The Dumb Thing I Cried About Today

I'll blame it on the fact that I've been sick the past few days.

A few weeks ago I was given notice that I needed to update my drivers license picture by December 1, 2011. Oops, it didn't happen until today, December 13, 2011.

Anyway, my current photo was awesome. I'm not kidding. I think it's the best picture of me ever. I was having a good hair day, it seems. My hair is long in that picture. My smile is perfect. I look thin and young!

And today, to have to give up that picture and face what I have become (on the outside). That was really really hard. I'm not a vain person (ok, I lied about my weight too).

But letting go of that person who I used to look like on the outside was hard. It's hard because she's still who I am on the inside, but my outsides just don't show it so well any more. It's hard saying goodbye to that. No more proof of that person. Now I just have the proof that I'm a tired old mom with short hair that I'm trying to grow out and it's in this really awful funky stage. And my cheeks are too pudgy.

A few weeks ago, an older friend on facebook posted a picture of herself when she was younger - highschool/college-age. In the caption she wrote, "To remind myself of who I still am inside."

And so, when I got to my car after I got my new picture on my drivers license I cried. I cried because I didn't want that new picture to be true. I wanted the old picture to still be true.

A Day at the Zoo

This past year we've had a zoo membership which has been tons of fun. Our membership is about to run out so we thought we'd make one last trip to the zoo. We even took the kids out of school a little bit early to enjoy as much time as we could. Some of our favorites: the orangutans, tiger (he was very active), the petting zoo, stingray bay, the gnome house. Since it was our last visit for a while we decided to do some extras - like stingray bay and camel rides. I think this was one of the most fun times we've had at the zoo - the weather was lovely and we went at a time of day that was so not crowded. We felt like we had the place to ourselves! We stayed until almost closing and still hadn't seen all of the animals.

The Heat Is On

Oh how I'm aching for a cool, chilly, gloomy day! But, it appears someone has forgotten to turn off the outdoor heater.

Props to Me

I had a nice day today. I didn't feel frazzled, yet I got a lot (to me) done. So I want to give myself a pat on the back for the things I accomplished today and not get so hung up on the stuff that wasn't accomplished.

What I did:

Fed the kids - breakfast, lunch and dinner, oh and a few snacks

Volunteered in Jonathan's classroom (so fun!)

Did a few loads of laundry (including folding and putting it away - go me!)

Worked on a Christmas project

Picked Jonathan up from school

Did more laundry

Worked more on the Christmas project

Hung out with Jonathan

Took Jonathan to the dentist for a filling - he did great!

Greeted the kids when they got home from school

Helped with three sets of homework

Stuck dinner in the oven

Watched me some CSI: Miami

Ate dinner with the family

Took a walk with Carena

Cleaned up dinner dishes

Read some Little House in the Big Woods to Carena

Sometimes I feel badly about what little I've done in the day - especially when I don't really have anything to show for what I have done (i.e. a clean house). Sometimes I'll spend all day cleaning and by the time Chris comes home you couldn't even tell it was ever clean. I like having something to show for my day and am really hard on myself when I have nothing to show for my efforts. But I need to keep reminding myself that I do do a lot, even if you can't tell by the state of my house.

I Really Don't Think Makeup is Frivolous

I was trying to be sarcastic, facetious, snarky. I actually think makeup is pretty dang important and that's why I wear it.

Sometimes trying to be funny in writing just doesn't come off well. Sorry.

Carry on.

Cheap Makeup

So, the other day I noticed that I am running dangerously low on face powder. Y'know - the stuff you put on after the foundation to take away the shiny greasy spots?

Well, feeling frugal, not wanting to spend the treasured few dollars we have on something as frivolous as makeup I decided to research making my own facial powder, hoping to save millions of dollars of course by going the homemade route.

And what do I come across? The idea to use cornstarch! WHAT?!! Is it really that simple? Really? So, I tried it. And ta-da! Works like a charm. I LOVE it. But I kick myself for spending a ton of money throughout my life on the store-bought stuff when all I needed was sitting in my pantry all along.

