It's Official!!

My suspicions were verified! This sweet little one is a...





BOY!! :-) (We are specializing!) ;-)

A Random Fact...

**Disclaimer: This random fact is quoted from what was heard on NPR. If this information is wrong, sue them not me...(I'm telling ya, the things you learn on NPR! Such a priceless wealth of information! ;-))

Did you know that in Japan they think American/Europeans stink, as in smell bad? In fact, a huge cultural insult is to say to a person in Japan that they "smell like butter." (I presume that they think that that's what we smell like..) Who knew that butter stank so much?

(Well, actually, I did, since my olfactory abilities are in bionic territory at present :-$ ).


After some musing, I wonder if they got butter confused with cheese? I could understand the cheese thing more, like the aged ones, etc.

It's been a while...

Since I've posted, so I thought I ought to think of something to say...

so here goes...

These days I am:

*counting down the days for school to end - hoping then I can sleep in a bit
*thinking my family and friends are the best in the world and I am so blessed to have them!
*grateful to Lee and his extra special attention and care these days

*and honestly, I might as well just say it,...just trying not to throw up every second of every single day (two ultrasounds have confirmed the news)
My sister describes it as really bad motion sickness. Like you're on a really long, hot, horrible car ride that never ends and you can't even stop at gas stations to stretch a bit. I'd say that's pretty close to how awful it feels!
*trying to get used to the idea that there will be another Andelin before this year is through! --even if that little Andelin is currently only the size of a pinto bean.
*thinking that cats are not a fun thing to get just as morning sickness kicks in!
(they are cute and fun for everyone,...I just can't look at them, touch them, or even think of them without feeling my stomach lurch to my throat...so enough typing about them)
*I am on two kinds of medication this time to keep my food down, and I am off to the pharmacy to get the refills. I am past due on my dose and can certainly tell!

David was asked at church in front of the WHOLE primary where his mom was and was she sick. I told him not to tell anyone. I guess he figured that saying, "Yeah, and she will be for like the next FOUR months!!" wasn't saying anything! --So it's out--off to the pharmacy!

Kid Shows

I don't know if any of you allow your children to watch children's shows pretty much non-stop, but unfortunately, I do...and sometimes...I will accidentally tune in to what they are watching and I'm like what in the heck? How did this make tv? Not necessarily from inappropriateness, more just from sheer random dumbness! And the music! Is sooo "unmusical..' More of monotone chants trying to pretend to be a song. Yo Gabba Gabba is at the top of my list of randomness...But there are some major "doozies" (don't like that choice of words, but can't think of a replacement, if you can think of one...let me know)in many other shows as well. I so often wish I had another adult with me so that we could laugh together about it...But as it is, I laugh to myself and the children look at me like, "What's so funny?" I ought to start sensoring their children shows... because otherwise they may become monotone through training!

Here are some clips. None of the monotone songs were on clips...I'm sad I can't show you...but here are some lyrics to two of them that particularly make me laugh. I wish you could actually hear them. Especially the "Do you want to make piiieee!...Yes, I want to make piiiieee!" I sing that all of the time to my kids as a joke and instead of them seeing the hidden humor behind my singing, they just start singing along and finish the stanza for me, "I can see it in your eyeeesss!..."

Am I alone in this musing!
This song with Jack Black actually has a tune unlike many of them... so it's actually a better one. I guess the others aren't worth even airing...


This one is too long. Just start it a little passed the middle and you'll see plenty.

Now, this one...i was amazed with the subject matter and the depth in which it was discussed...It's not that I don't talk to my kids about going potty...but I'm sure do we need a whole stinkin' cartoon about it! This video doesn't show the half of it!


The Pie Training Song (Tyrone and Austin)
T- Do you wanna makes pies?
A- Yes I wanna make pies...
T- Let me see it in your eyes!
A- Yes I wanna make pies!
T- Then try this exercise... lift the pin...
A- Lift the pin...
T- Now touch the tin...
A- Touch the tin...
T- Lift the pin and touch the tin! (repeated by Austin)
Pin, tin, tin, pin, pin, tin, tin!
A- Pin, tin, tin, pin, tin, pin, oops!
T- Do you wanna makes pies?
A- Yes I wanna make pies...


