Pretty good flick

Last Friday we went out with the Barbachanos to see the movie "Eagle Eye." Now, I'm no Shia Labwatever fan. I thinks he's a bit strange . . . but he's been pretty good in a couple of movies and this one definitely helps him out. It's a really intense movie with a lot of action. I liked it . . . but when you go . . . don't go all commentator in the last few minutes or you might end up missing the final dialog like we did . . . when you see it, you'll know what I mean! It probably wasn't important whatever was said in those last seconds, but who knows . . . 

I'm stuck at home

Last Friday I went out to Eagle River . . . considered a day trip to the locals, but only about a half hour drive north from Anchorage . . . anyway, I'd tried all 4 of the Fred Meyer's in town to find the right size of boots for Emery. There were these darling snow boots that I couldn't pass up - so after failing to find the size at the 4 stores in town, I called the one out in Eagle River . . . and the lovely Russian lady (who enjoyed my name, since it's Russian and I told her my parents liked Dr. Zivago) told me they did in fact have her size in the purple/gray {plaid - a word I used, not her} boots. So I pack up the two boys and drive out there - enjoying "getting out of the city" for the day. 

We end up at the Fred Meyer only to find the boots she'd put on hold for us were in fact purple and gray, but not plaid at all. I was  mortified so I began searching the piles of boot boxes with no luck on finding the right boots in the right size. Discouraged, I decided to just look through the aisles of shoes to see if there was a good deal for any of my other 3 kids. Lo and behold, I find a small stash of winter boots in an odd spot and {heavens open to the sound of the holy choir} there are the right boots in the right size. What a relief!!! So I pick them up, find a couple other things, including a package of rolls we'd use at the duck pond and go pick up Jack from the Playplace. I get to the car and unload the two bags and box of boots - realizing that the rolls, intended for our next stop are no where in any of the bags. Weird. Jack tells me he's poopy - you know, what would my stories be without poop!?!?!?! And we head back in - I ask the cashier if she's seen our rolls and she tells me to just go get another package. So - I'm not about to run and get the rolls then hurry to the bathroom like some shoplifter. So instead I go change Jack and go back out to the car to check again. Still no rolls and by this time, the $3.19 for rolls to feed the ducks and geese is not as important to me as moving on. So we go to the next grocery store, buy a couple of our favorite donuts and a $1.39 bag of generic hot dog buns. (For those who always wondered how our grocery prices differ - eat that!!!)

We make it to the duck pond and although Jack has been commenting that he does not just want to see ducks and geese, but also elephants and giraffes - when we get to the pond, he's mesmerized by the hordes of foul and the one lone bunny. He has a blast and I'm so glad I took the boys. Sometimes things like that overwhelm me - what with the layer of green and white feces covering the tops of the deck and fence - and the stench and the gutsy little creatures that would probably nip your fingers off if you didn't just drop the piece of bread out of fear. But they had a really good time. We even shared our $1.39 bag of generic hot dog buns with another group of kids that came with their two mothers from Palmer, another 30 minutes north of Eagle River . . . they were coming INTO the big city of Eagle River. 

Anyway - enough of the ducks . . . we then head home and when we're almost to Anchorage, a strange light on my console brightens up and I notice my car catches once - like it was trying really hard to make it into gear. I just keep praying that if there's something wrong, we make it home. As we get closer and closer . . . the car is responding less and less to the gas pedal. It's just not going as fast as I'd expect it to. By the time I pull off on our exit, I'm sure it's going to coast to a stop and not make it home . . . but I gently continue to pump the gas and with a lot of prayer and hazard lights I make it into our garage with the stench of something burning pretty bad. I'm sure I made things worse by driving with it, but I just wanted to get my two boys home. So - today I'm without a car . . . which is probably just as well. I'm not 100% feeling better and would probably go out and overdo things, so I'm still going to take it easy today. The dealership couldn't take it 'til tomorrow - and then we'll see how bad the damage is. 

Just the other day I was saying how nice it is to have both our cars paid for and we're blessed to not have any car trouble. Fabulous!!! Does the new economy-boosting bill have anything in the fine print on extra funds for paid off cars??? 

I've lost my voice

It's so weird, but once or twice a year I get a cold, or allergies flair up, or stress gets the best of me and I lose my voice. I'm not sure which is the cause, but it starts with a bit of a sore throat and a day or two later I am achy and speechless - not that my lips aren't moving - but nothing of sound is coming out. It's so funny because the kids end up whispering when we're trying to communicate - I tell them they don't have to whisper, I just have to.

I wish I could figure out what it is and how to avoid it. But at least it forces me to slow down and take it easy for a day or two. Today my voice keeps cracking in here and there - so hopefully by tomorrow I'll be back 100%.

Eme's Room

So one of the things that kept me so busy a couple weeks ago was re-doing Emery's room. It was this horrid blue - including the ceiling. So I painted the ceiling white and the walls a light pinkish purple-ish, changed the light fixture, (Dan thinks it's weird to have a chandelier in a bedroom - but I think it's way too cute - and I would have loved a light like that when I was a little girl!!! plus, I really, really, really hate those typical bedroom lights - don't like their shape!), I made valances, we finally got a bed, (she's literally been on a  mattress on the floor for most of her life!) and added some accents we have been accumulating - I made the decorated canvas about a year and a half ago - and the photo is on magnets so I can change it out as she gets older. The quilt I made a few years back without a pattern and a lot of stress. Her headboard is really a little doll house - and even though I thought she'd fill it with animals and cutesie things - she's put in all her doll house furniture. There's a mirror we got from Southern Home Living on the wall you can't see - it's really cute and hangs at her height above a little end table that's part of the bedroom set. 

So, needless to say, I love the room - oh, and she does, too. I guess it's more of my childhood fantasy room, but I love being able to give my little girl a sweet, girlie, cute room. We've got so many males around here - and not a lot of opportunity to feminize the house! I added a couple of pillows I found today and I'm sure I'll be adding tidbits here and there. Man, she's spoiled!!!

I'm still a poop magnet!

So last week I smell that familiar odor in the garage . . . what? No one had anything on their shoes that I was aware of and I just didn't know where it was coming from. But Dan confirmed the smell did indeed exist in the garage . . . so after a day or two investigating - I found out there was traces of poop on my car tire. Who would-a thought? And although it was drizzling that day - we went for a full price car wash - undercarriage power spray included!

THEN . . . oh no, I'm not done yet! On Friday we had our family photos taken by the fabulous Ronalyn - she's always gotten great photos even when I'm sure the kids' less than cooperative attitudes would have prevented it. We did some shots out in the woods and wouldn't you know it . . . when we're back home I smell it again - it's getting to be far too familiar of a smell. Both Emery and Jack had some fresh poop on their shoes. Which translated to scrubbing not only the shoes but spots off the kitchen floor, hall, entryway and even front porch. Oh heaven help me! I swear I'm a poop magnet!

Dirty vs. Messy?

There are two ways I could ask this question . . .

1. Do you prefer your house to be dirty or messy?

2. Would you rather your house be clean or tidy?

Yes there is a difference. And for me . . . I'd rather my house be clean AND tidy . . . but if I had to choose . . . I wish I could say clean, but if I'm being totally and completely honest . . . I think I'd prefer tidy. Baseboards can be dirty, floor can be sticky, walls can have handprints . . . but get the shoes out of the middle of the floor!

Is it just me?

Good Book

I've been in a book club for a few years now - and this past week we reviewed "Three Cups of Tea" for our September book. It's a true story of one man who is combating terrorism in his own way - building one school at a time. His first school completed was in the little village of Korphe in Pakistan. The book tells of how this change in his life plan came about and how he got there . . . it's a fabulous story. Truth is, the actual book was hard for me to get through though. Some days I really had to MAKE myself pick it up again - but by the time I finished it, I was REALLY glad I had read it. It's amazing what this man has done. And it's amazing to me how far a small donation to this cause goes. SO - if you've ever asked yourself, "What can I do to make a difference in this world?" Read this book and/or go to this website and donate.

Sitka, Alaska

Almost two weeks ago Dan went to Sitka for the weekend on a "business trip." Some of his clients put him and another attorney up for the weekend at their Lodge/B&B/Luxury Hotel . . . It's out on this little island and they had to fly in on a little float plane . . . they took him out fishing . . . Dan says he threw up right before the fish tagged his line in the top photo. Guess the adrenaline of the fight perked him up. He had a fabulous time. The owners were more than wonderful, the food was fabulous and the experiences were one of a kind . . . I just think next time he "has" to take a trip to see these clients, he better take his wife!!! 

Crazier than Black Friday!

A week ago friday (September 12) was a big day here in Alaska! I had a fairly small list of grocery items to shop for and only a few errands. We started at the Dimond Center Mall where I wanted to get Jack a quick walk-in haircut . . . and with over half a dozen salons, I thought for sure we'd be in and out. Not so - we had to put our name on a list and wait over an hour. I was shocked. The mall was busy - almost like the holidays - and we struggled to get any purchases done while we were there. After the haircut we headed to Costco and once I saw the hordes of people pushing flat carts of TV's, furniture and other big ticket items, it dawns on me what's going on. It was the day PFD's were deposited into the residents' bank accounts. No wonder things were bustling like a huge holiday shopping day. We were very lucky this year, PFD's were big and early, plus they were accompanied be an additional chunk of money Palin kicked back to the residents for energy relief. 

So even though I didn't get anything that wasn't on my list, I still got excited and shared in the happy shopping day.

Aidan's Walking

Here's our little guy - once he figured out he could follow in others' footsteps (literally) - he would concentrate pretty hard - you could just see he was analyzing the mechanics of it all. He's such a sweet little squishy boy! I love how his walk is like a little old man waddle!

{Video Taken on September 10, 2008}

It's not like I HAVEN'T been busy!

It's been few and far between on the blog entries - I've been trying to get used to our routine now that school is well under way - along with some self-discoveries and re-prioritizing - and I've had to let the blogging slide. Hopefully I'm back . . . one of my self-discoveries {well, I've known this all along} is that I'm an all or nothing kind of girl. If I can't do something 100% and darn near perfect, well . . . I don't do it at all. Something I need to work on.

Last week I had a scrapbook class - well, really I just design (3) 2-page layouts, cut all the pieces and put them in kits. The "students" just need to assemble them. One of the layouts was about my new schedule (Some of the photos are included above):

Journaling reads:

MY new schedule-

Wake up and get on exercise clothes

feed kids

make lunches

see kids off to school

turn on TV for little ones

put baby in exersaucer

work out

get ready/eat breakfast

check emails

make beds

pick up messes

maybe do errands

maybe do laundry

for sure change diapers

do lunch

hopefully some scrapping

baby down for nap

maybe more laundry

anticipate kids coming home

watch Jack light up when they walk in

help w/ homework

get snacks

start dinner

do dishes

put away laundry

bathe/get ready for bed/read/put to bed

steal a few minutes & fall into bed

So as I try to keep up with my new schedule, I will hopefully keep you updated a little better. There are quite a few things that have happened - so keep checking, I promise I'll deliver.

I need an iphone!

Dan went on a big hike today and took my digital camera . . . I am so lost w/out that thing. It's only when it's gone that the best, most amazing photo opportunities come knocking . . . so you're going to have to believe me {until the camera's back and I can upload the proof} that Aidan is walking . . . I have a quick video of it . . . he's been so deliberately practicing lately - you can tell he's thinking about it and working out the best way to balance and turn and squat to reach the binkie and stand back up. He's so dang cute. You just have to believe me!

So if anyone ever wonders what I want . . . it'd be an iphone - I wanna text, check email, call and take photos - so whichever gadget can do all that - I want it.

Summing up a week

So it's been a few days since I posted . . . not sure why - but maybe it has to do with the internal reflection I've been experiencing. When that happens, I don't usually tell people about what's going on in my head - so I guess that bled over into my blogging . . . but to satisfy my continued desire to document my life - and to pacify those who have mentioned that I've not posted in 5 days - here is a quick recap of this past week.

Monday, Sept 1: Labor day - Emery and I bought her a bed - poor little lady has been on a mattress on the floor almost her entire life. (The bed should be here in another week or so) We went to see "Kung-fu Panda" and everyone enjoyed - that evening we had a bbq at our friends' the Hutchings'.

Tuesday, Sept 2: back to school routine. Worked on my to-do list of appointments to make. That night I met some girlfriends for a birthday party at a sushi restaurant, and although I don't eat anything identified as or related to fish, it was a lot of fun.

Wednesday, Sept 3: Emery goes to piano and begins to enjoy it again due to her father's willingness to practice with her - I love that they have that time together.

Thursday, Sept 4: There's a ward Pine-wood derby activity, but for some reason I'm not in the mood to go so Harrison and I stay home - 

Friday, Sept 5: I attend a "Time Out For Women" with some girlfriends - not excited about going in the couple hours leading up to it - but glad I went. Especially cuz  we went to Red Robin afterward and I got the fries I was craving.

