Take Five

So I got tagged and I have to tell five things about myself. I have no trouble with talking about myself, but I wanted to come up with things that not everyone knows, and that is a little harder.
I have put a lot of thought into this and here it goes:

1. Although I am very satisfied staying at home with my young children, and while I was a teacher for eight years, I keep thinking of other careers I could have. I think I would enjoy being a wedding planner. Weddings are always happy times, and I put my own wedding together in five weeks. So I think it would be fun to do that all the time. Or I keep thinking about being a school counselor. Either elementary or college. I've already taken some classes in that direction. And after a successful run at the church talent show, I considered being a Broadway singer--except I really hate auditions, so maybe I'll just stick to the church choir.

2. I have really followed politics this year. At the Nevada Caucus in January I was a precinct captain and a delegate to the Clark County Republican Convention (not as big as it sounds and I left halfway through). I have been watching the Democratic National Convention on C-SPAN (that is serious business). I mostly agree with the Republican philosophy, but I also agree with what the Democrats are saying about the environment. I think it would be good for everyone (as in saving more money) to be more energy efficient and develop alternative sources of energy. Politicians have been talking about that for so long though, I don't know why something more hasn't been done. I am looking forward to the Republican National Convention next week to see what they have to say. (P.S. I'm really peeved at Harry Reid right now for talking smack about Mitt Romney.)

3. I enjoy yoga. I like the bending, twisting, stretching, and breathing. I feel so loose and relaxed after about half an hour; after an hour I am actually sweating, so it's a good workout. The phrase that they say at the end of a yoga session is "Namaste" (nah-mah-stay). It means "The light in me salutes the light in you." I really like that sentiment. I try to do yoga about twice a week. I have it recorded from BYUTV Total Body Workout so I can do it in the comfort of my own home.

4. I don't care much for dogs. I don't like how they jump on you, or their smell, or their licks, or how you have to clean up after them. I prefer cats because they clean up after themselves and they come around every once in a while for some affection then go on their way.

5. My shortcoming (the biggest one) is being organizationally challenged. When I was in high school I got mostly straight A's. Pretty much all I had to concentrate on was school and extra-curricular activities. My mom cooked dinner and washed my clothes. In college when I had to cook and clean for myself, my grades went down because of my lack of organization. Then when I was working and taking care of a husband and a child, my lack of organization was readily apparent by the state of my house. I've learned some systems that have helped me in the past few years, but still, organization--not my thing.

Okay, here's a bonus: Five of my favorite things. 1. The color red. 2. Hanging out with my family. 3. My own sweet beautiful children 4. American Idol David Cook 5.Blogging!

Now I tag Danette, Natalie, Kristen, and Charmayne Packer (if she ever checks her blog).

Back to Preschool

Today was Lance's first day back to preschool; Junior Junction is the name, hence the caboose in front of the school. This is his second year of preschool, but I still got choked up when I said goodbye. He goes Tuesday and Thursday mornings. This is what he said about school today, "It was great. I had fun. I like all the new students." I wanted to get a picture of Lance with his teacher, but two little girls were having a total meltdown and the teachers had to intervene.

P.S.-This is what Lance did during a brief thundershower yesterday. Hilarious!

So Long Superman

My brother Brandon and his wife of five months are moving to Idaho soon. This has caused me to reflect on Brandon, the seventh child in our family.

These are some famous quotes from Brandon: "Call me Roy" (Upon being introduced to the missionaries who came for dinner.) "Mom, Carmen's not mad at me. She said "Thanks for eating my pork chop, Brandon "(This was what he said after I came home from work and discovered that he had indeed eaten my pork chop. He was eight years old at the time.)

Brandon is also famous for producing and directing movies starring all the nieces and nephews after family dinner. We will miss the after-dinner shows.

And who could forget the "Mr. Vacation Man Vacation Presentation"? Each family was supposed to present an idea for a family vacation. Rather than a specific vacation idea, Brandon presented himself as a travel agent encouraging us to "Let Mr. Vacation Man plan your next vacation." Who wouldn't want that after watching all Brandon's friends doing the conga around Sonic?

Brandon can always be counted on to help out. Here are some things that I personally have said to Brandon: Brandon can you help me install my over-range microwave? Brandon, can you please come over and entertain my two-year-old while I rest from being up all night with a newborn? Brandon, can you pick us up because our car is in the shop getting work done?Brandon, can you come over and teach my children about being a missionary? If he was available to help out, he would. Brandon, can you please stay in Henderson and make more movies and wrestle with my boys, and give my children more cousins to play with?