Then I started thinking about foundation. I have pretty even skin tone so I wondered if perhaps I could get away with no foundation and instead use lotion as my foundation. Again, wonder of wonders! It's perfectly fine! I cannot even tell that I'm using lotion instead of foundation and cornstarch instead of facial powder.

Too bad I didn't know this when I was a lot younger. But I can't let the past get me down. I face the future with cornstarch on my brow and a few extra bucks in our checking account!

The Fort

One of my goals this summer was to build a fort for my children. Ta-Da!

A stool for sitting inside the fort:

One of the sticks had a handy hook for hanging a basket:

There wasn't enough room inside the fort for a table and chairs, so we set this up outside the fort:

A window, complete with curtain:

For the door we used two old feed bags and attached it to the doorway:

*pictures courtesy of Carena

Boxcar Children

Over the summer the children and I read the Boxcar Children (books 1-4). We LOVED them! IF you haven't read them, it's about four orphaned children that take up house in an abandoned boxcar.

Using that as inspiration, we decided to have our own Boxcar Day. Only we didn't have a boxcar, but we did have the next best thing - a boathouse!

For a night we camped out in the upstairs of the boathouse. We packed some yummy food for our meals and snacks and brought plenty of imagination for our own kind of fun.

The children put together a long paper chain to decorate the room we were staying in. We played some board games - old classics like Sunken Treasure and Water Works as well as Jenga. We also did some reading of the Boxcar books.

We had a simple dinner of homemade bread, canned fruit and smoked oysters. We ate at an old table in the boathouse. We had fun looking in the nooks and crannies of the boathouse - lots of little closets and storage areas tucked away.

Bedtime - the kids had some roll-out type beds. I didn't have the pleasure. Hard wooden floors are comfortable, right? I don't ever remember falling asleep that entire night.

The next morning for breakfast we had more homemade bread and berries with cream. Then we set off for a hike around the lake. It's a three mile hike. All the kids were troopers until we saw a bear lumbering ahead on the trail. Then we all felt like turning around. But he seemed to have run off into the woods, so we continued on and we are still here to tell the tale.

After that hot hike we went swimming and had some sandwiches for lunch. Sadly, it was then time to pack up and head home. But what a fun adventure we had.

Getting ready for some games:

Making the paper chain:

Dinner time:

The view from the top of the boathouse:

Swimming:

Colt's Baptism

Colt's baptism almost didn't happen. At 2 am on May 21st - the day of Colt's baptism, Colt came into our room and told me he didn't feel well. He said he felt barfy. Uh oh. Not only was he barfy but he had a pretty high fever.

Colt got a blessing from Chris and my Dad. But still, Colt was feeling awful. We decided to push through and get him ready anyway, hoping that he'd start feeling better enough to make it through the baptism. As we were getting him dressed he started feeling worse and threw up some more. We then decided to just call it quits. If he couldn't even get dressed without being sick, how on earth was he to make it through a baptism?! So, we began calling people that we knew were planning on attending the baptism and luncheon. We called it off.

Chris headed to the church to talk to people about the situation. While there, he decided that we should get Colt ready anyway. Even if Colt had to sit on a couch outside the chapel and missed the talks and the music that perhaps he'd at least make it to the most important part - the baptism. So, we rushed to get Colt ready. This time he kept everything down. Off we headed to the church! I brought some barf bags. We were all stressed, crossing our fingers that he'd be well enough.

He was feeling up to sitting in the chapel to listen to the talks and music. Of course our group was very very last to get dismissed to the baptismal font. On one hand, it would have been nice if he could have been baptized first - we could have done it quickly and gotten out of there and home. On the other hand, we were all very worried that he'd actually barf in the font - not good for the children coming after him. So, Colt was dead last to get baptized. And he made it! There were a few times we thought he was going to lose his stomach, but that sweet child is a trooper and kept every thing down.

