To my Arizona friends!

I am going to be in Arizona (East Valley area) January 21-23. It's going to be a very quick trip, but I would love to see as many people as possible while I'm there. I'm actually coming for my youngest brother's wedding--so I will be doing wedding things for part of the time and I won't have a car. But, I would love to see anyone down there who wants to see me. Please leave me a comment and let me know so we can work out something with scheduling! :)

Announcing...

We are thrilled about the newest forthcoming arrival to our home! We just purchased a new kitchen dining set and can't wait until it gets here in a couple of weeks. We went shopping this morning with the express purpose of buying a table and chairs. We're currently working from a 4x2 plastic folding table and it's just not working so well. I found a local store that was having a huge sale and decided to head on over. They had 2 locations across the street from each other--and at the second store, we found a table and chair set that I LOVED. The only problem was it was cream/oak and my kitchen is red/white/black. So, knowing that the selection at those stores was smaller than the main location 9 minutes away, we took the drive to the main location. I found the exact same set at the main store, but realized there was a black chair among the cream. After talking with an associate, we discovered that the set did indeed come in black and because they're consolidating their locations to the main store, it was an extra 10% off. SCORE! I was (obviously) more than excited. They had all 8 chairs in stock, but had to order the table, so that will be arriving in 2-4 weeks. I can't wait until it gets here! Until then, here's a pic of the set... (We didn't get the bench--just 8 chairs.)

We made it!

We're here! As much as I've missed blogging in the past week or so, I'm really not feeling like doing a huge post tonight. So, here are the essentials...Our trip up was great. The girls were perfect little travelers. They missed naps, didn't get meals on-time, etc., and didn't have any major meltdowns or arguments at any point on the way here.

Kallie did wake up crying inconsolably after an hour of napping. Turns out she just needed to go potty. Unfortunately, we were nowhere near a rest stop, gas station, or other bathroom access area. Fortunately, we were in the middle of nowhere and Kallie didn't mind making yellow snow. (Whew!)

The Seattle area was supposed to have a HUGE snowstorm this afternoon, (the biggest since 2002, if that means anything to anyone), so we left our stopping point early this morning and enjoyed perfect weather and decent roads the entire 2nd half of our trip. It has, however, been snowing for the past few hours, (not normal for this area), and we just found out that church is canceled tomorrow.

We're hoping to have our truck delivered on Monday or Tuesday, but I suppose that will depend on how things end up with this storm. I am more than ready to be in our own place again. I feel like we're within inches of FINALLY having a spacious home...and it's all I can do to keep myself patient in the mean time.

Hmm...I guess I felt like writing more than I thought. Our internet service won't start until about Dec. 30, but we'll be back (or still) at my in-laws over Christmas. So, hopefully, I'll have more blogging to do at some point before then...

P.S. My friend Charissa is hosting her monthly Scentsy giveaway. Head on over and check it out! You can win 3 Scentsy bars--which come in the YUMMIEST flavors!!

Signing Off...Temporarily

I can't believe this weekend has finally arrived. When we came back from our house hunting trip, it seemed that the 4 weeks until we moved would never come. But, there are packed boxes stacked all over our apartment. The walls and refrigerator are completely bare and the second-hand donation pile is growing a bit every day. And, we're finally ready to finish the job. Although we're not packing the truck until Saturday, we're packing our bags and moving ourselves up to my parents' house on Friday to stay for a few days (possibly a week).

This means that the next 2 days are crunch time for us. Ryan's staying home from school so we can get it all done. People in the ward have offered to babysit, so I'm taking them up on the offer so we can be more effective with the short amount of time we have. I'm just really glad I've been packing a box here and a box there for the last 2 weeks. And, although a small apartment means you're living on top of each other, at least it also means there is less stuff to haul away when all is said and done.

With all the packing, my computer will be going down tomorrow morning--I probably won't even turn it on when I get up. And, I will be away from blogging until we get internet service set up at our new place. Which may not be for a while. So, next time I write, it will be from our new place in Seattle!

Do you beleive in MAGIC?

MAGIC Marker is what Whitney climbed onto a stool to grab yesterday while I was in the back of the house. I found it all over my countertop and linoleum kitchen floor when I came out to see what she was doing.

MAGIC is how I would describe my reaction. I put her in timeout without raising my voice.

MAGIC is the type of Eraser I keep around for just such emergencies. It was an old MAGIC Eraser, however. While it took every speck of evidence off the countertop, the floor did not fare so well.

MAGICally, I was able to find some great advice on the internet. I doubted it would work, but was willing to try anything.

Like MAGIC is how the combination of toothpaste and baking soda (and a little elbow grease) worked to clean every stroke of ink off my floor. When Ryan came home, he couldn't even tell where the incident had occurred. I wish I had taken pictures!

GIVEAWAY!

Have you ever wanted one of those really cool pieces of art where someone takes pictures of every day things that look like different letters--and then combines the pics to make your name? (I think I saw something like it on Oprah before I stopped watching her.) Anyway, Unlikely Letters is giving one away! All you have to do is post about them on your blog, let them know in the comments, and you'll be entered into their giveaway. In the event that you don't win, the prices are incredibly reasonable--so they would also make a great Christmas gift! The giveaway closes Dec. 7, so hurry and head on over to check them out!

The Children's Place

I love The Children's Place (TCP)! Not only do I love their clothes, but I LOVE the killer sales they put on throughout the year. And, I love their birthday club--which gives me a discount to use on top of the killer sales. Now--why am I writing about this today? I also discovered that I love their customer service. Here's the story...

This morning, I got Whitney's birthday club e-mail from TCP. Whenever I get these e-mails, I head on over to their website to see what they've got. It usually happens that they're having one of their sales, so I usually decide to buy a few things. Today was no different. Whitney needs some new pants and Kallie needs some new shirts, so I got busy browsing the sale pages. I ordered several things, looked over the order, and then placed it using my birthday coupon code. When I got the confirmation e-mail, I realized I'd ordered the wrong size of one item. (Dang it!)

Phone call #1: TCP cannot change an order once it's been placed, but TCP would be happy to cancel that order for me. I just need to go in and completely re-do the order. Great, thanks, bye. (At least I already knew what I had ordered, right?)

Well, after I placed the second order, I entered my coupon code...only to find it didn't work.

Phone call #2: They gave me a new coupon code without any hassle. Great, thanks, bye.

I didn't realize at the end of the second conversation, but I should have stayed on the phone as I placed the rest of the order. It was just after I hung up that I realized the first coupon I used, which said 15%, in fact gave me a 20% discount. The coupon code I had just been given over the phone only gave me 15%. Now, I hate to seem whiny over 5%--but since the original coupon code they sent gave me 20%, I wanted to know if they would still give me 20%.

Phone call #3: While all of the Customer Service agents were nice, this one was great. I explained the situation about the coupons. The agent explained that the code I had been given was one that had been offered on those websites that list coupons--so it wasn't valid anymore. When I told her that it came straight off the TCP e-mail, she put me on hold while she got a 20% coupon code from her supervisor. GREAT! Thanks! Bye!

It did take a little while to resolve the issue, (I was on the phone for 20 min. the last time), but in the end, they completely honored the original discount. I was very impressed--and came away loving TCP even more!

I had to get these down...

...before I forgot them! Tonight, when we left my parents' house, we were putting the girls in the car and just after I put Whitney in her car seat, Ryan said, "Whitney's sleeping." And, upon hearing this, Whitney tipped her head back, closed her eyes, and made little snoring noises. Ryan and I just laughed--she's never done that before! It was so cute.

Then, as we were driving home, we stopped at a home in my parents' neighborhood. The couple who live there create an elaborate Christmas scene every year in their huge picture window at the front of their house. As we were looking, Ryan said, "Do you see, Kallie?" To which Kallie replied, "No, Dad, I don't see Kallie in there." Once again, we were laughing. As we left the house, Whitney yelled, "Bye, Santa! You're welcome!" Have no idea where the "you're welcome" came from, but it was funny just the same.

A little further down the road, Ryan drove on some road grooves that made a loud noise in the car. Whitney piped up from the back, "Toots!" And, yet again, (the third time within about 15 minutes), we were cracking up at our kids!

Our kids just can't figure out what's so funny--and when we try to explain we're laughing at what they say it's even more confusing for them. They are just so cute and do so many cute things! We can't get enough of them! :)

Our Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day started nice and early for us, with the girls getting up before 6 a.m. I made Kallie go back to bed, in hopes that she would actually go back to sleep. Boy, was I silly! She waited until the clock said 7, (the earliest we wanted her to get up), and popped into our room within seconds. Ryan got up with the girls and turned on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I didn't sleep for too much longer because watching the Parade is one of my favorite traditions! We ended up watching NBC's rebroadcast of the play that lasted until noon--I love watching all of the performances at the beginning!

Toward the end of the Parade, I started cooking my additions to our family Thanksgiving meal. I made green bean casserole and butternut squash gratin. As a quick side story here, the night before, I took Kallie over to my mom's and we made pies and rolls for the next day. When everything was almost ready to bake, we turned on the oven. A few minutes later, my mom looked over and saw that there were sparks coming out of the element. It started a little flame that slowly spread up the element toward the wall, like a dynamite fuse. We were relieved when it went out after traveling several inches. So, we loaded everything into my mom's car and brought it all to my house. She shaped the rolls and then there was nothing left to do but bake--so she went home and I started putting things in and taking them out of the oven for the next several hours. Back to Thanksgiving Day, after I finished our food preparations, we left about 2:30 for our 3 p.m. dinner at my Aunt Dru's house.

There were a LOT of people at our dinner--3 separate tables' worth! And, Dru had everything set beautifully, of course, complete with little pilgrim hat candy holders! She certainly knows how to create a special celebration. There was a ton of food and, in the end, a ton of leftovers as well. After dinner, we went downstairs and played Guitar Hero for a while. My girls got bored with that real quick, but Grandpa saved the day by giving them rides on the elliptical machine. Their tiny bums fit perfectly into the foot pedals of the machine--so they sat while Grandpa pumped the arm poles. You couldn't have asked for a better kiddie ride! We also watched a video my Gramma Betty brought about one of our ancestors. Apparently, the guy who made the movie about President Hinckley is a cousin of mine. Who knew? (Well, besides Gramma...)

It was a great Thanksgiving Day for us! Tonight, we're heading over to start Christmas celebrations with a dinner of leftovers and Christmas movies at my parents' house. I'm trying to do everything we can to be Christmasy, since we don't get to decorate our house. So, this should be a fun start to our season this year!

My Silly Beans

My kids are so silly sometimes! They've had quite a few laughable moments recently.

Whitney has just been cracking me up. Since she learned to open doors a few weeks ago, it seems she had a development spurt and started a few new things all at one. Not only did she learn to jump with both feet off the floor, but her vocabulary is increasing daily. A few weeks ago, while playing outside, Whitney got really upset that Kallie had taken something she had been playing with. She firmly placed her little hands on her hips, thrust her chin down, worked up a cute little pout, and said, "Hey, I first!" (She learned this phrase from Kallie. The drama is all her own.) Then, last week, when it was time to leave for our final swimming lesson, I turned off the Little Einsteins video they were watching. Although she was sitting, (actually lounging), on the couch, those little hands flew to her hips, the chin tipped down, and the pout reappeared, and I was repirimanded with, "Hey! I first!" The pout didn't last too long, as she joined me in laughing at her cuteness.

Kallie recently went through a 2-week phase of seeing what she could get away with. For example, she would put her fingers in her juice and then watch me like a hawk. As soon as it looked like I might turn around or look up and realize what she was doing, she would pull her hand out and say, "You didn't see me, Mom!" I now realize how it is possible that moms have eyes in the back of their heads. Because, although in a few of the situations, I couldn't see her, I knew exactly what she was doing. After a week or so of this risky behavior, I went to the back of the apartment while the girls were eating lunch. Kallie called out a request for more milk and it took me a second to finish what I was doing and get back to the kitchen. When I walked in, there was Kallie, standing in the open fridge, sucking chocolate syrup straight from the bottle. I stood there silently for a few minutes waiting for her to notice. It took quite a while, and a purposeful movement from me, for her to finally realize I was standing there. (I guess chocolate syrup is just that good when you're 3.) As she sheepishly stood frozen to the spot, I said, "I see you!" Needless to say, she was denied her chocolate milk request.

One more story...I love the movie Enchanted. This should not come as a shock to anyone who knows me even a little. Although we don't watch it much, (I think Kallie has seen it once...), I play the soundtrack probably 4-5 times a week. The girls put on their princess skirts and we dance and sing to the music. And when I say WE sing, it really is all 3 of us singing. In fact, the girls will burst into Enchanted songs in any random place, (including church). Whitney goes around singing, "How d'I knoooooooow!" and Kallie is starting to memorize the words to the verses. So, this past Sunday, I was chopping up chocolate for a dessert I was making. Kallie desperately wants to help with any possible project, so I gave her the task of unwrapping the one ounce chocolate pieces. As we were standing unwrapping and chopping, Kallie turned to me and said, "Mom, it's not enough to take the one you love for granted." (This is a line from the "How Do I Know?" song.) I started laughing and said, "Yes, Kallie, you're right. It's not enough."

What silly kids I have! They certainly keep us entertained and help us enjoy life!

ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!!!

I have so many friends who do cool things! And, I'm loving all the giveaways they're having. This time, my friend Charissa is hosting a Scentsy giveaway. In fact, she is going to start hosting monthly giveaways, so you'll definitely want to add her to your blogroll!

If you have not yet been introduced to this wonderful wickless candle product, click on the Scentsy circle in the "Check This Out" list on the left. I've had my Scentsy for a year now and I absolutely LOVE it. Everyone who comes over comments on how nice my home always smells. The best thing about it is that I don't have to worry about it burning my kids if they happen to touch it. I also love that if I forget to turn it off when running errands or going to bed, it's not going to burn down my house. Head on over to Charissa's blog and enter today!

P.S. This is completely separate from the giveaway, but I just added another new button to the list for Usborne Books. If you haven't seen them yet, head on over to my friend Robyn's site and check out their great selection of cute and educational books!

Home Sweet Home

I just got a phone call telling us that we've been accepted to rent the one-and-only home we applied for! It's a beautiful 5 bdrm, 2000 sq. ft. home in Mill Creek, (well, technically Everett). We are almost tripling our current living space...
I've been mentally dividing up the bedrooms, placing furniture, and planting the garden plot. The neighborhood is awesome, with lots of parks and trails nearby. Turns out we're even going to be in the same ward as my in-laws' good friends! We are definitely excited about living in this home. And, although we're not thrilled about the logistics of moving, knowing that we get to move into this house makes it a little easier.

The Housing Search

I guess after the last post, I should add something about whether it was all worth it or not, huh? We were able to get in an entire day of househunting on Saturday. My in-laws were kind enough to drive us around the area and look at homes with us. I'm sure they were both pretty bored by the end of the day, but we enjoyed spending time together and discussing the various homes. I'll add here that our joke of the day was that they could feel free to add their 2 cents, but it might not buy them much. :)

I won't give all the boring details of the long day, but suffice it to say we looked at homes from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. with a short lunch break in between. By the end of the evening, Ryan still wasn't satisfied with what we had seen. He continued searching for homes in the Bothell area, which we decided felt like a better fit for us than Renton, where we had spent the majority of Saturday. The next morning, we made a few more appointments, went to church, then drove an hour back to Bothell for a few more viewings. On the last appointment of the day, we found a house we really liked, in a neighborhood we really liked, with a landlord who seemed really great, (that was one of Ryan's stipulations). We drove around the neighborhood for a few minutes and then drove back to submit the rental application. At this point, we're waiting to hear back from them within the next few days. I'll give more details once we find out what's happening there.

I realized a few things from our searching. First of all, the neighborhood was WAY more important to me than the actual house. There are things I can live without if the neighborhood is right. Secondly, I learned that I'm more picky about a rental house than I would be if we were buying. If it were our home, I'd have no problem changing up the carpet, installing new fixtures, installing a fence, etc. But, it's not our home, so I can't make those changes. Thus, the home must be good-to-go as is.

Overall, it was a very productive and exausting trip. Between our late hours, TONS of driving, and analyzing homes, we came home a little less rested than when we left. But, it was completely worth it in the end! I'll keep you posted once we hear on the home...

Don't Leave Home Without It

This past weekend Ryan and I flew to Seattle to do some househunting. The day before we flew out, I removed my driver's license from my wallet and put it in the back pocket of my jeans. We were heading to swimming lessons--and I didn't want to leave my entire wallet in my bag where anyone could take it while we were in the pool. But, I also didn't want to risk being pulled over on the way to/from swimming lessons and not having my wallet. So, there it was, tucked safely in my back pocket. When I got home, I pulled it out and thought I should, right at that moment, put it back into my wallet. But the girls were hungry and tired and smelled strongly of chlorine. Off to the bath, then dinner, then bed...and then I got down to the business of packing.

It wasn't until we were en route to the airport that I realized my license was STILL in my jeans. Panic-stricken, I turned to Ryan and informed him of my major faux pas. I had managed to organize an entire binder for our house hunting appointments, yet somehow forgot the license. Ryan, being the security-minded man that he is, (and feeling that airline security is more an issue of perceived security, instead of true security), assured me that he had read in several places about people who were TRYING to get kicked out of security, and still managed to get through. Since we didn't have time to go back home and retrieve it, I tried to calm down. It was just going to HAVE to be OK.

The Salt Lake airport wasn't too bad. They asked for my ID at the baggage counter--and upon informing them I didn't have one, they marked my boarding pass for extra security. After we left the counter, Ryan pointed out that they hadn't even asked for his ID. When we got to the security checkpoint, they took me aside and asked to see any ID I happened to have. I provided a few credit cards and an old BYU ID that only confused the issue because it was in my maiden name. When I told the guy it was all I had with me, he returned the cards and walked me over to what I called the puffer chamber. It's like one of those metal detectors from the airport, but has plexiglass doors that shut in front of and behind you. Then, it rapidly blows puffs of air at you--and you wait, trapped inside, while it analyzes the air in the chamber. It felt like the analyzation took a long time and, although I could see out, I started to get a little claustrophobic. Once that was over, I walked through a metal detector, and then my shoes and my entire carry-on bag were swabbed for residue of explosives. I finished my process about the same time Ryan finished tying his shoes. It was only slightly more of a hassle than the usual safety screenings I've had to endure at airports.

Seattle's process was a completely different story. First of all, we ended up in the maze of a line right behind the entire Monterrey Men's and Women's soccer teams. Someone was carrying a HUGE trophy, so I presume they won. But, that thing was heavy and looked like it could be dangerous to a flight attendant or other passengers--I'm not sure how they ended up getting THAT through security. When we finally got to the front of the line, I was once again pulled aside. This time, I remembered that I had my Seven Peaks season pass in my wallet and provided that in lieu of the old BYU ID. Notwithstanding, I still had to provide proof of address. The guy, (who was actually really nice), asked me several times if I had anything with my name and address on it--a bill or anything. Since I don't normally travel with my bills, I had nothing. They had me fill out a sheet with my name, address, birthdate, and phone number--and then the guy got on the phone to verify the information with someone on the other end. After asking me for my former address, my county of residence, and the major US freeway closest to my home, my boarding pass was stamped and I was given the go-ahead. I joined the other less-weary-than-I-at-this-point travelers in line for the standard metal detector and x-rays of shoes and bags. On the other side of the metal detector, I was sent to another set of TSA workers for a pat down as well as another swabbing of my shoes, bag, and contents. I chose to sit next to the table while they were swabbing my carry-on. After the bomb-sniffing machine sounded an alert, a supervisor was called over to explain to me that my bag had tested positive for nitroglycerin. I started laughing at this point and wondered how in the world THAT had happened. Apparently, if you use soap or lotion with glycerin in it, you can have a residue on your skin that will leave a residue on your items. And, as the TSA supervisor explained to me, glycerin is a key component of nitroglycerin. (Wow--really?) But, the guy said I'd be fine as long as the alarm didn't go off again. It didn't. (Thank goodness I hadn't been using fertilizer that morning!) And, I was finally through and on my way.

I think next time, I'll make sure I have my ID and will head through the "Experienced Traveller" lane at the TSA checkpoint. After all, I've now experienced the entire in-depth screening process!

What's in a name?

I realize that for most of you, the picture above is jibberish. But, to this mommy, it's a treasure. This is Kallie's very first attempt at writing her name all by herself. She's known how to verbally spell it for months now. I suppose that's one benefit of those decorative letters hanging on her wall above her bed. But, just today, we started working on how to write a K. The K above isn't her best K of the day, the A is a little strange, and the L's require some imagination--but SHE DID IT! All by herself!

Another AMAZING Giveaway!

You are going to want to participate in this giveaway from Brooklyn's Bows! I've had their link on my site for a while now, and now they're hosting their first giveaway. They are offering some darling things, including bows, Christmas cards, and tons of other fun things--head on over and sign yourself up! (And let them know I sent you!)

Brooklyn's Bows not only sells the CUTEST bows, but they also offer instructions to make your own. And, if you choose to purchase them, they are great quality bows for a great price. I really cannot plug them, (or the other giveaway participants), enough!

The Dreaded Day is Here

No, I'm not talking about the elections. (That one would have been posted 2 days ago if I really thought that.) Instead, I am referring to Whitney's new-found ability to open doors. I don't remember this really being an issue with Kallie, because we always had baby gates up where we didn't want her to enter. However, now having an older child who takes down the fences led to closing doors as a quick solution. That's not going to work anymore, though. Whitney, on the other hand, loves her new-found ability. She beams at me any time she opens a door now. And, I must say as frustrating as it is for the moment, I'm really proud of her for figuring it out!

Our Primary Program

Now that it's been almost a week, I'm finally ready to post about our Primary program. Not that I didn't want to post about it sooner, just haven't had much time this week...so here goes...

First of all, as I have mentioned before, we have a small, young Primary, so our program really isn't a stressful production. We practiced during Sharing Time for 2 weeks and then had one extra practice on the Saturday before. I will just say here that I love our little Primary kids! Overall, our program went really well and the kids did a GREAT job! There were a few snags, however. To begin with, the microphones somehow didn't work when it was time to start. As the Bishop and my counselor were fixing the problem, someone hit a button, piping the Sacrament Meeting speaker from the south chapel into our chapel. (Yes, we have 2 chapels in our building--many of the BYU stake buildings are built this way. You can fit twice as many wards into the one building.) So, we heard a nice talk about something, (can't remember what), as the issue was taken care of. The next issue was that no matter how many times we had practiced, the kids didn't remember the 2nd and 3rd verses of several of the songs. I loved that regardless of how well they knew the words, they still sang their hearts out. In fact, one little boy just sang and sang while several other kids were singing different words. I was grinning from ear to ear just watching them give it their all!

In spite of all of this, I felt a few miracles happened during the program. First of all, I have never felt the spirit during the Primary program like I did this year. Maybe I just haven't been paying attention in the past? Maybe it's that I know the real words to each song? Or maybe it's just that I've spent enough time with these beautiful children over the past 5 months to know what's in their little hearts--and to feel it as they expressed their thoughts? Another miracle I saw was that on the last song they sang, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me," (now one of my favorite Primary songs), the kids actually sang "righteously" and "reverently" on the correct verses! This hadn't happened before in any of our practices--and I will admit I was shocked and pleased all at the same time. The last miracle was probably my favorite, by far. We have one little boy in our Primary who has some learning disabilities. In the past, when assigned to give a talk, this little boy barely mumbled in front of the other 14 Primary children. However, in front of an entire chapel full of adults and kids, he clearly spoke, "I love the temple!," with great enthusiasm. I thought my heart was going to burst!

Knowing that we're moving in a few weeks, I know that my time in Primary is drawing to a close. I'm really sad that I will have to leave these kids and the wonderful Primary organization! I'm grateful for the opportunity I've been blessed with to be a part of it all for the past few months. And, I hope I will enjoy future Primary programs even more because of my experience with this one.

Where do you keep your songs?

A few weeks ago when Ryan was interviewing in Seattle, Kallie climbed in bed with me one morning. Because I didn't have to get up and go anywhere, I convinced her to lay in bed with me for a while. That way, I could faux-sleep because I knew where she was and what she was doing. Once the ruse of sleeping in was over, I started singing with her. I'd had a song in my head since the night before, so I kept singing the one line that I actually knew over and over again. When Kallie asked me to sing the rest, I explained that I didn't know the rest, it was just a song in my head. At this point, Kallie looked thoughtful, then asked, "Mom, what song is in your eye?" I laughed so hard I definitely couldn't even consider sleeping anymore!

Check it out! (And a GIVEAWAY!)

You may have noticed that I moved things around a little on my sidebar. I have several friends who have great blogs and/or businesses that deserve some attention. Especially with the holidays approaching, these sites are well worth checking out! Click on the pic to go to the site.

Also, my friend, Jess, who hosts the "Tips and Tricks" blog is currently having a giveaway! This is a newer blog, and I already love it. She has great ideas on there--you'll want to add her to your blogroll. AND--there are a LOT of great prizes with this giveaway, so head on over and check out what she's got to offer! (P.S. Also, when you leave your comment for the giveaway, let Jess know you found her blog through me!)

Red Herrings

Along with almost everyone else in the U.S., (actually, probably everyone in developed countries around the world), I am sick of the political frenzy we've been hearing, seeing, eating, and sleeping for the past several months. It really seems that the closer the election gets, the more frantic anything surrounding the elections becomes. And the more I turn off the T.V., toss the newspaper without even a glance, and put my fingers in my ears and sing when I hear anything political coming. If you are like me in this respect, then I suggest skipping this post...scroll down a few and enjoy something else. However, if you want to hear what I have to say, then keep reading.

This election year, more than any other, I feel that we've seen countless "red herrings" tossed into the political arena. For those who may not remember 9th grade English, according to Wikipedia, "a red herring is a narrative element intended to distract the reader from a more important event in the plot." Meaning that there are many media-focused issues which, in my opinion, are completely non-issues. Red herrings include topics such as how much a candidates clothing cost and where the clothes came from, previous voting records, lack of experience, and too much experience. Race, gender, and even various environmental, fiscal, and tax policies are also red herrings in my opinion. I realize many people won't agree with me on this idea, but that's the beauty of being able to state your own opinion on your own blog.

The election comes down to only two issues for me this year. First of all, I know that one particular candidate supports partial-birth abortion. This stance is in direct conflict with the doctrine of the LDS Church, which doctrine I fully support and know to be true. I cannot support a candidate whose views about the sanctity of life are so opposite what my core beliefs are. Along these same lines, this same candidate is also in favor of same-sex marriage. Never in the history of the LDS Church have the leaders come out so strongly opposed to any issue on the ballot. The LDS Church throughout my life has consistently stated their political neutrality and encourages members of their church to both be informed and participate in the political process. Because of their historical neutrality, taking a firm stand on the issue of same-sex marriage is a major deal. This is the second reason I cannot vote for this particular candidate--once again, it is completely against my core beliefs.

These two issues often seem to be buried under all the red herrings being tossed around--and to me, these are the most important issues because they are directly doctrinally based. Granted, the other issues can, in some cases, be linked to the religious doctrines I espouse. However, no other issues are so black and white when you connect the stated doctrine with the professed policies.

Goin' on a Trip

Well, I have a ton of things to blog about after the weekend. (Our Primary Program being one of them...) But--it's going to have to wait. For some reason, my house suddenly looks caked in dirt. Hmm...maybe it's time to scrub the toilet and mop the floor? That, too, has had to wait today.

I have spent the past few precious, quiet, naptime hours on the phone arranging babysitting, discussing flights, and inquiring about housing. First of all, I found a home that I LOVE in the pics. After speaking with the landlord, it appears the home will still be available when we're able to make our house-hunting trip. I am within inches of snatching it up, sight-unseen, but really feel I need to see it to seal (or unseal, for that matter), the deal. Secondly--you read that right! We're going on a house hunting trip--just Ryan and me--in a little less than 3 weeks! My wonderful mom and dad have agreed to watch the kids for a weekend while Ryan and I head up to Seattle. I don't know what I'm more excited about--finding a house or having a weekend without the kids...

Meanwhile, the kids are starting to stir and my house is still covered in dirt. At least cleaning the stove was crossed of the list this morning! I'd better go try to see what I can do with the rest of this place!

It's a Done Deal!

This morning, Ryan let me know that he had officially accepted the job offer we've been mulling over all week. For those of you who are wondering, we will be moving to Seattle, WA in mid- December (just after finals) and Ryan will start working for Microsoft in January. This all still seems so surreal. This is the point we've been working toward for the past few years and it's hard to imagine that it really is almost over and we really ARE moving on to the post-college phase of life.

I mentioned in my last update that we planned to wait for Ryan to interview with another company in a couple of weeks. Of course, that's not going to happen now. This week, as we have discussed this offer, it has really felt like waiting to interview with someone else was just going to prolong the inevitable. Now, we're looking forward to what the future holds!

Central Park Program - FREE!!

I'm going post-crazy lately! If you haven't checked out the newest ones, scroll down a little and see what you're missing. :)

I wanted to get the word out about the "Central Park" program, which is kind of like preschool for young kids (age 2 or so) on the computer. My brother-in-law has participated in the development of this project and is trying to get the word out for people to try it out starting in January. As I mentioned in the title, this on-line program is completely free and the Waterford Institute will give you six months free for participating in this testing phase.

Just as a personal note on this...Kallie has been using a similar product from the Waterford Institute for the past year and a half, (starting at age 2). She has learned to use a computer mouse, navigate from screen to screen, and has been learning skills like counting, sorting, writing, etc. Kallie BEGS to use this program all the time! It's definitely worth trying out this new product!

Check out the flier below and then head to http://www.waterford.org/ to sign up!

A New Addition

Well, I suppose it's time I made the announcement, since we've known for a while now...we're getting a sister-in-law! My brother, Jesse, recently got engaged to his girlfriend, Kendra! They've only been engaged for about a week, but we've all suspected it was coming for some time longer than that. Jesse and Kendra dated long-distance (Utah-Arizona) after his mission and before hers. Jesse moved down to AZ soon after Kendra left and they kept in contact over the course of the last year and a half. Kendra came home a month ago, and by that point, we all pretty much figured it was going to happen. When they picked right up where they'd left off, it was inevitable! Congrats to the happy couple! :)

Aren't they cute?

10/20/30

Many of you know that I celebrated my 30th birthday this week. I love that I turned 30 on 10/20! I have always loved the even number aspect of my birthday, but tacking the 30 on this year completed the equation.

Many people have asked me how I feel about being 30. To be quite honest, I feel that my current age is a badge of honor. (26 was difficult because I was closer to 30 than to 20...after that, everything else has been cake!) I look back over the past 30 years and see that I have accomplished everything I set out to do, plus some. And, I can't help but think that these 30 years of ups and downs, ins and outs, have brought me to this place. I hope you'll forgive me for indulging (dare I say bragging) for a moment about the things I've accomplished thus far in my life. Hey--it's my birthday AND my blog...I can say what I want, right?

I graduated from high school. This wasn't a major accomplishment--really more of a given--but it was a springboard for other opportunities.

I graduated from BYU. This, to me, was a major accomplishment. With all that goes into a college experience, (much more than book learning), I DID IT!! I graduated with a degree in Family Science and a minor in Management.

I served a mission to the Baltic States. This was the one unplanned goal that I was blessed to accomplish in my life. Looking back now, and even while I was going through all the experiences a mission encompasses, I felt that my mission was more of a blessing than a trial. Sure there were tough times, but those were definitely my bonus years. The amazing thing is that the Lord is still blessing me, I feel, because I chose to accept the blessing of a mission call. I'm still trying to figure out how that works...

I got married in the temple to the most amazing man I have ever known. Really the only accomplishment here was convincing Ryan that I was good enough for him to choose me! I honestly don't know how I got so lucky! (Maybe it was hours of tracting in the snow?) While it happened later than I expected, I am certainly incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful person choose to marry me. This one just keeps getting better and better!

I have had two darling daughters. This accomplishment has probably been the most challenging, yet most fulfilling opportunity of the past 30 years. Some days, I still can't believe I'm a mother--and I can't believe these two darling girls are mine.

There are so many more things I could type here--but the things I have listed are what I feel are the most important accomplishments. I'm happy to be 30 and I'm happy to have the amazing life experiences to prove it!

The Secret Life of Bees

This is one of my favorite books--so, of course, I HAD to see the movie. I'd been telling my friends about it for a couple of weeks now and was actually planning to see if I could get some people to go see it with me this weekend. Turns out I didn't have to wait that long! My visiting teacher, Cary, organized a Girls' Night Out tonight in honor of my 30th birthday, (which was Monday). It was going to be a surprise party, but she had to change the time at the last minute, so she filled me in earlier today. I was still really surprised and SO excited! We met for cake and then went to see the movie.

Some book-inspired movies are a total let-down--this movie was NOT one of those. Granted, it's been a while since I read the book, but everything I remembered from the book was in the movie. And, while a few details were left out, I don't think they changed the general feel of the movie from what the book originally intended. I really loved the movie! Even knowing what was going to happen, I still managed to get choked up at points. (I wasn't the only one--there were sniffles all around the theater.) It is such a poignant story and I feel it was FABULOUSLY portrayed! If you haven't read the book or seen the movie, I highly recommend doing both.

The Offer

Well, Ryan received an offer on Monday. At first, we were a little surprised because it came in a bit lower than we thought. It's always so hard to know what is a good offer because salary is generally a topic people tend to avoid. We have a couple of weeks to let them know--which is good because Ryan has another on-site interview approaching in two weeks. We're planning to see how that one goes, and then evaluate our options at that point. If we do end up accepting this offer, it's possible that we will be moving as soon as the middle of December! The company has an amazing relocation package, so we wouldn't have the stress of doing everything ourselves during the holidays. But--it could possibly be a lot sooner than I originally anticipated!

The Precursor

The two (full) days of interviews are now over. Ryan said that he never wants to do another interview again. I can't say I blame him! When I talked to him after he interviewed with our first choice employer on Thursday, (five in one day--all with the same company), he felt the interviews had gone as well as they possibly could have. Ryan said if something didn't come of those interviews, then he didn't know how he would ever be hired there. At the end of the day, they told him the recruiter would contact him on Monday.

We chatted only for a few minutes last night about his Friday interviews and then, because there was utter chaos at my house, said goodbye. A couple hours later, he called back. When I saw him on the caller ID, I thought maybe he was calling back to chat a bit when he thought things would be less chaotic. They weren't and he wasn't. In fact, he called to let me know one of the managers he'd interviewed with the day before had sent him a "Congratulations on your offer" e-mail. (The e-mail was very complimentary of my wonderful husband!) Now, have you realized I haven't mentioned the offer yet? That's because Ryan hasn't received one.

I, for one, am glad for the precursory e-mail. Although I'm still in suspense, I feel a sense of relief knowing that they liked Ryan enough that they're going to make an offer. We've really been looking forward to this point--and it's hard to believe this is really happening!

Breaking the Record

Ryan flew out for Seattle this morning. I started missing him the moment he left. It wasn't that he was gone--because he's usually gone all day. It was just that I knew I wouldn't see him tonight...or tomorrow...or until Sunday morning. In the past, when Ryan has been gone, (whether for fun or business), I have not been able to get to sleep before midnight and usually much later. Tonight, I think I will be breaking that record, though. It's not even 10 p.m. and I'm heading off to bed. I know I'll miss chatting with Ry like we do every night before we go to bed...but I am so ready for a few more hours of sleep. I hope Ryan gets a good night's sleep tonight, too. He's got a full day of interviews tomorrow--as well as most of the day on Friday. And, hopefully, this trip will mean an end to the job hunt, so we can all sleep a little easier within the next couple of weeks!

Proposition 8

Many of you know about Proposition 8 on the ballot in California this year. It has been on my mind a lot lately as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has really been tracking and working against it. I will not sit on the fence on this issue. I stand with the LDS Church 100%. I was reading a blog this morning and found a good synopsis of this proposition:

"Proposition 8 is simple and straightforward. It contains the same 14 words that were previously approved in 2000 by over 61% of California voters: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

Because four activist judges in San Francisco wrongly overturned the people’s vote, we need to pass this measure as a constitutional amendment to restore the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.

Voting YES on Proposition 8 does 3 simple things:

1. It restores the definition of marriage to what the vast majority of California voters already approved and what Californians agree should be supported, not undermined.
2. It overturns the outrageous decision of four activist Supreme Court judges who ignored the will of the people.
3. It protects our children from being taught in public schools that “same-sex marriage” is the same as traditional marriage, and prevents other consequences to Californians who will be forced to not just be tolerant of gay lifestyles, but face mandatory compliance regardless of their personal beliefs."

Ryan and I were discussing this last night. The Family: A Proclamation to the World, the Church's official stance on marriage and family, plainly states, "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children." Could it be any more plain?

Marriage is NOT state-created. The institution of marriage was given by God in the first place--not the President of the United States, the Governor of California, or any random judges, nor was it man-made. How does it, then, make it OK for any of these people to redefine marriage and turn it into something it never was meant to be? This measure has nothing to do with same-sex couples being allowed the same legal privileges as married couples. They have already been granted access to those legal privileges. Instead, same-sex couples want society's stamp of approval on their choices.

I feel that many people who are backing the failure of this measure don't truly understand the future ramifications of their choice. They don't see that not passing this measure means that marriage will become a free-for-all. Polygamy will be just fine...and what's to say that in a few years, the age of consent will be lowered and suddenly, you will have 40 year old men marrying 12 year olds, or for that matter 5 or 6 of them at a time. Really--what is to stop that from happening? It's easy to say, "Well, it won't go THAT far," but 15-20 years ago, no one would have imagined we'd be here, either.

Near the end of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," we read, "We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets." The failure of this measure is just that: the disintegration of the family. We have seen repeatedly in scripture that God keeps His word. He is constant and unchanging. I, for one, am not willing to sit on the sidelines and allow these calamities to happen without doing what I can to avoid them. I hope you'll join in this cause, too.

Let's Make a Deal

With winter weather quickly approaching Utah Valley, I decided it was time for the annual unearthing of the winter clothes. Somehow, I forgot that between last winter and this winter, I've lost about 35 lbs. Unfortunately, capris are a little on the air-conditioned side and don't work so well with clunky winter shoes, so I was off to do some shopping this morning. I headed up to the brand new Kohl's in Provo and started scouting around. Now, you have to understand--for some reason, I am an unlucky shopper. I can find cute clothes that fit or I can find cheap clothes, but very rarely do I find cute, cheap clothes that fit.

Today, I pulled a total of 20 pairs of pants of probably 20 different brands and/or styles off the racks. Most of them were cute on the hanger, but not on me. (Yet another story of my life.) However, the stars must have been aligned today because the cute clothes that fit just happened to be the cheapest! I got 2 pairs of pants for 60% off the original price! You just can't beat a deal like that!

One more plug...

So, remember how I posted about Blueberry Moon a few days ago? Well, the bags came in the mail today--and I am SO impressed with them! As someone who knows how to sew, I am HUGE on quality and these bags completely live up to my expectations. Not only are they completely well-crafted, but they are even cuter than their pics! (Which is saying a lot because I thought the pics were amazingly cute!) I hope I can wait until Christmas to give them to my girls! :)

Free Handbag!

Handbag Planet is giving away one free handbag once an hour for 24 hours leading up to their Oct. 15 Grand Opening. You enter your name and e-mail address and they give you a choice of handbag. Head on over and check it out!

Early Riser

Yesterday, Kallie got up much earlier than I did. Ryan was gone doing laundry and running, and I was enjoying my blissfully oblivious slumber. I woke up about the same time he came home. We discovered Kallie painting--at her easel, thank goodness--but with my acryllic craft paint. Since the office door wasn't gated when she woke up, Kallie took that as permission to enter and explore her surroundings unsupervised. She has been curious about mom's paints for a while, so I really can't say I was shocked that ended up as the focus of her exploration. We took the paint away, cleaned the paintbrush, and warned Kallie she was not to go into the office without mom or dad. A few minutes later, she was sitting on the kitchen floor playing with Whitney, while I fixed breakfast a few feet away. She suddenly called out, "Mom, look!" When I responded, she said, "Look, Mom, I'm not in trouble anymore!" I'm not sure what happened for her to decide that, but Ryan and I had a hard time not laughing as we reassured her that she needed to stay out of the office.

Blueberry Moon

When I originally posted about the Halloween bags from Blueberry Moon, someone asked me if I knew the seller. I'll admit, I do know her! And, I just think her products are DARLING! In fact, I ordered a Dolly n' Me bag for each of my girls for Christmas. I'm planning to use their bags as "Church purses"--and will fill them with several different items to help them stay quiet during church. That way each of my girls will have their own stuff, (fewer squabbles), and I won't have to take a huge diaper bag. Here is how Kallie's turned out:

Is that not one of the cutest things you've ever seen? I love it! Also, if you have little boys, she has a great selection fabrics to choose from. And, I think the prices at Blueberry Moon are VERY reasonable. You can personalize everything without any extra fee! Go check them out (click on their name or the picture in this post) and when you go through checkout, be sure to leave a comment in their comment box telling them Amanda S. sent you. Happy shopping!

Ever Have a Craving?

Last week, I would have given almost ANYTHING for a BYU brownie. It made me wonder what I would do when we didn't live in Provo anymore. No more worries! They've made the recipe available! Whip some up and DIG IN!!

Changing Colors

It's that time of year...fall is falling down the mountain, the leaves are turning amazing colors, there's a bite in the morning air. I kept looking at the mini daffodils on my previous blog and thinking it just didn't fit my fall mood. So, to keep up with Mother Nature, my blog got a facelift. I feel much cozier and fall-ish just looking at it! Let me know what you think!

General Relief Society Broadcast

I really cannot explain how much I love the General Relief Society broadcast. I love the gathering of so many women, all there together to learn how to improve our lives and draw from the strength of those around us. Last year, I was in the Conference Center for this meeting. That was a wonderful experience being surrounded by sisters from many different areas of the world. This year, I got to attend at the Stake Center, surrounded by the sisters in my own area.

It all began at 4 p.m., when we went to the Stake Center to tie quilts for the Church's Humanitarian Aid department. We then had dinner, which followed the Utah Relief Society dinner menu to a T--you know, pasta salad (containing chicken and fruit) on a bed of lettuce, dinner roll, small slice of melon, brownie, water. The food was good, although predictable, and I really did appreciate all the work that went into the project.

After dinner, we all sat down together to watch the General Relief Society broadcast. This was the highlight of my evening. I absolutely love Sister Julie B. Beck. During her talk, it occurred to me that I often provide my own "roadblocks" to service. Instead of deciding to serve and then moving forward, I think of why it just won't work today, or this week, or this month. Sis. Beck inspired me to have more faith and move forward in service even though I'm not sure how to work it all out in the beginning.

But, I have to say my favorite talk of the evening was Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf's. The subject of his message, creativity, is something that has been on my mind and in my prayers a lot over the past few weeks. It amazed me that this topic, which I thought so insignificant, was important enough to discuss with the largest women's organization in the world. I gained a new perspective on the importance of this quality and that "I'm just not a creative person" is no longer a valid argument. I look forward to following Elder Uchtdorf's counsel and seeing how it will work out for me! (Again--get rid of the roadblocks!)

After the meeting concluded, I didn't feel quite ready to "come back to earth." So, a few sisters from my ward decided to walk down to the BYU Creamery and enjoy some ice cream. We snagged a corner booth, sat down, and chatted for almost three hours! When I got home, my amazing husband had not only done the dishes, but mopped the kitchen floor, and vacuumed the family room. Seriously, ladies, how could my evening have been any better than that!? What a way to end one week and begin another one!

Trick or Treat Bags

I realize that Halloween is still a little over a month away. That's perfect timing, however, to get your order in for this DARLING trick or treat bag from Blueberry Moon! Not only do you get to personalize the bag with your child's name, but they also have different Halloween-themed fabrics to choose from. If you order before October 20, you will have it in time for Halloween. And, it's always free shipping there, too. Can't lose with a deal like that, huh? (Click on the pic to go to the website! And, while you're there, check out their other cool stuff...)

Let the games begin!

Today was the BYU tech career fair and Ryan took full advantage of the 100 possible future employers in one location. He ended up handing out 20 resumes! As a result, he has 5 interviews tomorrow alone. Not only did he have great success there, but he had an interview last Friday and has a previously scheduled interview with yet another company this Friday. In addition to all of that, last Friday's interview has already invited him for a second interview! On top of everything else he's got going on, Ryan is now adding "prepare for interviews" to his daily list of things to do. Good thing the marathon was last weekend, right?

The thing about all of this is that I hope these interviewers can see what a great employee Ryan is. I'm pretty biased because I'm completely in love with him. BUT--because I'm his wife, I know both his strengths AND his weaknesses. And, I can honestly say he has very few weaknesses. He prioritizes amazingly well, pays attention to details, acts with complete integrity, has a great sense of organization--whether it be a physical space or a mental project, communicates very effectively, and can see a situation from all angles--which is a huge benefit when it comes to dealing with tough issues. Overall, he inspires me to be a better person; to develop the qualities he exhibits on a daily basis. I hope the potential employers he interacts with over the next few weeks will be as thoroughly impressed as I have been from the start!