B- Boinga!
M- Almost everything is boinga here, just in case you hadn't heard
Almost everything is boinga here, it's the Martians' favorite word!
U- Do you call these hands?
M- Nope, we call them boinga!
A- Do you use pots and pans?
M- Yup, we call them boinga!
B- Boinga!
P- We wear hats on our heads.
M- Really? We wear boinga
U- Do you guys sleep in beds?
M- Nope, we sleep in boinga.
Do your birds say boinga?
U- No, our birds say tweet
M- Do your flowers smell boinga?
P- No, they just smell sweet
M- Do you walk on your boinga?
A- No, we walk on our feet
M- Do you sit on your boinga?
U- No, we sit on our seat
B- Boinga! Boinga!
P- You certainly use that word a lot
M- Well, it means a lot of things, so why not?
A- Is there anything boinga doesn't mean?
M- Well, maybe there is, but not that I've seen.
P, U & A- Almost everything is boinga here!
M- We boinga all boinga long!
B- Boinga!
P, U & A- Almost everything is boinga here!
M- So we boinga this boinga song!
P, U & A- Boinga this boinga!
M- Boinga!
P, U & A- Boinga this boinga!
M- Boinga!
P, U & A- This boinga song!
M- Boinga!
P, U & A- Boinga this boinga!
M- Boinga!
P, U & A- Boinga this boinga!
B- Boinga! Boinga! Boinga

Mesa, AZ is too hot for a wedding...even in March!

I wish I was one of those people that just soaked up warmth and couldn't get enough of the sun...but I'm just not, and I still can't understand the wanting a wedding in AZ. Don't get me wrong, though. I'm really glad that my nephew's fiance/wife wanted it here though because all of the family came to us (i.e. no traveling involved). I loved it! We love Emily for Ryan and are so happy for them! And it was so fun seeing how many people we could squeeze in our house at once! I think we got up to eighteen total, actually sleeping here!... So fun! Some pictures: Poor Grandma thought that she was finding a quiet place in the shade to sit and park for a while, until suddenly....she's a bridesmaid! :-)

Two more to the family: "What can you do? When you're crazy....you're crazy!"

above quote from an old animal loving lady who was listening to my woes about how I don't know why I'm taking on more animals! Note: I'm not particularly "animal loving"..I thought!


Introducing: Bubbles and Buttons (identical Ragdoll sisters)
Soon to join the family later this week.





For more info, visit: http://www.abundantlyblessedcattery.com/

I am not allergic to cats! I am not allergic to cats! I am not....

I am in denial. Maybe if I tell myself this many times over and over again it will become true! :-@

It is only a little bit as allergies go...I hope! Plus, I heard that you can become immune to your own cat/s if you're around them enough (crossing my fingers). Besides, I'm allergic to dogs too, and I still have a "huge-amongo" one. I figure if worse comes to worse, I'll just be a daily taker of claritin or something... (honestly, I'm just praying really HARD that this will all work out)!

Speaking of my huge-amongo dog!

How could I have known that the day after we prayed hard for guidance, worked out our budget so that we could squeeze in a couple of cats and then put down a down payment for the little kittens, our dog would become almost deathly ill and have to go in for emergency surgery because of a congenital dental problem that involved teeth extraction, infected jaw bone removal, bone grafting, and bone-growth stem cells from one of the two veterinarian dental surgeons in AZ who also does surgery on lions and tigers and bears! Not cheap! Just putting our huge dog under the anesthesia broke the bank, let alone the rest. Needless to say...I was in tears!...and not just for the dog's sake!

Is The Flu Shot Really Worth the Trouble?

I am so sick! I have been completely laid out for days, since Friday! We have all been hit hard, except for Lee who hasn't been home enough to contact the illness (yet). Every centimeter of me just hurts! My kids and I have been laying around pretty much comatose all weekend. I hate feeling this way. Plus, I have serious cabin fever!

Lee worked a whole day, a whole night, and then another whole day without any sleep. The poor guy. Last night, when he was finally done with the deadline, I came and got him. I didn't want him driving home with so much sleep deprivation. He said he didn't have much real food either, just junk. So after giving him a square meal and putting him to bed last night about 9pm, he is still there (1:30pm). He told me that he was still planning on going in to work this morning, but I think that plan is shot by now. He may have wanted me to wake him up, but I'm not about to. The poor man needs sleep sometime, despite what the pressures of his job think. Maybe he'll get there by this evening....I just hope that his body, being run down, doesn't pick up this horrid virus!

The doctor says that this virus is NOT the one they gave shots for this year. But that it has been sweeping through all of the schools and is very contagious. The same thing goes for the flu virus that my kids got last month. They tested it and verified that no, it was not the same strains as the shot....

So I have come to a very important conclusion!... I am officially relinquishing all guilt that I DIDN'T get any of them flu shots this year! ;-) What a waste of time, money and hassle that would've been!

The Efforts Continue...

I actually did eventually get to that drawer, even if it was after midnight, and I now have a still totally broken, but organized drawer! I tried to "heal" Eden's heart and be a good example by showing her what I had done the next morning. Once I did, I wondered if it was such a good idea after all. Watch her eyes! I knew exactly what SHE was thinking! Stuff like this....toddler heaven! (and dental floss is a personal mess making favorite of hers) ;-)



But see, that was relatively easy because most of it didn't have a lot of sentimental attachment. The other stuff is harder. Take this for instance: Last week, I was going through a pile of stuff by my bed trying to keep my heart out of it. Using only my head and dumping whatever was taking up space. When I got to this heart, I had to stop and evaluate. It's two Valentine's Day old. Luke made it and it's actually an envelope to put all of your valentine's in it. It had been laying around my house for a long time last year until I finally put it away with my children's artwork. Then it laid around again this year after Luke brought it out so that he could make me valentine's and put them all in there for me... But now it's trashed, torn and it's big. So what do organizers say in this case, take a picture of it! So that's what I did... evidence above (and notice the shout out to Sink Reflections?...not staged). In fact, I took SEVERAL pictures close-ups, different lighting, etc....I even took a video of the thing! And when all was said and done, I picked it up, put it over the trash, took one long last look at it while storing my memories of Luke's pride and love in it,.... and then stuffed it right back in the drawer! After all of that! It ended up meaning more to me after all of that! With all of my thoughts directed to Luke and his beautiful, sweet soul!....sigh....so I'm thinking it's pretty much hopeless for me and my "blue" color-code personality!

Guilty...and THANK YOU for all of the great lunch ideas!

The Arizona Republic has as a headline in one of its sections: "Clutter and Calories: Experts link a messy home to overeating" Just reading that both made my heart sink and was an "ah-hah" moment all at the same time. Who would've thought that the two greatest trials of my LIFE would be "linked" together? All I can say is, "Yes. I am guilty."

My question is, so what then? The article says, "If your cupboards hold random foods instead of the makings of a nutritious meal, and if you can't find the right utensils, clean dishes or even a clear spot to set them, clutter trumps your good intentions." Which is why you go for something easy which is not as healthy. Okay, I definitely understand that one ...so moving on, then the article says, "simple room-by-room changes can help you turn a house that's making you fat into one that allows you to make good choices easily, supporting the life you envision for yourself." Okay, I'm envisioning..... so what now....then it goes through a list of all of the same organization tips and diet tips everyone already knows.

The article seems to be saying, "well, duh, organize your house and then everything will be wonderful including your weight." As if the cause is the lack of organization. I can see that they both could be related to each other, but I question, "is clutter really the cause, or could the two both be symptoms of the same cause?" Is "Whatever it is" causing both of those things to be present in my daily life? For instance, could it be lack of energy? lack of focus? lack of know how? lack of emotional health? lack of mental health? Or hey, maybe it could even be lack of physical health....maybe they are just negative feed backs of each other and tend to propel one and then the other until you're in a hamster wheel and can't get out! Or, heavenforbid, dare I say it?... laziness!

I don't know. But I do know that there is a slower, sluggishness about me that I don't sense in other more clutter-free people. I also know that there are times when I have eaten completely healthy and there are times when I have felt organized, sometimes for extended periods of times, but I then seem to crash and can't seem to keep up with the energy that is involved to sustain such a life style....and then the guilt creeps in.

I'm trying to remember if those times coincided with each other...maybe they did. Actually, yes, I would say two of the times that I remember the most is when we lived from home and had to leave all of our furniture and "stuff" in storage units. But, that is not realistic longterm. I can't keep all of my stuff and furniture in storage units for the rest of my life (though I do know some people who do).

I don't know, maybe clutter causes so much nagging mental stress, that it causes depression and the depression keeps you from having energy to exercise and eat right.... or maybe it's only a state of mind and if I change my attitude to a "I think I can" type of attitude all would change... I don't know!

But what I do know, is that to "just get clutter free" as the article suggests, for me, at least, is a lot easier said then done!

Anyway, food for thought...