Saturday, Sept 6: Attend the second day of TOFW and really enjoyed it. I re--evaluated my priorities and my actions, re--aligned my spirit, re--connected with friends. Good times.

Sunday, Sept 7: Actually shared my testimony in Sacrament Meeting - haven't done that in a while . . . but had something I had to say. Taught a great primary lesson to my class of 8-11 year olds. Made a HUGE chef's salad for Dan and I - but found the kids loved it . . . made cookies . . . had a great family day.

Monday, Sept 8: Working on my Scrapbook class I have scheduled for Saturday. Actually feeling creative again . . . 

Add probably a total of 15 loads of laundry in the past week, 15 sack lunches prepared, 4-5 big meals prepared, 5 or 6 loads in the dishwasher, and as many hugs and kisses as I could share . . . and it's been a busy week. It's funny how sometimes Dan comes home and asks me what I did that day . . . I can't think of what to tell him . . . but I am so exhausted most of those days that I just KNOW I did so much that my brain's fried. 

It's been a strange week. Lots of introspection. Lots of self-doubt. Lots of hope. Lots of family love. Lots of gratitude for my life.

"Mommy, I eat myself!"

So last night - like many nights, Jack is doing whatever he can to avoid going to sleep. It didn't help that he actually took a nap yesterday - yes, a NAP! Whew! So needless to say, he wasn't drop down tired when bedtime came . . . so he took to his normal fidgeting in bed - which means he was picking at his nails and skin around them. He's come to me a few nights with a nail hanging on by it's last life and had me pull it off quick and painless - but last night he comes down and says, "Mommy, I eat myself!" and since I understand Jack's vocabulary doesn't involve proper use of the past tense, I ask what part of himself he ate. He shows me his thumb - with a huge chunk of missing skin. Guess just picking at it this time wasn't doing the job - he had to involve his teeth and I couldn't help but laugh that he chose those words to describe it. Little bit of love, a dab of neosporin and a band-aid is all it took to help the little cutie back in bed. 

The KITE RUNNER made me weep!

Kite Runner, The | Quicktime - Trailer | Moviecentre.net

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Me: "I don't think I've wept like that in a movie in a long time."

Dan: "Ever!"

Me: "I've never wept like that in a movie?"

Dan: "Never."

I can't tell you how glad I am that I didn't read it. I probably would have been in broken spirits the entire time while reading it. Man - it was good - and so very disturbing. I just feel this horrible sadness for people living in places plagued by oppression and hate and corruption. Sure people argue that although it's sad - they don't know what life is like anywhere else. And I guess I do agree to a very slight degree - but honestly and truly . . . when something morally wrong is happening to them, when someone violates another human being, when a person is oppressed - they KNOW it's wrong. They know that something is not right with it - they know that what's happening to them just shouldn't be happening.

So yes, I wept . . . 

I cried pretty hard in HOTEL RWANDA

I cried pretty hard in SCHINDLER'S LIST

But nothing like the weeping during and for quite a while after THE KITE RUNNER.

I've rubbed shoulders with the Vice Presidential Candidate

Well, actually, she just rubbed my shoulder once. Just over a year ago Dan and I were at a Native fundraising event that Governor Palin also attended. I really wanted to meet her that night because she seemed so approachable . . . and even though I have reason NOT to like her (my husband told his brother during the Gubernatorial election that, "I'm voting for the hot chick.") . . . I can't not like her - she seems like someone I'd just like to hang out with.

So there I am, wanting to meet her . . . but about 8 huge months pregnant - and at that point, there's NO sense of self-confidence, right. So I didn't approach her. We were sitting down eating during the auction and Governor Palin is exiting the event - passes by our table, we make eye contact and smile - she rubs my shoulder and asks, "Hi, how are you?" "Fine, thanks." I say and she goes on out. Now - I don't know why she singled me out - why she acknowledged me - maybe it's because I was gigantor pregnant at the time - and she was expecting . . . although NO ONE knew that at the time. So - maybe she had pregnancy on her mind and felt a connection. Who knows - but it was kinda cool.

Now that she is McCain's running mate - it's even more cool. I am pretty impressed with McCain's choice - although totally surprised - she really is a great strategic running mate. There are a lot of reasons she's going to be great competition. I'm excited to see this race.