I am so grateful that he was well enough to get baptized. And although the situation wasn't ideal I was grateful that the situation put everything into perspective of what was really important - Colt getting baptized. No longer was I worried about the luncheon, the food, whether my house was clean enough. All of our efforts and cares were on Colt and getting him baptized - where our priorities should have been from the start. I do feel badly that we didn't get very many pictures - like a picture of him and Chris in their all-white outfits and Colt with his best friend Terralyn. (I really didn't want to be moving Colt around for pictures. I didn't want to risk it) But really, it's not about the pictures.

It's a day Colt won't forget. Although he was not feeling well, there were blessings along the way that helped lift him up. One blessing in particular was that he got to get baptized with his best friend Terralyn. Sweet Terralyn who immediately bounded up to Colt to sit next to him during the talks and music, even though Colt was sick.

Not only that but Colt's uncle got to serve as a witness to the baptism. That was pretty special for us all.

We still had the luncheon for those that traveled from afar and for those that wanted to risk coming into a sick house. It turned out rather nice. But poor Colt, still too sick to eat, missed eating his favorite potato salad and CTR cupcakes. Thankfully, we had a ton of leftovers and he had plenty to eat the next day.

Colt right before we left for the church:

After Colt was confirmed a member of the Church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost

From left to right: Gary Sanchez, Chris Gunsolley, Chris Peterson, Frank Peterson, Colt (in front). They all participated in confirming Colt a member of the church. (Not shown is Terry Davidson, Terralyn's father who also participated)

Saying Goodbye to Hobie

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

They don't get any prettier than this.

One of Hobie's favorite spots in our yard: the garden. He visited it one last time. It was a breezy day and he put his head up high and felt the breeze.

Carena, last night around 3:30 am, snuggling with Hobie. He was unable to get up on the bed himself. Hobie loves Carena and each night would tuck her in.

Our sweet Hobie has left his earthly home. Last night we woke up to a wet bed courtesy of Hobie. When I checked on him I realized that he was unable to use his back legs. For the past few months Hobie has struggled with diabetes as other problems crept up. Last night we knew that he would not be getting better and there was not much more we could for him that wouldn't be stressful and miserable for him. So a difficult decision was made. We were able to say goodbye. We prayed for him. We told him how much we love him. And we let him go. A sweet spirit is now missing in our home.

Fat Content

For those of you who don't know Colt or have never seen Colt, the dude is skin and bones. He is LEAN. These past few months he's been learning about body systems. His class even took a field trip to a heart center where they learned about being healthy and basic stuff about the heart.

Colt is a serious learner. He typically believes what he's taught and will apply what he's learned.

Colt often doesn't wear much in the way of clothes and often comes to the dinner table without a shirt on.

So, one evening as we're eating dinner (I believe we were having steak), Colt's sitting there without a shirt on, and he starts telling us about how we shouldn't eat a lot of meat and goes on to tell us about fat content and how it's bad for us.

I could not keep a straight face as this kid whose ribs you can easily count is preaching to us about the ill-effects of fat.

Not only that, but he's taken to working out on a pretty regular schedule. We have a new Wii "game" with a personal trainer and workout sessions. Each day he'll come home and beg to workout. The kid loves moving around.

I love that he wants to be active and healthy. But at the same time I'd love for him to gain a few pounds. I understand the need to teach healthy habits to our children, but at the same time, I wish that teachers would take into account kids like Colt who NEED to put on a few and don't need to hear the ill-effects of fat content.

Time to serve up some lard.

New Entries on My Running Blog

In case any one is interested (and it's okay if you're not!).

http://onemeaslymile.blogspot.com/

The Cavalry

My parents were here for 2 short weeks. I always feel like the cavalry has arrived when they visit. Somehow their visits are divinely scheduled - while I'm at my wit's end, feeling lonely and needing a break. And then - ta da! - they appear, swoop in and save the day!

My mom has no qualms about fixing dinners and playing endlessly with the kids while I sit slack-jawed on the couch.

My dad has no qualms about educating me on good looking steaks at Basha's nor does he have any qualms purchasing said good-looking steaks to put in our freezer.

