Potty Break

I get a kick out of this every time!
If I make Emily take a potty break, she'll get on the toilet and then inform me, "It noesn't work." I've never thought of it as "not working" but I guess that is correct. It just cracks me up as she says it so matter-of-factly.

The Best Summer Ever

Summer ended for us yesterday.
We spent the past two months or so hanging out with my youngest sister who came down to visit us. It was a blast! I'm not saying we did anything truly out of the ordinary, she just made every day a bit more fun. I had no idea someone could fit into our little world so perfectly and am very glad she did!
Some great memories:
BoPeep in da house!
Ax Murderer Inn
Spankings at any game played (yes, we're such losers, Susan)
Mary Poppin's Umbrella
"A dog walker would be the best job!"
Crazy-talk Emily
Rock Band
Driving, driving everywhere!
Help on the homestead
Big Balls
Sweet Biscuits
Scrunchy-face Gianna
Seasoning the food
Movie Marathon
FB quizzes
All-night (almost) Mario Party
Baking Powder vs Baking Soda: who wins
BoPeep, because it deserves mentioning twice
We miss you, Susan! Come back soon!!!

Anticipation

I mentioned awhile back that I felt something in the air about a new calling at church. For those of you who may not know, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a volunteer church. There is not a paid ministry, so positions are extended through inspiration and revelation and you only serve for a relatively short amount of time (most callings only last a few years).
I was asked earlier this week to come in to speak with a member of the bishopric (well, technically, he asked if my husband and I could come in and speak with him before church starts on Sunday). I'm a little anxious to find out what position it is.
I've debated with my immediate family (Eric and Susan) what the potential calling could be (anyone remember being a missionary and casting your "picks" for transfers?). There are some "definites" involved due to current events and the person extending the calling. I know the Lord will confirm this for me when I am asked, but it doesn't mean that there won't be sacrifices along the way. I WILL be glad to get to church tomorrow morning and find out what exactly the Lord would have me do at this time. In the meantime, I'll ponder about what the Lord trusts me with and the things I need to improve upon. I'm sure I'll be confronted with both with this new calling.

Birthday Gift...Sew WHAT?

I have no idea what to get as gifts for other people's children. To be completely honest, we don't hang out with anyone enough to know particular likes or dislikes. I hate getting generic things that might work. And, as a parent, I am already disgruntled with the way all the toys keep piling up and are never played with. Taking my likes and dislikes as a parent, I chose a different route.
Tomorrow we have Emily's party in the morning, and one of her friend's party in the evening. After hunting around for something that didn't cost an arm and a leg but that was also worthwhile and the kid would enjoy it...I opted for this instead.
This is a non-patterned, make-it-up-in-my-head kind of project. It's a bit wide for a 2 yr old and probably too long, too, but I had fun making it and am so in love with it that I have to make one for Emily soon.
Hey, and Kiki (Lori)...no peeking!

Dare I Say It?