BTW, The man who prompted the article wrote a book called, "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" ....again....ouch!...;-)

----
While I'm divulging, I might as well go all of the way and SHOW you what I'm talking about...Aaah! Okay, I stop right here to give a...

Warning: If you do NOT like me, I would strongly suggest, and even demand, that you stop reading about right....NOW! (This is stuff I'd only tell people that I could imagine as my friends, not my enemies....just too much fuel for your fire, let me tell ya, spare yourself, you just do not want to go there!).... okay, wait..... NOW!

True story: I am currently reading the book, "Sink Reflections" as per my sister's request. It was on the floor by my bed with my regular pile of clutter and David picked up out of the blue, opened it up and read out loud one line, "'As the kitchen goes, so goes the rest of the house'...[lifts eyebrows as he looks at me with earnest eyes]. That definitely is true in our house. You need to read this! I'm going to put a book mark here for you." Then he got a sticky note and stuck it there...as to not get lost.

So, since I have NO shame ;-) I will show you my kitchen right now, speaking of clutter... Freak, is it already 1:49pm! I haven't done anything worth speaking of today besides this post!...sorry, a tangent...okay, so Here are my counters...

Now the REAL divulgement (if that's even a word...nope. It's not, I just looked it up. Oh well, not changing it. I like it! and you get the point) is that LAST week my friend came over and helped me organize that counter!....AND! I'm really embarrassed to say this..I payed a lady only yesterday to clean my house. And she straightened and wiped my counters!... and since we're on the topic of healthy eating, notice tortilla chips and marshmallows (Eden is eating a cupful of marshmallows right now that she got for herself because I haven't stinkin' FED the girl!) And the next one...(notice the dehydrated leftover mac'n'cheese in the pan from...I'm not sure when..because (AAAH! I can't believe all that I'm divulging!) I didn't even make mac'n'cheese yesterday for lunch...that was Top Ramen!
Is it really as bad as all that? Yep, that's the honest to goodness truth! But still, I'm smiling, (now this is the crazy part) and my kids, though starving, seem to be happy for the most part. I think, I actually like my life! (except for those two hateful topics previously mentioned)

Lastly, when I went to take a picture of my most embarrassing bathroom vanity drawer,... since it's totally broken,... I totally dropped the whole thing after pulling it out too far! Then I just left it there thinking that this is the perfect opportunity to organize it! .... just,.. not now.... I've got to finish this too long of a post (sigh,... but what does one expect when they are "divulging" their biggest weaknesses)...



Finally, the worst part is that I'm unwittingly passing all of this emotional baggage on to my children (think: David's comment) and see below Eden's reaction to the mess. It's all very telling!

But then, aren't there some scriptures that tell us we're supposed to have weaknesses in this life? yes? [think, Ether 13:verse...whatever it is] Oh, good! That makes me feel better. I can think of it this way! I am helping my children to have the need to go to Christ to ask for HIS help to remove from them all of the baggage that I have caused them. I could think of it as bringing them closer to Christ, right?;-) Okay, I know...but seriously, all of this would be more than I could bare if I didn't KNOW that He is there for me and can help me to be the mother He wants me to be. Through Him I can make "weak things strong"... though it may take a lifetime of effort and faith and prayers. But, in the meantime, He can help me to have peace and love in my heart. In the end, isn't that what matters most in order to bring us happiness in this life and the life to come? I think so.

But in the meantime, I better, with a prayer in my heart, get off of my, what that book talked about, and get my children some lunch...love ya bye
---

Speaking of: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you all, for all of the great lunch ideas!

I have a long list of new ideas including, bagels, pepperoni, All-Bran crackers, corn dogs... hey, and I just thought, I have frozen chicken nuggets(also remembering my lack of healthy eating, [tinge of guilt], but I have to overlook the fried part right now for the sake of getting some protein in them), why didn't I EVER think of that!

Anyway, thanks everyone!

P.S. Amber! long time no talk! it's great to hear from you!

P.P.S. Nichole, to answer your question, hot lunches are $1.75 for my kids. In itself isn't a lot of money, but after I multiply it per kid and amount of days it begins to accumulate.

P.P.S. Cher I've never gotten a comment from you I don't think! How fun! Great ideas! I love you guys! I'm praying for Jason.

An Evil, Dying, Screeching Owl

Is what my loving and gracious son says that I sound like during my voice lessons..... Sheesh!
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Good thing we're going to have our FHE lesson on "Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words to Eachother" tonight! Sounds like prime time for such a lesson!..... ;-) Can you say, "guilt trip"? ;-)

"Green" Husband + Weeds + HOA =...... a Fire?

Lee is always looking for ways to be kind to nature and the earth. When it comes to the weeds that grow in the front yard we try to keep them under control the good, old-fashioned way... pulling each one out by hand. But in Spring after a rain they start to pop up faster than our hands can pull....and so we get letters from our HOA threatening to charge us. They drive by all of the houses every week (on Tuesdays at 12pm, to be exact) to make sure that there is not one green thing popping out from our rocks.

So, to combat the deluge of HOA letters, Lee came home feeling very triumphant the other day. He was carrying, "The Inferno Torch"! (made especially for weed killing, I guess) and a propane tank, assuring that THIS was the best chemical-spray-free way to deal with the weeds.

So, Saturday was THE day to try it out. I was inside the house and all of a sudden, a loud sound came from outside the front door that sounded not unlike a plane trying to land on our house!

After cautiously checking it out, I found that it was none other than the studly, green, "Inferno Man" with a huge blast of inferno at the end of his arm. My first thought was, "my goodness, the whole neighborhood's going to come out to see if a plane IS falling on them with all of this ruckus!" But, Lee was so proud of his new found toy that it only took me a half a minute of watching before I started to get the giggles and decided to go get the camera. I was really glad that I had when things began to get a little out of control for the Inferno Man.... and a little "gigglier" for me!

Here's the video: (note: The video does NOT do the noise that this thing makes justice. It was REALLY loud!... what about noise pollution?)







Before Inferno Man:



After Inferno Man:


After (close up):

Sack Lunch Woes

My boys are hard to pack lunches for, because they aren't keen on sandwiches. I have sent sandwiches in their lunches just to have them return the same way they went out (only warmer and more mushed). At one point they would only eat pb&j's and I got so tired of making them every morning that using the idea of Uncrustables, I made my own.
I made them in mass and froze them. That made lunch making quick and easy every morning. But alas, they got burned out on them and won't touch them now.

So can you help? What other reasonably priced ideas do you have besides sandwiches to feed them. Right now I am trying crackers and cheese, but who knows how long it will be before they are tired of those.

Improvement in Reading?

I was so proud of Eli and his "Improvement in Reading" certificate, yet, it was on the fridge for a couple of weeks before I noticed this funny irony! Maybe spelling needs to be the next focus...

I Love Rain...and Internet is Not Good For ADD Brains

It's raining hard tonight and I love it! It rains so seldom that it doesn't depress me, instead it comforts me.

You know the feeling that one gets when he/she walks into a room on an errand, gets sidetracked and then walks out of the room without accomplishing the first errand in the first place. That sort of feeling plagues me! In fact, it sometimes takes me several minutes or hours before I remember that I had the other errand in the first place!

I don't know if it's me and my ADD or just normal busy mom syndrome. But I feel that way A LOT....and the internet does not help matters! In fact it's worse. I can get so sidetracked in emails or blog or googling or researching and reading when I was supposed to...say, renew my library books or something! And then it never gets done, even though I was on the computer for an hour. Now I have an enormous library fee as a result!... [muttered under breath]ergh! I hate the stupid library anyway...

Explanations of Cartoon Characters

Comments from previous post...

Jenny said...
Oh, Lee is totally Simba! I had to think about it for a second, but then it totally fit. I can't see you as Belle, though. Remember how she liked to sit around and read? And how she's not very social? That's just not you.

Emily said...
Cute! I don't know who Franny is though...but you and Lee that is a good fit. :O) Thanks for being a good sport! :O)


Good point Jenny. This is my reasoning: I thought of using someone like Arthur's or Little Bear's moms or Nala, but the characters are too one sided and you barely get to know much about them other than their being mothers (or girlfriend). So I decided I was going to pick someone who is a main character so that there is more complexity in her personality. And out of the women main characters, I figured that Belle is most like me in that she is a stronger character. She can stand up to the Beast and isn't a sweet, little, pansy type, as this picture illustrates...