We were treated to many meals out, many mom-made meals in, lots of good talks and walks and visits, lots of joking, a run to Sonic, lots of errand-running and a big ol' Costco shopping spree to get our food-storage to a respectable level.

Most of all, I had two of my very best friends 24/7 for 2 whole weeks! But alas, all good things must come to an end (what a terrible saying!) and now the house is extra quiet. I've taken to cooking our meals and running errands without an entourage. The kids are lonely without their grandparents. Games were played, books were read, computer games were mastered, playing "kitchen" and "barn"were a staple during a day. But now we're back to the old boring routine.

They'll be back though . . . in two months!

"What I Did" List

For the past few months I've been keeping a daily "to-do" list. The night before I'll write down a few things I want to accomplish and make special time for for the next day. Well, I forgot to write stuff down a few nights ago, so when I woke up I was met with a blank page!

For that day I decided to write down everything I did do. Everything! I think once in a while we need to give ourselves credit for the everyday things. They certainly add up. I must say that when I went to bed last night I felt good about myself. I felt good that even without a "to-do" list my days are full and I am productive even if I don't feel like it sometimes. I need to give myself credit!

Here's my "What I Did" list for Thursday:

• Finished a book
• Played a game with Jonathan
• Cleaned the kitchen
• Helped Jonathan clean the family room
• Took a shower
• Tidied the front room
• Made breakfast
• Made lunch
• Helped Jonathan clean his room
• Talked to Mom on the phone
• Talked to Amy on the phone
• Got the kids from the bus stop and got the mail
  
• Prepared dinner
• Visited with Amy
• Went to a church activity (with Amy!)
• Washed the dinner dishes
• Read scriptures
• Tucked Colt in (we visited for a while just chatting)
• Cleaned the small bathroom
• Internet time
• Set Colt's clothes out for the next day
  

FOUR Things I Wish I Had The Courage To Do

Live in a little shack or yurt in the woods - just up and leave the world behind with no thoughts of a job, schools, health insurance, etc.

Talk to people I don't know.

Go camping - just the kids and me.

Write a book.

5 Things I Wish I Had The Courage To Do

Get my hair cut super super short.

Live in a little shack or yurt in the woods - just up and leave the world behind with no thoughts of a job, schools, health insurance, etc.

Talk to people I don't know.

Go camping - just the kids and me.

Write a book.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

In no particular order.

Family

My children

Colt's laugh

Soft blankets

Cozy socks and slippers

Hot chocolate with endless whipped cream

Nature

Reading

Autumn

Porches

Taking walks

Baking

Watching good movies

Going out to eat

Horses

Dogs

Watching Carena horseback ride

Jonathan's word for "yellow" (lellow)

My husband

The Past Few Months - In Pictures (lots of pictures)

Family Museum in Illinois/Iowa - over Thanksgiving:

A little rock climbing for Colt at the Robison Orthodontics Snow Day:

Snow Day courtesy of Robison Orthodontics

A new giant tv for Christmas. Thank you Grammy!!

Polar Express
Sometimes Santa looks different than he did previous years.

Carriage ride in Williams, before we got on the Polar Express:

My favorite part of our trip up north. I finally got to see the Grand Canyon!

I had to do it. I had to call my parents from the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon Deer Farm
Follow the leader:

Carena's orchestra concert. It was really good.

Christmas Eve day - making gingerbread houses using only stuff we already had.

One day I wasn't feeling so well. Colt told me he would make lunch so I could rest. He made pancakes and they were FANTASTIC! What a great little man.

Christmas
A kitchen - just his size:

A new trampoline! Their surprise was through the roof. Thanks Marmy and Guy!

Oh the fun!

A DSi (if you just say "DS" she'll immediately correct you - it's DSi):

The only two things on Jonathan's Santa list this year: Jelly beans and ice cream. Santa delivered!

One of many new Wii games:

Carena turns 10!
A long time coming: I finally finished Carena's scrapbooks - in time for her 10th birthday

Carena is thrilled that Colt and Jonathan surprised her with a pet mouse for her birthday:

Blowing out the candle on her Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Cake:

A new bike: