and that we will see Him again. I told him to talk to Jesus any time he wants to through prayer.
About a day or so later, we were driving in the car somewhere and again, he brought up Jesus. He understands that He died a long time ago and he understands a bit about the Resurrection, but he doesn't understand why Jesus is not here with us right now. He said, "Mommy, I want to give Him five." I didn't know whether to laugh or cry in that moment. It exposed his inner 3-year-old feelings, expressing them in the only way he knew how. I think I'd be safe in saying Jesus will be waiting at the pearly gates, hand extended up for a high-five for Andrew. I hope I'll be there to witness it, fully aware of what that will mean to my little Drew. I'm sure he'll be wearing the same perma-grin then as he did for Cosmo the Cougar, knowing he scored yet another "touchdown" of his own.

We remember Sept. 11

As I was getting the kids ready for school this morning, I pulled out our US flag and positioned it in its holster on our front porch. As I chatted with the kids during breakfast, I asked if they understood why we were flying the flag today and what special day it was. Kendra's teacher talked about it with her class a few days ago, so she and I shared the details of Sept. 11, 2001 to captivated, wide-eyed Alli and Andrew. I guess I had not ever discussed this tragedy with the younger kids. We had a very open conversation about terrorism, death, pride for our country and everyday heroes. I shared with them my visit to Ground Zero and my feelings. Alli seemed surprised to hear that people died, to which Andrew piped in very confidently, "Yeah, but Dad saved you huh?" The only thing he was completely sure of was that his dad was indeed Superman.
Even as Todd now watches the replay of that tragic event on the History Channel, I feel a growing nausea in the pit of my stomach. That kind of hate and disregard for so many human lives is astounding and disturbing. I remember being glued to the television, unable to make sense of any of it for nearly a week. Our country came together for a brief moment, turned religious for a few weeks and then somehow, suddenly we forgot. Segregation and hostility crept in again and here we are, no more unified than we were prior to 9/11. Can we all just remember?
I hope the dialogue begun this morning with my children will continue not only about this, but with every major incident that so impacts our country, their future and any decision that affects how they treat another person.

Panama day 7

Wow, yet another full day in Panama’! It was a great one though.

This morning we left at 6 a.m. to try and get to a 7 a.m. session at the new temple. We wanted to be there early to make sure we would get in. Oh, there’s too much to say. Simply put, they have a lot of work that needs to be done at this temple! Patrons are so new at going to the temple and having one here will be so good for them. It’s hard to put into words the feeling I felt here. It was as if I were experiencing the temple for the first time, through the eyes of a Panamanian, not ever having lived near one at all. We went to a Spanish session, with English headsets. I was able to understand much of what was going on –those college Spanish classes sure came in handy! It was amazing to be there with my family and to be one of the first to attend this beautiful, dedicated House of the Lord.

After the session, we rushed off to get the pedicures and manicures that Mom had set up for us last May! It was fun to be pampered for a bit. The best part was that manicure was only $5 and the pedicure was $10! We were there for a good hour or so and it was money well-spent (by Mom of course—thanks Mom!). I tried, unsuccessfully, to explain in my broken Spanish to the lady working on my feet why my legs were so slashed up. Como se dice “sawgrass” en espanol?

After running back to the Albrook Inn, we grabbed our stuff and headed out for another beach day, stopping along the way for some yummy bread and cheese and empanadas, recommended by Aunt Debby and Mom. It was so yummy we had to stop again on the way back. We went to the best beach, called Palmar Beach. Thanks for recommending this Zoliks--and for being there with us! We paid $20 per car and had a bohio all to ourselves, complete with hammocks. Some rented surfboards, while Todd and I stuck with boogie-boards. We had SO MUCH FUN!!! The waves were huge and the water was amazingly warm. The sand was black, interestingly enough. We also learned that sweet little Malia likes to eat sand. I’d have to say between Panama and Hawaii, the surfing is better in Panama (at least this time around!). Again, I felt like time reversed and I was 8 years old again as I (and my siblings) buried my big brother in sand. It was a riot.

We made our way back and met up with the rest of the clan for dinner at Mom’s choice (since it was our last night), Mi Ranchito. We presented her with the necklace and earrings that we had bought for her and she loved them! The look on her face was priceless and it was nice to actually be the giver, rather than the receiver for a change.

The next day was spent scurrying around getting some last minute shopping in and packing up and getting to the airport. What an amazing time we had!

Thanks Mom for a wonderful trip and for giving so much to us, your children, on this trip. I loved spending it with you and it makes sense why you love this country so much. It’s paradise. I love you, I love you, I love you!

Panama day 6

Today was a good day. We all got up early. Kilee and I got up even earlier for a morning jog. Our first stop was to Lori Gibson’s house, a friend of my mom’s, who lives out in Gamboa, right on the canal. She was a neat lady with an amazing house and lots of little projects and businesses she is working on. Rick called her the Martha Stewart of Panama. I told her I want just a tenth of her creative mind. This is where we got the "weenies" that I will have to show you when I get home. They are these cool bracelets made by the Kuna Indians, but she sells them for them. The Today Show interviewed her when Matt Lauer was doing his special on Panama a few months ago.

From here we went to the Gamboa Resort to walk around for a bit. Wow, this is an amazing resort! It costs a whopping $250 a night to stay here! Gamboa is such a beautiful part of Panama—I can understand why they built a resort here. We snapped some shots then headed for a little jaunt in the jungle. My mom visits this "waterhole" as she calls it almost every time she comes. It’s a serene setting in the midst of the jungle with a little waterfall. It was GORGEOUS !!

Next stop was the Summit Botanical Gardens/Zoo. This too was such a fun place where we played with the monkeys and my brothers pestered the Cayman Crocs. There was a fun walk through this maze of giant bamboo chutes. The downpour hit us just as we approached the highlight of this stop, the turtles. My brothers were little boys again. It was as if the years rewound, the façade of adulthood was peeled away and all the personalities of all my siblings were born once again. Every single one of my brothers reached in a muddy, murky pond and caught a turtle. They were right proud of their accomplishment, though I’m sure the turtles felt differently. We even saw a wild Cayman croc staring at us from the pond. I don’t think I care to know how many more lurked in the murk below!

We were starving by this point so we got sushi and Subway—great combo, right? (They were next door to each other and we thought the sushi would take too long so we ordered Subway as well.)

We headed to the Albrook Mall once again, and once again I don’t feel like I got enough shopping time in! There is so much to see and we only had three hours so it is all a bit overwhelming. We got a few super cheap things, but the highlight was finding something perfect for my mom. We had wanted to give something special from the kids to Mom as a thank you for allowing all of us to come to her hometown and for paying for as much as she has for us. Nicole has loved this mosceda jewelry that my mom has and loves too. It is authentic to Panama, very hard to find and very expensive, but we found a jewelry store in the mall that had some! The man was so nice and he even let us custom design it in a way. We got some beautiful earrings that we had him add some pearls to and this necklace pendant made out of a real Panama Balboa coin. We picked a chain out and had him dip it in gold, so it was all gold-plated. He even gave us a discount, I think, because he liked Nicole! Salazar, was his name; he owned the store named after him. The jewelry is so beautiful and perfect for my mom! We were so excited that Nicole turned some heads as she did a happy jig around the mall. We are excited to present Mom with our gift and we will most likely give it to her tomorrow night. She has done so much for us to get us here and even since we’ve been here—paid for so many meals, today she bought us all weenies and paid for numerous admissions to events. I’m really blown away by her generosity. She planned it this way too; she has envelopes labeled for specific outings or dinners with money inside for the event. I look forward to giving just a small token of gratitude back to her with this jewelry tomorrow. The girls are all excited, but I don’t think the guys really fully grasp the excitement quite yet.

After shopping until the mall closed (8 p.m.) we came back to our hotel and sat in the hot tub and swam for a bit. Kilee and I caught a baby gecko and it almost flew down my shirt! Luckily we were able to find him and put him back. He was super tiny, but super fun to play with. Signing off. . .