I know this is a public forum. I know someone is not going to see this the way I do. Scary. Perhaps tomorrow I will wake up with FBI agents on my doorstep...it wouldn't be the first time (although, it would be more threatening this go-round)!
When I first read this, I was shocked, and, to be honest, scared. This might be the single most frightening thing I have heard or read about the health care reform. Seriously, if someone wanted to be intimidating, they accomplished it. If not, well, someone went about this in an incredibly wrong way. And, by the way, I HAVE sent inquiries to Obama's Whitehouse in regards to this issue and have not been answered, not even the cordial "we've received your email but due to the amount of inquiries we've received, it may take awhile before we can get back to you."
What, you ask, am I talking about? The latest briefing on The Whitehouse blog. Now, I can guess that they didn't really want this to come across as being a new twist on McCarthyism, but that is what it did. Tell Big Brother about your friends, family, and neighbors who are anti-HCR so they can investigate and document those involved in the proliferation of these sentiments and alleged evidences hedged against the passage of this bill.
What happened to the First Amendment to the US Constitution? This infringes upon those rights. We are allowed to disagree with bills and proposals. We are allowed to congregate and discuss our pleasure or displeasure with current affairs and ideas. We are allowed to publish (paid or unpaid) our thoughts and feelings. All of these are permissible through the First Amendment of the Constitution. Do not restrict us, or you are disregarding the reason for the establishment of this country in the first place. Things taken out of context happen on both sides. Perhaps there are things that have been misconstrued on one end, but they can be held up legally in court due to interpretation of those same words. Yes, Pres. Obama makes promises (verbal are the only ones advertised) that we can keep our private insurance/private doctor and all, but, assuming this is true, what is the cost? How much MORE does the average John Q. Public have taken from his paycheck to cover the cost of this program? We've already been paying into one that apparently hasn't fulfilled the need. There is more to this issue than a quick full-court press.
Those I have encountered in my life who have insisted upon a "now or never" deal were people who knew that what they were trying to push or sell was not worthwhile in the long run, and, given the chance to research, ponder, and pray about it, I would discover the whited sepulchre it truly was. I can only feel that this is much the same way. Don't force it. If it is all it is cracked up to be (or not to be) it will become apparent in the long run. So, my advice to Pres. Obama and his Whitehouse, relax. Enjoy the "game". Don't pressure sale the public. Don't intimidate. Don't make YOUR public feel as if they are under the Nazi regime unless that is where you want this country to be.
And, if making a statement like this qualifies me to be imprisoned, I hope someone will claim my children while I spend time emulating some heroes of mine.

My First Love

When I broke up with my first boyfriend, his mother told me, "You never get over your first love." I think this is true...but, he was NOT my first love, so I got over him fast, thus, the break-up.
My first love is literature. I grew up with a hunger to learn. I was only 3 when I learned to write my name. I remember standing behind my brothers as my mom held up flashcards of their vocabulary words and trying to blurt them out before they did. I loved the Letter People and quickly learned to devour books. I read tons of classics (thanks, Mom! It helps that she graduated with a BS in English!) as a youth. It continued on into high school and college, ultimately leading to my bachelor's in Humanities: Comparative Literature.
I have never gotten over this first love and am happy that I already see the evidence of my infatuation in my children's lives.
I've grown a fondness for historical fiction and love to read history mixed in with semi-fairy tales. Today I finished a wonderful book loaned to me by my good friend Stef. It's called Mary and Joseph, a novel by Robert Marcum. I recently finished a series called The Kingdom and the Crown by Gerald N. Lund which was about people living during the time of Jesus' ministry. This book precedes that series by talking about what Mary and Joseph might have experienced. If you are looking for a good book and to understand more of the traditions held by the Jewish nation of the time, I highly recommend it.
Now that my Reading Rainbow advertisement is finished, I really wish I had a book club with whom I could devour the "good books" of the earth. How I miss the discussion with others over classics and good reads!

School Days

I have fond memories of my first days of school. Mom packed our necessary items into large paper bags. I'd get excited at seeing the unopened box of unsharpened #2 pencils, the new binder with all the edging intact, a perfect pencil box, and the mandatory box of kleenex! Oh, and to have it all sorted into my very own brown bag which I would fold neatly for a good hand hold as I walked to school!! The smell of summer coming to an end and the beginning of that slightly musty book aroma.
Yes, it is tax-free weekend on school supplies!! I love this time of year. I get so excited. I'm not currently in school, nor do I have children of school age yet, but I can't help picking up a box of new wooden #2 pencils, a ream of paper, glue sticks and folders. It's like getting a fix. I just need it. And, I didn't mind forging through the mosh-pit of parents and students filling the needs on their school lists either. That for sure proves that it is an addiction!!
Emily is all about school, too. She loved shopping as much as I did today. I've decided to have some structured time with her this year and teach her some "preschool/kindergarten" concepts. For the past month she keeps talking about school (and some random rope that apparently is at school...I don't know, so if you can figure out what rope has to do with school, let me know) and has a sincere desire. Now for me to get ready to do this, I'll be trying out different things I've learned as a teacher in various situations. Wish me luck!