Well, I guess everyone has to make their own way in life. Cara, please take care of our brother. God be with you til we meet again. I have to go. I can't see what I'm typing and I think my heart is bleeding.

The Other Side of Lacey Smiley Facey

This is Lacey having a fit:






First she gives me the "What are you going to do about it?" look.





Then she pouts.





Then she crumples in a heap.








Then she cries.





Just wanted get it on the record that , although rare, Lacey can throw a tantrum.

The Grinch's Car

Alex has the boys convinced that the Grinch is real (also Bigfoot, but I'm trying to fight that one). So one day when they were out in the desert they discovered an old car and Alex told them it was the Grinch's car. They have visited there several times. On a recent trip they went to see it and it was gone. I guess the Grinch drove it back to his house.

Let Them Be Little

A few weeks ago I took the kids to two different events without Alex. One was a family reunion and the other was a campaign pool party at a local city pool. The kids seemed to have a good time at both events, but I did not. I was busy making sure they didn't get lost or kill themselves. It was frustrating because I wanted to visit and relax, but there wasn't too much of that for me. So the day after the pool party, I was looking at my sister-in-law's blog (Hafen Zoo) and she had this song on her playlist. "Let them cry, them them giggle, let them sleep in the middle. Oh, but let them be little." Well, I was just bawling. I won't have to look after them every second for very much longer, and I'll probably be sad when I realize that they don't need me as much. This song is also appropriate because Alex loves it when the kids crawl in bed with us (me, not so much). But after hearing this song, I felt much better and less frustrated. That is the power of blogging!

Grandma Sharon

My mother-in-law Sharon recently retired from nursing after almost 25 years. She had this career while being a single mother of three and a grandma of eight. In all the time I have known her, I have never heard her say that she was too busy to help others, especially her family. She was the Relief Society president, then spent weekends tending to her ailing mother until she died, and can be seen currently as my interior decorator/babysitter/road rash bandager/house organizer. Sharon doesn't think she has many talents, but they don't have talent shows for multi-tasking, and cooking, and managing a household, and re-covering chairs, and painting, or else she would have a room full of trophies for those talents. If you know Sharon, you know the words to the song "Because You Loved Me" are spot on for her. (If this song is not playing, scroll down to the Playlist and select it.) We love you, Grandma Sharon. Thanks for everything you do!

Sunset at Sonic

One of our favorite places to go as a family is Sonic. Before a could of years ago, I could count on one hand the number of times I had been to Sonic. Now we go there twice a month, sometimes once a week. We can wait at the tables or stay in the car while our beskated server brings us our order. Usually the kids get ice cream and Alex and I get soft drinks; I particularly like diet cherry limeade with vanilla. Last time we went I splurged on a fried ice cream blast. It's big fun for the kids and relatively inexpensive. I don't mean to sound like an ad, but if you haven't been to your local Sonic lately, get in the car with your kids and go have some ice cream.

Lacey

Before Lacey was born, I wanted to name her Felicity which means great happiness. Knowing her disposition now, that would have been entirely appropriate. She is the happiest baby I have ever seen. She is always full of smiles and giggles. She charms people everywhere we go, and I often get compliments from random people in the store about what a cute, happy baby she is. She makes me want to have another baby so that another child can have the privilege of having Lacey for a sister. She wants to play with her brothers in whatever they are doing and will swipe their toys just so they will chase her. She is very smart and is picking up new words every day. She's also physically strong. When she was inside the womb, it used to hurt when she kicked me. I can see her being a gymnast someday. Mostly she's congenial, but she also has a little temper. First she looks at me with a pout, then she falls to the ground, then she cries. It's actually pretty cute. I don't know what I did to deserve it, but I think I got the best of the best in the little girl department.

Luke

You know that kid running up and down the aisles during church? Well that's Luke. Whereas Lance is shy, Luke is brave, and sometimes he pushes the limits of what he can get away with. Don't let this innocent look deceive you. Something mischievous is going through that head. Whenever he does something wrong, he tries to distract me so he won't get in trouble. That day at church when I had to run after him and quickly escort him out of the chapel, he gave me tons of kisses. Who could be mad at that? He may be a master manipulator someday. Luke loves superheroes. Batman, Superman, Power Rangers, Spiderman. He wants me to pick him up so he can stretch out his arms and "fly" through the house. This middle child will certainly get attention one way or another.