Panama day 5

I wish I could explain the beauty I am witnessing right now. I’m sitting under a terrace at the outdoor restaurant of our hotel watching and listening to the rain come down. The temperature is just about perfect and I just saw a colorful toucan fly overhead and land in a tree just over my shoulder. These are one of those moments I wish I could capture in a bottle and reopen when I need it or bring it home to all of you.

Today is Sunday and it is probably our first leisurely day of our entire trip. We woke up early and got to the English translation room of the stake center next to the beautiful templo de Panama’. It was so neat because we sat next to this couple from Taylorsville who were there to pick up their son from his mission who gets released tomorrow. They hadn’t seen him yet and the other elders who found out they were his parents went to find him. It was an awesome sight to witness the reunion of this missionary to his parents, not unlike us to our Parents someday. I also decided he should be Ashley’s future husband, so we’ll have to make that happen somehow! His name was Elder Chism—do you know him?

We were able to watch the cornerstone ceremony of the temple which was neat. President Monson and President Uchdorf were so funny through the entire thing. It started to rain near the beginning and it caused all sorts of humorous comments. President Uchdorf said as the rain came down, “It’s sunshine from heaven!” to which Pres. Monson said “Yes, and it’s getting us wet!” The Prophet even called up a few kids to help with the mortar, then hurried them along. He was worried about everyone in the rain (he was under a tent). Somehow I don’t think anyone really minded the rain while they were so close to the prophet. All the general authorities went back in and spoke for a bit. I want to record a few stories for my record so bear with me. President Monson told of a story where he was visited by a couple. He said they lived modestly, were frugal with their money, but their investments had done well. They were there to donate $3 million to the building of the temples, one million to 3 separate temples. He asked them if they wanted to choose the temples and they gave an abounding yes. One of those they chose was the Panama temple. These were people who truly understood their temple covenants. What a blessing that was for this temple. He also spoke of a time in the Freiberg temple in Germany how a young boy was going to do baptisms. Something had happened to the heating element, so the water was frigid and as he stepped in he started to shiver, as did the officiator. After about 3 or 4 baptisms, the boy commented how he wasn’t as cold anymore. That day those two latter-day saints baptized, by proxy, 74 people! What dedication and faith. I need to be more like that. I also loved what Pres. Uchdorf said, “With each temple that opens, it lessens Satan’s power on the earth.” I love that! It makes me wonder, though, with all the temples that have opened, why Satan seems to have such a hold still on so many people. He truly is powerful, but he can be overcome with even greater power from on High. President Monson then gave the dedicatory prayer in English and then it was repeated in Spanish. There were some amazing things said and this temple will bless so many members’ lives here in Panama. I’m sure it will be an amazing missionary tool for all who live here. After it was over, we took pictures and headed to the hotel.

From here we decided to get some lunch. We all hate buying on Sunday but we needed to eat, so we went to Napoli, one of my mom’s favorite restaurants. It seemed like an upper-scale place and we got there just before the lunch rush hit because it got packed. I understood their enthusiasm after we tasted their yummy pizza! They were out of clams, but I hear they prepare them the best. We also had yummy ceviche again. I sure wish I could find this in the States. It is fish soaked in lime and vinegar with onions—the acid in these combined actually “cooks” it in a way. You eat them on crackers. It really is tasty! It poured rain the entire rest of the day from here on out and it is still raining! We are witnessing the rainy season of Panama.
From here, my mom took us around to her old neighborhood and told us of stories from her childhood. We saw her old house and got a picture of her in front. She is so happy here; she is like a kid again. I’m so glad we got to experience this as a family—I’m not sure anything like this will ever happen again. It is fun to have this experience together as a family and to see mom so happy. I’m starting to understand why she loves this place so much. This is her home and it is a beautiful place.

The amazing part about today is that we were able to take a nap for a few hours!!! I never get naps!!!! It felt great! I do miss my kids though. It’s so great to talk to them on the phone and know they are happy and well-taken care of.

My aunt and uncle had prepared a meal for everyone tonight so we just got back from their place. My mom’s brother and his family were also there so it was a mini family reunion with all my cousins. Uncle Pete prepared and ordered a bunch of authentic Panamanian food . I’m not tired of course so we might sit out on the terrace and play card games tonight. Though it is rainy season, we just hope the rain gets out of its system what it needs to tonight so we can do what we have planned tomorrow. You’ll have to read tomorrow’s post to find out what that is! (dun, dun, dun—suspense builds for you I am sure!).

Panama day 4

It was a full day indeed. Here goes:

Today we visited the Miraflores Locks, a.k.a. The Panama Canal. We watched a few ships go through the locks and watched a video in Spanish about it, then went through the museum. It is absolutely fascinating how they were able to construct this canal, ingenious really. It was fun to see and they are undergoing an expansion of the canal in the near future to allow even larger ships to pass through.

A note about the language: It was great to see Todd's confidence return with Spanish. Sure he was rusty at first; it has been nearly 13 years since he returned from El Salvador. As the week wore on, he made a great translator for us all, along with my little brother, DJ. My college Spanish came in handy too, though my understanding outweighed my articulation. It's a beautiful language and I'd like to pick it up again someday.

From the Locks, we went to a Kuna Indian marketplace, with all the authentic Panamanian goods on display. We spent a good amount of time (and money!) here as there was so much to see. Then we headed over to the Albrook Mall. This place is ENORMOUS!!!!! We made a mistake by going here on a Saturday. "Packed" isn’t quite the right word for how crazy it was there. People were everywhere, all of them giving us gringos strange looks. We decided that they walk the same way they drive: plow into you and keep on going, with not so much as a look in your direction. We didn’t have long and I hate shopping in chaos so we went home empty-handed. This wasn’t at all disappointing to Todd. We may end up going back at some point.

Then we headed over to the cultural event for the temple dedication. When we arrived I thought we either were at the wrong place or that we were way early because there were less than 100 cars in the parking lot. I thought how sad it is that the prophet came all this way to not have a big turnout from the church. Then I walked into the convention center. There was a sea of beautiful brown people—thousands sat listening to our prophet. I then realized that most of them either walked, took a bus or cab to get here. Very few have cars of their own. It was humbling indeed to know we had two at home in our garage. We got to listen to President Monson speak—President Uchdorf and Elder Scott are also here. (Side note: My aunt got to prepare the flower decorations and welcome tray for the prophet’s room. My mom’s friend from here gets to feed him for 3 days.) It was as if we were at a rock concert people were cheering and screaming so loud. In fact, I kid you not, we had 3 young girls right behind us screaming in our ears for every performance (just like the Miley Cyrus concert!). Luckily they decided to move. Then we watched the youth of the church do some authentic dancing in beautiful costumes—they were so talented. All the missionaries came out and sang "Called to Serve" in Spanish. I was amazed at how many missionaries there are here. They did an awesome presentation of the plan of salvation where they had some youth act out different stages of life. When they got to marriage, they had a gorgeous replica of the Panama temple lowered from the ceiling and a husband and wife kneeled together in front of it. The entire congregation erupted into screaming and cheering like crazy. Of course I was bawling like a baby. The reality is that many people here have yet to go to the temple, let alone be sealed as a family. We spoke with Pres. Lamb a stake president here and Mom’s friend, and he said they do 2 trips a year to Costa Rica, but even then people can’t afford it. It is $110 to take that trip. Unfortunately that is half a month’s salary for most of the people here. Can you imagine? What a blessing it is for these sweet people to have this temple here! I love to see people excited about the gospel like I did tonight. It was another testament to how true this gospel is and how blessed we are to have it in our lives and temples so close to us at home. I think I take the temple for granted knowing it is just down the street. How blessed we are!

Then we went to the Lamb’s house to get our tickets for the dedication tomorrow. We got the first session so we will be able to see the cornerstone ceremony hopefully. That means no sleeping in and I should already be in bed. I love you all and will update you again tomorrow!

Panama day 3

Today I’m glad to be back to our hotel for reasons I’ll explain later. We woke up early to hit the road. It was beach day and we were heading to Isla Grande. We had heard it would take a good 2 hours to get there so we wanted to head out early, after our unvaried continental breakfast of course.

The road started out gorgeous, covered with trees and all sorts of tropical vegetation to please the eye. It quickly turned nasty. Let’s just keep it short by saying the drive there and back was BEASTLY!!!! The roads are terrible and the driving even worse. We almost got hit several times, and got honked at more times than I can count. I appreciate my sister Nicole because she kept saying, "It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey." Near the halfway mark apparently there was a pretty bad head-on accident which not slowed, but STOPPED traffic completely. It took us 4 hours and LOTS of patience to get to where we needed to go. Imagine taking a jaunt down to St. George and staying for just a few hours—that was today, but much better.

We stopped in Portebelo, a village along the coast PACKED with history, and looked at some fortress ruins that have been there since early 1700s. Christopher Columbus named this port, which aptly means "Beautiful Port". This was Spencer’s toy store. I swear that kid needs to study history! There were pirate raids all the time at this port and it was so neat walking on such ancient grounds. From here we headed up the road to a boat that would take us to Isla Grande. A kid named Tucho jumped on back of our car and claimed us (4 cars in all) for "his". This meant that we were to pay him for watching/directing us to park our cars. He was a funny guy and later took a machete to Spencer’s coconut to open it for him. We paid him $2 per car. "Cheap, cheap" was all he kept saying, meaning it is a cheap price that he was asking of us.

After the short 3-min boat ride to Isla Grande, we realized our drive was worth the wait. The beach was not overcrowded and the water was AWESOME!!! This was my first Caribbean experience and most definitely not my last. The water was about 80-85 degrees and we got to swim with lots of fish, octopus, squid and jellyfish. It was amazing! Later we walked through the village and saw the most quaint, colorful homes I’ve ever seen. Some were very well maintained while others were run-down. The people here have African descent so they look very different from other Panamanians. I thought they were a beautiful people and I even befriended a little boy named Gordo. They all seemed content with life, downright happy, and friendly with strangers. This island is quite small—you could most likely walk around it in an hour’s time. All too soon our water taxi was back to pick us up. We all wanted a few more hours here—if it wasn’t for that dang accident!!!! Upon reaching the dock, we found Tucho swimming, fully-clothed. . . so much for our "watched" cars!

Going back took just as long, but we played games and laughed the whole way with the Morleys and Haggards, which made it seem more bearable. The mood kept changing with each near-death-driving experience that we had, but all in all it was a good day. Amazingly we even caught up to the rest of our group after losing sight of them in one of those near-death experiences and were able to go to a very late dinner at yet another recommendation from Mom, Niko’s. It was alright, but I’m glad to be back here, showered, writing to you and getting ready to hit the hay. Signing off. . .

Panama day 2

We had another full day here in Panama. While the rest of my family went on a tour, it was city day for the Morleys and us!

My uncle helped Todd and Curtis go find a wheelchair to rent for Curtis this morning. For those of you who didn’t hear, he and Nicole almost weren’t able to come because he fell down a window-well (ok, stifle that laughter) and he is on crutches. We were all glad he didn’t break it and didn’t need any sort of surgery. It took the men far too long to accomplish such a simple task (try 2 hours!!!!) so by the time they returned and we found out they weren’t mugged, arrested or bleeding anywhere, we were quite furious, but ready to hit the road.

By this time it was lunch so we decided to go to a little place that the Harvey’s recommended called Las Tinajas. We weren’t privileged with the authentic dancing as it is only in the evenings during the week, but the food was outstanding. Curtis ordered the winner--curry shrimp in ½ a pineapple with fried banana—YUM!

We then headed to Casco Viejo, the old part of Panama City built in the 17th century. These buildings were amazingly beautiful with all the colors and architecture. They have a classic European-look to them. Just as we found a parking place and started to look around, prior to getting out of the car, we noticed this is not the best part of town. There were policemen everywhere and also many scary-looking drunkards. As Nicole nursed Malia, I read to them a brief history from my Frommer’s book about Casco Viejo and it ended with this “safety note” warning: “Most important in this area is to tone down the ‘gringo look’ if possible, meaning no shorts or ostentatious clothing like Hawaiian shirts. Also do not wear flashy jewelry or walk the streets brandishing your top-of-the-line camera.” Ok, so not only were ALL of us in shorts, but I was in a Hawaiian looking shirt and shorts AND Todd and Curtis brought their huge top-of-the-line cameras! Then there was the whole fact that we had a baby and were pushing Curtis in a wheelchair. How do you think we did on toning down the whole “gringo look”? We decided to get out of the car anyway.

We walked around on these beautiful streets and took lots of pictures. We saw the Presidential Palace as well as numerous Kuna Indian ladies selling their colorful Panamanian molas. A quick note about these beautiful people. I certainly would have had more pictures of them, but it is their belief that if you take their picture, you also take part of their soul, so we tried to respect that, however, if you are brave enough to ask, some might charge you a buck or two. Cheap price for a soul, eh?

Many of the buildings have been renovated and are being used for museums, governmental buildings or various shops. Pushing Curtis in a wheelchair over half-broken cobblestone was not easy. We decided to head to the car after we starting seeing more policemen, but this time they were in bullet-proof vests! I have to note that Nicole did the driving and she did a great job; if any of you have been to South or Central America, you might appreciate how hard it is to drive in one! Todd has been a great navigator and my family all wishes he could be in their car because he has such a sense of direction.

Tonight we went to a yummy restaurant right on the beach called Mi Ranchito. We ate things we’ve never tried before like clams, ceviche’, cariminones, we both had fish and Todd had fried plantains-YUM! Even with the migraine that I had, we ended up having a great time and laughing lots. There was even a raccoon that came walking through the restaurant and got us all excited.

Todd damaged his record by getting us lost on the way home, but he recovered by getting us home. Now I sit in our beautiful courtyard by the pool listening to the night noises of bugs in the trees and watching the geckos on the walls.
We have another fun day at the beach planned for tomorrow.

Home From Panama

We made it home from our exciting trip to Panama' with my family. For those who don't know, my mom was born and raised in the Canal Zone. A temple was recently completed there and Mom's dream was to have all her children there for its dedication. Everyone made it possible and we all had a great time together. During the trip, I kept a daily log that I've decided to post. I won't do it all at once as it is a LOT of reading, so I'll break it up by day.

Day 1 in Panama:

We are here safe and sound after some question whether or not we would make it on our flight due to the tropical rainstorm that hovered over Houston. Luckily we were able to fly to Houston and get out of Houston with only one delay in SLC. We got in at 7 and waited for Dainon to arrive. We all stayed the night at my Aunt Debbie's place. It was nice to see them and my cousins. My Mom's whole family will be out here this week!

Today was a day indeed. Todd, Dainon and I woke up early and headed out to El Valle, a mountainous region here in Panama. It took about an hour and half. It was beautiful!!!!! Once there we took a short hike in the rainforest to a gorgeous waterfall where we romped in the water for a while. We decided that it wasn't challenging enough, so we headed up to a hike I found in my Frommer's book called Cerro Gaital. It was supposed to take about 2 1/2 hours and it said it was easy to moderate terrain. There was no one up there with us--we had the mountain to ourselves! Well, we headed out and it was indeed an easier hike and beautiful every step of the way, but as we got further up the mountain we started to realize that this wasn't what we thought it would be. It got VERY difficult, and at times we found ourselves rock climbing, scaling huge boulders and using cords to make sure we didn't slip down the side of the mountain. This wasn't the part that bothered me the most. It was, what is called, cutgrass. It is exactly that-- blades of grass that act more like razors against your skin than anything else. We were extremely muddy and bloodied by the time we reached the top. We HAD to reach the top and it was a great feeling. As soon as we got to the top a quick tropical rainstorm decided to descend upon us. The mist, the rain, the sounds were all breathtaking. It took us a good 2 hours to reach that point and we were hungry and tired and anxious to get back. The rain had caused the rock and vegetation to be slippery so we all fell a few times but we finally made it down--and ALIVE! Total, we were in the mountains hiking for nearly 5 hours!

After that we walked around a few little vendor-huts things and looked at the merchandise, but quickly found a place to eat. We got fajitas, garlic shrimp and lemon chicken, with smoothies and fresh fruit juice and fresh papaya and pineapple--all for only $20!!! We headed back to our hotel, checked in and my family just arrived in the last hour. The shower was divine but my legs are full of little paper-cut things all over. It was a day to remember for sure!!! And it's only the first day!

An Empty Nest

It's hard for me to fathom my life without having kids to take care of 24/7. Sure, some days I long for some real alone time, but truth be told, I don't like to ponder very long the thought of not having my kids around. Why? Well, it just makes me sad. My children are the source of much frustration in my life, but they are also the source of my greatest joys.

Both our parents are swiftly approaching this "empty nest" stage of life. My mom is often heard saying, "I'm entering this phase of my life kicking and screaming." At first I was confused by why she would say such a comment; why should it be so bad to spend more one-on-one time with your husband? After thinking more about it, I've come to realize that I will most definitely be saying the same thing come 20 years from now. Life without my kids around? Well, like I said, I don't like to think about it.

Todd's parents, as of this week, will no longer have kids at home. I asked her tonight how she's feeling about everything. With a chuckle she said, 'It's amazing! We actually cleaned the house and it stayed clean!" They look forward to many evening dinners together and perhaps she'll even pick up the golf clubs again, and they will once again share the hobby that was theirs many moons ago. They still hold hands everywhere they go. This is an aspect of marriage that I hope we can keep up. It's a sweet thing to behold at any age. It symbolizes unity and togetherness in whatever you might be doing.

I do look forward, in some regards, to spending our time together. Maybe we can get through two sentences without someone interrupting or needing a drink or tattling on someone; maybe we can finish dinner without a spill or needing to wipe a bum; maybe we will be able to pick up and go to dinner or a movie without having to call half the neighborhood too see if they can babysit; maybe my worries of who is going to fall down the stairs? who is putting their hands in the toilet? who is too close to the street? who just swallowed which cleaners? who hasn't done their practicing? who hasn't felt enough love from me today? will all go away. Somehow I don't think so. If I am a Mom, and I will always be a Mom, those worries will never go away. In fact I hope they don't. I hope I'm involved enough in my children's lives that I can be there for them, love them, worry for them and cry with them as they experience life as I have.

So for right now I will take the dirty diapers and the messy house, knowing that someday soon it will all be gone. That will be a sad day for me indeed. My plan for us is to serve mission after mission for the Church as long as health will permit. Right now I gladly take my mission of motherhood and cuddle with them as long as they will allow me.

Messy Colby: Part 2

We were at my mom's house tonight for our monthly family dinner when someone came running into the room saying, "Mel, come look at your son!" Yes, that's right, Colby and powdered sugar--who put it right at "Colby-level" anyway? Well, to give mom credit, usually the pantry is closed, but lucky for him, he found it open today. . . which summoned the paparazzi. He wasn't loving the attention, but man was he ever loving the sugar rush!

What is it about boys?

I am a mother of 4. The girls came first. Life was tidy and clean, curls, bows and frills, dancing and tutus, pink and purple, calm and quiet (at times), sugar and spice and everything nice. Then came the boys. Everyone who has both will agree that there is a stark contrast between the two. Not a bad thing in any way, but a difference, nonetheless.

Let's take a for-instance. Kendra and Alli both hate being dirty. Even when they were babies, heaven forbid there be a fleck of dust on their dress or a crumb of dirt under their fingernails. Not so with my boys.

Take today, for example. I let the boys out to play in the backyard. They didn't go for the fun, little pink playhouse, nor did they look twice at the swings, but they headed straight for the sandbox, which, I might add, had WET sand in it today. Andrew was doing OK as he sat on the side of the box and made his piles of sand. As the baby crawled inside, I saw how just how messy it was going to be. After one attempt to remove him and the wailing ensued, I gently placed him back in the dirt and thought, "To heck with it, he's having way too much fun. I'll clean him up later."

They played a good 30 minutes until, Colby came crawling up to the door, prompting me to quickly grab my camera. Why? Well, somehow the wet sand adhered perfectly to Colby's dripping snot, making him look reminiscent of the Sandman from Spiderman 3, oozing sand from every hole in his body. See pictures below

After stripping both boys and literally hosing them down, I brought them inside and the fun was over. I smiled to myself as hindsight reminded me that I used to not be okay with dirt, grime and the extra work it takes to clean up a filthy mess.

I've changed my mind.