She has ideals and dreams, but isn't swayed by the social pressures of her small village...and definitely DOESN'T swoon at the catch of the town because she sees through the facade (I hate Hollywood and all of the movie stars people swoon at). Yes, she reads and has her head buried in a book. But, if you saw me lately, if my nose isn't in a book I'm listening to one on audio or to talk radio (NPR is my personal favorite... best of which is "Science Friday" on "Talk of the Nation"). To me it is the same strong mindedness and stubborn thinking I have. Besides, Belle IS social... with those that she wants to be...like teapots and furniture! :-)

Emily, Franny is from "Franny's Feet" click here to see an episode: Franny's Feet

Tag From My Sister: If You Had to Be a Cartoon Character...

What personality would suit you best?

Lee: Simba

Bethany: Belle

David: Arthur

Eli: Little Bear

Luke: Calliou

Eden: Franny

Kiva: Pluto

The Comment From My Friend in China

about the boys' Mandarin.

Lori said...
WOW!!! They sang it perfectly and yes, it is a VERY common song. Everyone in China knows it. So cute!! It is so cool that they are learning Mandarin. I am excited to show this, as well as their writing, to William and the kids. I will post more of what our kids are doing in school on the blog. Tell your kids their singing is "hen hao". Love ya!


So cool! I'm so glad that the boys are really learning the language instead of just thinking that they are -- Hey, I sure wouldn't know! I read it to the boys and they were happy. David told me that "hen hao" means "really good". Eli said that his teacher tells them that a lot to say "good job". I asked them, "which is it, really good or good job? They both said, "Both. Same thing!"

Christmas Tag

CHRISTMAS SURVEY

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. Whatever I have on hand, though bags are sure easier, just more expensive.

2. Real tree or artificial? I love real for the smell, but someone gave us an artificial tree one year (7 yrs. ago) when we felt especially poor... and we 've never felt rich enough to buy a tree ever since.

3. When do you put up the tree? Whenever I can cope with it.

4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever I can cope with it.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yum...except I like to add milk so it's not so sweet and thick.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? roller skates, a sewing kit with a certificate saying that I would have sewing lessons from my Mom (she taught me how to sew and I made an outfit that I liked) and dolls (I loved baby dolls, even as an older girl)

7. Hardest person to buy for? Lee

8. Easiest person to buy for? my kids

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, a few

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? :-] Neither...bad huh!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Doesn't exist! If it's a gift to me, it's wonderful!!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Not until December...only because of lack of planning.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? um...Everything!

16. Lights on the tree? of course! ....I do like the old fashioned big bulb colored ones, it's nostalgic

17. Favorite Christmas song? All

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? either, depending on the year

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? yep'm...Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder (that was the original spelling), Blitzen....and of course, Rudolph!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We happen to have an Angel, but no preference really.

21. Open the presents? One Christmas Eve (pajamas) that Santa (Lee) brings in person. The rest in the morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? It comes faster and faster each year.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? The retro multi-colored big bulb lights

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Don't care. But Christmas Eve we always have a huge Smorgasbord buffet, yumm!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? My kitchen is falling apart every appliance and/or dish and/or pot is broken or on it's way out...something along those lines.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Emily Rasmussen, when she's up to it after her baby having come this week. Congratulations Emily!!!

Mandarin song...

My boys have a regular Chinese class where they learn some culture, along with learning to write and speak some Mandarin. Here they are singing a little song they learned.

My beautiful friend, Lori, lives in China, qiansinchina.blogspot.com so with her help she can tell us if this sounds at all like Chinese. Lori, is this a common song sung by the children?

Translation: My boys say that it's about two tigers that are friends. "One has no ear and the other has no tail. Aren't they a silly pair?"
Oh, and they count to ten...




Eli practices writing his numbers

This Thanksgiving I Was Thankful For...

Cheaper Gasoline!

It made it possible to take a quick trip home to California, to see family for the weekend. Though we had planned on it for months, the budget for this month was just not going to allow it. Until, that is, gas practically halved its prices since the Summer. It was a great surprise and a blessing that we were able to make the trip and still stay within our regular monthly gas budget. It truly was great to go home for Thanksgiving. I just soaked it up and feel warmed and better for it. Thanks to my family for welcoming us (and the dog). We love you!

[sorry no pictures. I left the camera at home by accident].

I'm still "Weirding OUT" that I live in Phoenix!

Nevermind that it's been 3 years, it's still a bit weird to me....

An actual, bonified conversation this morning:

David walks into our room and shutters while commenting on his being cold...and then exultant he says, "Hey, it's been a LONG time since I've shivered!"

Lee: Yup, it's not very often that you get the opportunity to shiver in Phoenix!

Me: Yeah, so you better take advantage of the opportunity and shiver away!

Crazy fact: Our house was 70 stinkin' degrees!...Brrrr!

Eden Turns 2!! Princesses, Broken Arms & Thank You Video for Grandmas

The Discovery of Princesses:

I've been sort of holding out on the princess thing with her, but she went to a friend's "Princess" Birthday Party and has not been the same since! She got princess stickers there and afterward had to have them with her night and day. She wouldn't even take a bath without them! Now everything is "princess."

At the princess party: (Boys were princes/knights)




Notice David's broken arm? He had the cast on for a month, got it off last week and now is good to go!


Eden's 2!!!




She got stuff (bed, stroller, bouncer, etc.) for her doll(s) and other things from her Grandmas. This Eden highlight video is especially for them...

Halloween Pics.

Eden: Tulip Fairy
Luke: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle & Superman
Eli: Ninja & Pirate
David: Green Power Ranger

The Final Countdown!

I thought I'd change the music on my blog to something more appropriate to the feeling of the day! I hope everyone votes today!

Arizona is voting on adding the definition of marriage to the state constitution today like California. We are FOR the proposition as our leaders of our church have asked us to support it as the family is the backbone of our society and it needs to be supported.

This morning David said a morning prayer. I asked him to remember the people of the country in his prayer, that people would vote and they would choose what is best for our country and to pray for the prop. on marriage. I take it he didn't quite understand what "prop." means because when he prayed, he prayed that we would vote for the "proper marriage"....hey, that works too!

Belligerent Blogging

One of my good friends sent me this email. I love her humor and I've been after her to start a blog for some time. She had been against it for a while, but I'm excited to see that she finally gave in... albeit "belligerently." :-)

she wrote:

"Bethany, I started a blogless blog (no pictures, no family pride etc.). I don't know how well you appreciate my dark humor, but if you need to feel better about your life, go to: belligerentblogging.blogspot.com Love, Jenny"

It makes me laugh, 'cause I guess I should have known that if she was going to start to blog, she could only do it this way! But that's one of the reasons I like her so much! She's mostly talk though. She's has a lot more fun, humor, kindness, caring and love in her than belligerence! :-) (...shh! Don't tell her I told you though...it's suppose to be a secret!) ;-) I love you Jenny! Welcome to the blogging world! ~Bethany

History Has a Way of Repeating Itself

Year:1997
Place: Catalina Island, CA
What: We went on a honeymoon trip. First night there, I got sick. No way to get to the hospital (no cars). We walked to ER in middle of night. Didn't return 'til early next morning. Spent whole next day asleep recovering.



Year: 2008
Place: Coronado Island, CA
What: We went on "anniversary getaway". First night, got same illness (haven't had it in years!). Didn't have to walk to ER this time, though almost had to(found a cab). Didn't return 'til 4am. Spent whole next day in bed recovering. Bummed to miss the sailing we'd planned.

It was beautiful though!

What Kind of Green are You?

I love personality tests. My friends did this one and I was surprised how accurately it explained them. I decided to do it myself to see if it could accurately capture me. What do you think? What are you?

You Are Mint Green

Balanced and calm, you have mastered the philosophy of living well. Your friends seek you out for support, and you are able to bring stability to chaotic situations. You're very open and cheerful - and you feel like you have a lot of freedom in life. Your future may hold any number of exciting things, and you're ready for all of them!

What Color Green Are You?

Eli says

Eli said that I'm good at making people cry!

Luke got in trouble and had to "lose a privilege". I asked Luke what he thought would be a fair privilege. Eli was listening and discussed with us a bit what the privilege should be. When I told Luke what it would be, Eli said, nodding his head with a wise demeanor, "Yeah, that's a good privilege. Mom you're a good 'Lose-a-Privileger'!" I replied, "I am, huh?" "Yeah," he said, "you're good at makin' people cry." For the record, it didn't make Luke cry. I think he knew that he deserved it and so it WAS fair. But still, I get the bad rap.

I guess that's the way with Moms, we've gotta know how to make them cry.

My Domestic Side and Pig Tails

This is what I've been doing lately... Now, I still have lots of tomatoes to do. My house seems to complain at me for the neglect. But fruits and vegetables just don't wait. The mess does though...it waits, and waits, and waits for me to take charge(while it grows, and grows, and grows)...too bad!


Eden can now wear a tiny semblance of pigtails! A huge milestone for me! ;-)