What a difference a week makes!

I have been going to a "Step Kardio Fusion" class from 6-7 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. (There's also a class on Saturday, but it's later in the day, so I haven't made it yet because we've been so busy each weekend during the past month. And, just for the record, I'm loving it!) It's always completely dark when I leave in the morning, but the past few weeks, it has been pretty light when class ends. It was just enough that Utah Valley wasn't in full sunlight, but the sky was certainly lit. Compare that to today. When I came out of class, it was still dark enough that I had to use my headlights to drive home. I was surprised that the sunrise seemed to change so dramatically over the course of a week.

It strikes me that things in our lives sometimes happen this way, too. We make a little change, (for better or worse), and suddenly, before we know it, we look back and see how far that change has taken us in a relatively short amount of time. I hope next time you see the changes in daylight, you will think about what changes you're making in your life. It's a great chance to take inventory and figure out if you are headed where you want to go. Who knew all of that could come from a simple sunrise?

Top of Utah Marathon

Ryan ran the Top of Utah marathon in Logan, UT today! It was his third marathon and such a great experience for both of us.

To begin with, he registered for the marathon MONTHS ago, but we put off reserving a hotel room until it got a little closer. Mid-July, we remembered that we needed a room. After searching various on-line sites, we snatched up what appeared to be the only vacant room in all of Logan.

Fast-forward to yesterday...Ryan left school early and we left the girls at home with my sister, (their Aunt Moo-Moo, whom they ADORE!). When we arrived at the Logan Econolodge, we realized we had reserved the honeymoon suite for the night--complete with 2-person jacuzzi tub! Now, let's be honest, the Econolodge isn't exactly luxury lodging, so even the honeymoon suite wasn't much to speak of. And, check out was at 11 a.m., which meant that Ryan wouldn't have a chance to shower after the marathon. But, it was 2 blocks from the finish line and a place to crash for the night so we weren't complaining!

We ate at Olive Garden, (so Ryan could carb-load), and then strolled along Main Street to pick up his registration packet. At Ryan's previous marathons, I was first-trimester pregnant or we had the girls with us, so we weren't able to spend as much time as we would have liked at the marathon expos. This year, we had neither of those issues--and there was no expo! There was a cool feature at this marathon, however, where the timing system will send you a text message at the 13 and 20 mile marks, as well as at the finish. We signed up for that, so I'd know when to head over to the park to meet Ryan.

This morning, Ryan got up at 4:30 a.m., got ready, and headed to the park. It was a good thing he got up early because just before he got on the shuttle bus to the starting line, he realized he had forgotten his timing chip! He ran back to the motel, picked up his chip, then ran back to the park so he wouldn't miss the last bus at 5:45. He made it in plenty of time, and we were even more grateful our motel was so close to the park.

Because I've paid attention to Ryan's training times this season, I expected his 13-mile text around 9:30 a.m. It didn't come and it didn't come...and I started to wonder if he'd started late, if the device hadn't worked properly, or if they somehow had the wrong phone number. Finally, I received a text at 10:22--Ryan was already at the 20-mile marker! He was making GREAT time!

A few minutes later, I headed over to the office to check out. When I got there, they had posted a sign saying they were offering a few of their rooms until 3 p.m. for runners to use for showers, free of charge. At this point, I was incredibly impressed with the Econolodge (and extremely grateful I wasn't going to have to ride home with a sweaty, stinky husband)! :)

I walked up to the street the park was on. Instead of heading straight over there, I stood by the marathon route waiting to see Ryan and cheer him on. I got a lump in my throat just watching all the runners. Every time I've been to a marathon, I get choked up watching these people run. I don't know why, but even though I don't know most of them, I am just so proud of them for accomplishing such a major feat!

As I stood there trying to look encouraging to all the runners I didn't know, it started POURING rain. (It had been raining off and on all morning.) It was short-lived, but I was quite wet by the time it was over. A few minutes later, I saw Ryan running up, cheered for him, then walked over to the park when he'd passed. The runners had to run up and around a few streets back to the park, but it was just a straight-shot for me from where I was waiting. Once I got near the finish line, I found a great vantage point and cheered runners on while I waited for Ryan. When I finally saw him coming, I stepped under the rope, went down to meet him, then jogged in (purse, street clothes, and all!) with him across the finish line for a final time of 4:25! This is almost a full 35 min. better than St. George. And, St. George was about 30 min. better than Salt Lake! I was SO proud of him for getting such a great time!

I was actually really surprised that no one told me not to stay with Ryan after we crossed the finish line. I got to be there as they handed him his finishers medal and then I waited with him in the "recovery corral" where they had post-run food and drinks for the runners, (along with medical attention--thank goodness Ryan has never needed that after a run!). While we were waiting, Ryan mentioned that next time, we should plan ahead so I can run at least the last mile with him. After a while, we headed over to the massage tent to wait in line. When Ryan's turn came, I headed over to a picnic table and read until he was done.

Ryan is doing better than I've ever seen him after a marathon. He has learned a lot during his previous marathons and, I feel, was better prepared for this one than for any of the others. He's figured out how to fuel his body well during the race and knows what works best for him when it's over. He's sore now, of course, but is just doing awesome. In fact, Ryan said toward the end of the race, when he's normally wondering why in the world he decided to do another marathon, he was instead thinking that he was looking forward to the next one. Good thing, because he's planning on a triathalon next summer!

If I'm honest, I must say that I feel a tiny bit of ownership in his accomplishment as well, because I know my support has enabled him to take advantage of this opportunity. In the end, I'm really proud of Ryan. He works so hard to train for these marathons and I am thrilled to see him reach his goal. His hard work and dedication inspire me to work harder and be better, too!

The Princess and the Pea

The other day, Whitney pulled one of the pink fairy skirts from the dress up bin, lifted it toward my face, and said, "PIH-pess!" After I put the skirt on her, she found the shiny, pink crown and sought me out with the same request. Then, she twirled and twirled in the middle of the family room floor until she was dizzy. (Twirling is the only way she dances now.) She begs for the PIH-pess book and squeals PIH-pess any time she sees one. This is all new daughter territory for me. Kallie was NEVER into princesses (or dress up) and has only gotten into them as Whitney has displayed more and more interest.

As far as the Pea part of the equation, my darling little princesses decided to have a pea-tossing contest the other day during lunch. The aftermath of their game made me very grateful that peas are bright green. The horrible, purple/gray, commercial-grade carpet found in every Wymount apartment is great at hiding traffic patterns, juice spills, and any other mishap you expect in a home with kids. And, while it's low pile allows peas to roll a great distance once they land, it just doesn't hide their final resting spot very well. Good thing, too, or I might STILL be looking for errant peas!

Stake Conference, Take 2

Long(ish)-time readers of my blog, (yes, all 3 of you!), may remember the last time I posted about our adventures in stake conference. Here's our latest edition:

There are many smart couples in our ward. They leave their children at home with one parent while the other parent attends conference, takes notes, and reports back on what the speakers discussed. We, however, are not one of these couples. We choose, instead, to take our already-tired children to this boring-for-children meeting that lasts from 7-8:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. Because it's so late, we dress the children in their PJ's and load the diaper bag with all sorts of interesting activities to keep them busy for the longer-than-they're-used-to church meeting.

This time, things were going pretty smoothly...until we got about 30 minutes in, when I look down and see Whitney trying to do something. Upon closer examination, I realize she looks like she's trying to step out of shorts. Only problem is she was only wearing a nightgown that night. Turns out she had somehow undone one of her diaper tabs and had it down around her ankles. Now, there really isn't much room in between the pews--and because of several factors, it seemed that trying to shimmy the diaper back up and resecure it wasn't going to cause a LOT more commotion than necessary. So, I simply removed the diaper, handed Ryan a clean one, and off she toddled to the bathroom, holding Ryan's hand, completely naked under her nightgown. At least the trip to the bathroom was as uneventful as possible.

Home Management Binder

A few of you have asked about the Home Management Binder I mentioned in a recent post. I thought I'd toss out a little more information about it for you. A couple of months ago, I was feeling the need to make things a little easier in my home. I'm fairly organized to begin with, but wanted to improve on what I've been doing. As I started looking around the internet, I found this blog post. I thought it sounded like a great idea, so I've been formulating my own binder ever since.

In reading through the information in that post, I realized my binder wouldn't need to be as involved as that mother's binder...yet. For now, mine will include the following sections, (click on the links to see the documents/webpages):

Calendar:
Monthly activities
Yearly birthday calendar

Cleaning:
Schedule (what happens on what day)
Emergency Quick Clean
50 Uses for White Vinegar
Household Cleaning Solutions

Food:
6 Week Cycle Menu
Weekly Recipes
New recipes to try
Restaurants we'd like to try
Coupons for eating out

Important Information:
Phone numbers (Dr., Ryan's lab, etc.)
Kid's current clothes sizes
Stages of responsibility
Ward directory

I'm still working on putting it all together. Once September is over, my life should be a little more calm, *crossing fingers*, and I'll have a little more time to devote to this binder. I can't wait to scrapbook some cute cover pages and dividers for it! Anyway--let me know if you have any other questions!

Boring Games

Out of the many games played during college football season, I'd have to rank the most boring games among the best sometimes. Today, BYU played UCLA in what I would consider a boring game. There was no nail biting at the end of the game while we held our breath waiting to see if BYU would block the point after kick. (Although, I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of games that are exciting to that extreme, either.) In fact, we weren't even close to nail biting. At all.

Ryan and I don't get the channel on which today's game played. Since the game started during nap time, we opted to listen to the live internet stream until half time. We thought our ears might be deceiving us as it seemed that BYU was scoring a touchdown literally every few minutes, for a total of SEVEN in the first half, alone! What about UCLA? Absolutely nothing--other than a few turnovers.

At half time, we drove past the stadium full of screaming fans, (no traffic during the game!), to my brother's place, where we watched, (i.e. chatted through), the rest of this boring game. Just as we arrived, BYU scored yet another touchdown and put in their second string players. They managed to kick a field goal at some point--bringing the final score to BYU 59 UCLA 0. I'm really not complaining about the boring factor. Actually, that's one boring game that I'd like to see played out again this season!

New Experience

While I was doing laundry a few weeks ago, I saw an ad for participants to join a research study at BYU. This particular study will examine the effects of the female hormone cycle on color perception and requires participants to have 3 EEGs over the course of one month. I've never participated in any kind of study, (other than setting one up in theory for my Family Science technical writing class), and thought it would something fun to take part in before we move past this college phase of life.

Tonight was my first EEG. I was taken into a small room with a computer screen and a bit of technical equipment. I sat in a lone chair facing the screen and had my head measured and marked, (for placement), by the research team while my EEG "bonnet" soaked in a solution of water, baby shampoo, and potassium chloride. As soon as 6 minutes were up, one student slid the bonnet over my head, making sure the key electrodes were properly aligned. Then, a window appeared on the computer screen showing which electrodes were "connected" (in green)and which still needed to be placed closer to my scalp (in red). Once all fifty-something electrodes showed green on the computer, we were good to go.

I was given a key pad and told that a 3x3 grid of symbols was going to flash on the screen. When I saw the empty diamond shape, I was to press a key on the key pad. Before that was to start, I needed to close my eyes and sit in the dark room for a few minutes to calm my brain down. As soon as that happened, I began the test. At first, my response after seeing the diamond was near .5 seconds. After a few times, I decided to try to improve my time--my fastest response was .343 seconds. Then, because of the almost rhythmic flashing of the symbols, I felt like I was being lulled to sleep--and I had to start really concentrating to keep my eyes open. And, then it was over. Afterward, my hair was wet from the bonnet and little round circles were visible on my forehead, nose, and cheeks from where the bonnet had been pressing. Having never had an EEG before, I wasn't really sure what to expect. But, it really was a fun experience for me! I'm glad it was good--because otherwise, I'd be dreading the two remaining EEGs.

Word Inventions

I remember when my younger siblings were little, they always came up with the funniest and cutest ways to say things wrong. For example, my little sister, Mirinda, thought that the 5 appendages at the end of her hands were "thingers" (pronounced like fingers). It really fit! These days, I'm thrilled because Kallie has recently reached this phase of life.

Yesterday, she was "reading" Whitney's Winnie-the-Pooh counting book, naming the item pictured and the amount. She came to one page of dandylions gone to seed and said, "Nine dandyfluffs!" What a great name for those little blowable flowers! It's now in my personal dictionary for words to use in the future.

FUN GIVEAWAY!

No, my friends, I am not doing a giveaway--but my blogging friend Leslie, at You Just Gotta Laugh, happens to be doing one in honor of her 100th post! Not only is she giving away Tupperware, but for those of you with kids, you can choose character-themed Tupperware if you win! It's a great chance to check out a new blog and participate in a fun giveaway. Head on over there (by clicking on the name of her blog above) and comment away!

Primarily Speaking

Last Sunday, a new 2nd Counselor was called into our Primary presidency. My previous 2nd Counselor had moved about a month before. We had our first meeting on Wednesday night--and I felt the biggest sense of relief! I didn't realize how much stress was on my shoulders from carrying those 2nd Counselor responsibilities along with my own until they were removed on Wednesday.

I have to be honest, being the Primary President in our ward is not the most difficult calling. We have about 15 kids in 3 classes...and they are all Junior Primary age. We don't have to worry about scouts, transition to YM/YW, etc. And, while we do have to worry about many of the normal Primary problems, the biggest issues I see are related to the approximate 1 year time limit each calling in this ward has.

BYU married student wards/stakes are often referred to as "training wards/stakes". The time limit on callings allows as many people as possible to experience many different callings, while also providing some stability with a ward structure. That way, when we leave BYU, we will have an understanding of how things are supposed to be run on both a ward and stake level.

Unfortunately, this also means that the entire Primary changes about once a year, bringing new teachers, new music people, new Nursery leaders, etc. This also means that as you learn things for "next time," you will most likely live in another ward before "next time" in that calling rolls around. Take the Primary Program, for example. Many wards begin writing their Primary Program early in the year. In our ward, we don't have that luxury. First of all, the Primary Presidency completely changes sometime during the summer. And, even after the Presidency is put in place, we still have NO idea how many children we will have by the time Fall semester starts. We are still working on putting together our program for this year, which is supposed to happen Oct. 26. The good news is that the kids, whether they've been in this ward or not, have been learning the songs throughout the year--so at least we know there will be music!

I'm really not complaining about this at all. I really appreciate what I'm learning...like the kids don't really know when things aren't going as planned. And, that sometimes the biggest part of your calling is teaching adults how to take on responsibility. And, that constant change isn't such a big deal after all.

Movie Traps

One of the benefits of living in Wymount is that we have a fridge door AND a metal front door which we can clutter with magnetic stuff. I try to keep the fridge relatively clutter-free, so the door is generally reserved for toys and recent displays of creativity. For this reason, the "Word Whammer" calls our front door home.

Kallie has a lot of fun with this toy--not only does it provide letter names, sounds, and the alphabet song, the letters lend themselves quite well to sorting and organizing. It was in the middle of a sorting event that Kallie decided to line the letters up in a row, spanning the tiny crevice where door meets doorframe. With the row of letters lined up for a couple of feet, we explained that it looked like she was trying to booby trap the door. Now, any time she wants to feel sneaky, she lines the letters up across the crevice and says, "Look! I made a movie trap!" I think we'll let that mispronunciation slide for now.

My Day Off

Today, Ryan took the girls ALL day so I could have the day off to accomplish a few things before he starts his last semester. It was wonderful and I got so much done!

I planned and gathered all the supplies for sharing time tomorrow. It will just be me and my secretary tomorrow, since one counselor moved and the other is out of town. I hope it won't be too crazy with everyone gone!

And, I started putting together my "Home Management Binder." I finally nailed down the sections I want to include, put together calendars for my binder through the end of the year, planned a 6 week cycle menu (which took MOST of the time), typed up the recipes for my menu, and purchased papers to use on my dividers.

While I was doing all of this, Ryan fed and got the girls dressed, got them down for naps/quiet time, took them grocery shopping, and "fixed" dinner. I say fixed, but really, he picked up dinner from Cafe Rio. Perhaps I should have him cook more often! :) He is such a great dad and an amazing husband. I was so grateful to have a day when I could just get things done without interruptions every 10 minutes. I have to admit, I felt a little guilty turning my responsibilities over to him for the day. But, I'm grateful I was able to sit down and finally put together things I've been thinking about for weeks now!

Fireworks

Tonight, as I was walking out of Wal-Mart, I looked up to see fireworks from the nearby Utah Valley University baseball stadium. I absolutely LOVE fireworks, so seeing them made me happy. And, they brought back a memory that also made me happy.

When I was serving in Vilnius, Lithuania, we lived in the heart of the city so we were literally in the middle of it all during celebrations. Turns out those Lithuanians love to celebrate! It seemed that at least once a week, there were flags hanging from every building in honor of something. One night, as my companion and I were climbing into bed, we heard fireworks booming overhead. We ran out to our balcony in our pajamas to see what was going on. Unfortunately, the fireworks were on the other side of our building, so we couldn't see them although we lived on the top floor. Eventually we got used to this happening and stopped running out to see the colors reflecting on the buildings across from us.

Another night, as we were once again climbing into bed, we heard Baltic techo-funk music growing louder and louder. Finally, when it sounded like it was right outside our apartment, we had to check it out. When we stepped out onto the balcony, we saw a flat-bed tractor trailer someone had turned into a "discotech," complete with a DJ, flashing lights, and dancers. Behind the truck, snaking through the streets of downtown Vilnius, there were cars with all sorts of teenage kids hanging out the windows shouting, dancing, laughing, etc. It was crazy! My companion and I joked that since we couldn't go to the discotech, they brought the discotech to us. It was one of the strangest things I've ever seen in my life!

Random Journal Entry

Tonight, I was reading through a gratitude journal I kept back in 1999. There are many things about my 2 close guy friends who were on missions at the time, as well as one particular boyfriend I had during college. Then I came across my March 1 entry. The last thing I was grateful for that day was "Having fun @ FHE! (Polish hookers and gay cows)." I'm certain I knew what it meant at the time--but now it's only good for a laugh because I can't remember anything about it! Who knew BYU Family Home Evening groups could introduce such interesting topics?

The Death of a Nap

I'm sitting here listening to my girls singing and chattering to each other in their bedroom. As of this moment, we're about an hour and a half into nap time and the constant noise has been going on for about the past 45 minutes. I think we're finally entering the phase I have dreaded since Kallie was an infant--the loss of her one and only remaining nap. It's such a challenge when you KNOW your child needs a nap, but all of the lullabies and bedtime stories in the world can't convince her of this. It gets even worse when your not-quite-2-year-old is woken from her much needed nap in the process.

As a mother, you know that you have to give everything you've got, 24 hours a day, no vacations. I don't think this happens all at once, though. I have still been clinging to nap time--the precious 2 hours of quiet when I could actually accomplish something in real time--as "my" time. But, when I get down to the truth of it all, losing that quiet, calm time is just the next step in the never-ending process of immersing myself even more into motherhood.

The Ending of an Era

For as long as I can remember, the brown and blue Deseret Towers dorms have stood on the corner of 9th East and 1430 North. They weren't much to look at, but every time I drove south past them, I would glance up at the 7th floor of U Hall, third room in, and feel a wave of memories wash over me.

I remember moving in as a 17-year old freshman. So many girls were completely boy crazy and I refused to be part of them. So, instead of posting, "Will cook for love," in our window, (which I DID see posted in a dorm window my freshman year), my roommate and I hung up the word "BOYS" with a huge X through it. I'm not sure too many people could see it from ground level, but the statement itself was more important than the visibility at the time.

In spite of the sign, I remember talking to one particular boy on the phone for six hours! He was truly just a friend, (we never went on a date), and had we been actually talking face-to-face, I'm sure our conversation would have died after the first hour or so. We talked for so long that I had to move the phone into the hall so my roommate could go to bed.

Speaking of phones, I remember the old campus phone system that would let you send messages without calling the person. After studying for a while, we'd turn around and see that the little red "message" light on the phone was blinking. It was always fun to know that someone was thinking of you, (even if it was only long enough to forward a phone message)!

I remember waking up at 4:30 a.m. to walk to the Provo Temple and participate in baptisms for the dead. Since my first class wasn't until 10 a.m., I went home and went back to sleep when we finished. The same 6-hour-phone-call boy called me every morning to provide me with a weather report and let me know whether I should carry an umbrella, wear a sweater, or put on my snow boots. (I didn't realize back then that he liked me. Duh.)

I remember one girl who came in late every night and always announced her presence when she got off the elevator. Later that same year, this cute girl went to the hospital and was admitted to an eating disorder program. Who know that the attention-grabbing techniques were really just a cry for acceptance and help?

I remember sitting in the utility room talking with my next door neighbor. Hours upon hours of conversations filled with hundreds of tangents. I've kept loosely in touch with her over the years and she's done some wonderful things with her life.

I remember one of the lonliest times of my life. I had just come back from spending a great Christmas vacation with a friend who I had reconnected with the night before I came to BYU back in September. My parents were unreachable on a trip, (this was before the days of cell phones), and I didn't want to be back at school when the connections I felt were still tied so closely to people at home. Although it was tough, it was a time of learning to trust in the Lord, learning to extend myself a little more, and learning to enjoy the opportunities presented to me.

Now, I live just a block from the remains of those memories. Deseret Towers was torn down a few months ago and a dirt patch has taken its place. I won't be able to show my kids where I lived during my first year of college--but at least the memories I gained will be readily available for the rest of my life.

Progress, Part II

This has GOT to be the second fluke in a row! Seriously, people! Today, while getting ready to leave my parents' house, I saw Whitney toddle into the bathroom and heard her lift up the lid. This usually means there's already a hand and/or foot in the potty. I stumbled over children and shoes strewn across the kitchen floor, (there were five kids, age 5 and younger, running around all day today there...), and made it to the bathroom door in time to see Whitney clambering onto the potty. I scooped her up and put her back on the floor, when suddenly an idea popped into my head, "Maybe she needs to go potty..." When I asked her, she said yes--so I put her on the potty. She grinned and said, "Potty! Pee-pee!" I was in the midst of reassuring her that yes, that's what we do on the potty, when the unexpected actually happened. She PEED in the potty! I was, once again, shocked. I seriously can't believe that my not-even-2-yet child is already scoring big on the potty. Although I don't see this really going anywhere in the next few months, I suppose stranger things HAVE happened...

Progress

A few weeks ago, I posted about Whitney confusing the bathtub for the potty and now I have an update. (Since you were all waiting on the edge of your seat for the next installment.) Knowing Whitney's lovely little habit, I'm much more attentive and tuned in to what she's doing when playing in the bathtub. Last night during their bath time, Whitney looked at me, pointed to her bum, and said something that sounded like potty. I figured maybe she was trying to tell me something, so I whisked her out of the tub and sat her on the potty. Sure enough--she pooped in the potty!! I was so shocked. I figured it's never too early to start rewarding appropriate behavior, so she got 3 m&m's for her communication and the result.

Now, lest you think she'll be potty trained next month--she's really not ready for that yet. While she can SAY potty, she can't undress herself, nor does she ever have dry diapers when she wakes up. I figure we've got about another year before we get to that point. BUT--if we can at least make a change where the bathtub is concerned for now, I will be one happy camper!

Kallie's Cafe

If Kallie were to ever open her own cafe, the menu would be VERY short. Each week when I plan our family menu, I ask Kallie what she would like for dinner that week and she ALWAYS says mac n' cheese and chocolate milk. If I press a little further for some originality, she'll probably come up with chicken "maggots", (her pronunciation of nuggets), which she only gets when we take her out to eat--and that doesn't happen often.

Now that I think about it, there would probably also be an entire list of vegetables on her menu: broccoli, peas, corn, brussels sprouts, carrots, etc. In our home, we usually have to bribe her with vegetables to get her to eat the rest of her dinner. (i.e. "Kallie, you need to eat 3 bites of chicken before you may have any more brussels sprouts.") Whitney is the same way, though. Hmmm...I must have strange kids!

Two Pillows

Since Monday, there has been one pillow on my bed. It looked quite lonely there all by itself. And, although it did a decent job at holding up the decorative pillows from the middle of the headboard, it all looked just a little lopsided and slumpy. I decided it that's just the way it was going to be until Friday.

Usually, there are TWO pillows on my bed, but Ryan remembered to take his with him when he left on the annual Father/Son campout his family holds every year. Like that single pillow, I do a decent job without him here, but I feel a little lopsided and slumpy when he's gone. And, I'm not the only one. This year was the first year that Kallie really knew what was going on. She missed her daddy terribly! When we pulled away from dropping him off on Monday morning, I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw her beautiful big eyes filling with tears and her little chin quivering in her quest for bravery. She kept telling me in a trembling voice that she was really going to miss her dad. I told her I was going to miss him, too. From that point on, we were counting sleeps until daddy came home--there were 4, (not counting naps).

Then, last night, after Kallie had gone to bed, Ryan called to say they had done everything they had wanted to do and they were coming home a day early! Wah-hoo! I didn't tell Kallie until AFTER her nap today because I knew she wouldn't be able sleep from the excitement of it all. When she found out, though, she couldn't wait to see him! Tonight, as we reviewed her day before she said her prayers, she said, "We went to Rick and Brenda's house to pick up daddy. And he was stinky. And he was wearing a hat." And, that's exactly what she said in her prayers, too!

As for the pillows, my pillow is no longer lonely in the middle of the headboard. There are two of them standing side by side once more. The decorative pillows are standing tall and everything seems balanced again--just as it should be.

The Inevitable Olympics Post

I am a fan of the Olympics--and I have been for as long as I can remember. There's nothing quite like watching someone hit their landing, win by 8 hundredths of a second, or just seeing the people of the world come together to cheer. This year has not failed to diappoint.

To begin with, the Opening Ceremonies were amazing. There have been spectacular shows in the past, but nothing that really compared with Beijing's. I couldn't believe the choreography of 15,000 people who moved in unison, making perfect rows and shapes, all while running around. That alone was astounding to me, not to mention the incredible technology, and that huge painting--what a great idea!

During the Procession of Nations, I was struck by the differences between all the people, as well as the distinct beauty in each face. Isn't it amazing that we all live on the same planet? I also thrilled to cheer for the four nations I have lived in, (U.S.A., Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia), as well as gave mini-shout outs to the nations my brothers have lived in, (Phillipines, Korea, and Taiwan ("Chinese Taipei" during the procession)). We let Kallie stay up to watch most of it, although she got a little slap-happy at the end when I taught her to say, "Woot!"

I jumped up off the couch and shouted for Team U.S.A. when they won the men's 4x100 relay race. Who could have planned a more exciting race? And, although I haven't struggled to train as those men have, my heart was bursting with pride in their accomplishment. Last night, I watched the Men's Gymnastics Team earn the bronze metal. It was the first Olympics for all of them--and they medaled! Their celebrations choked me up! I wish Japan could have been as excited about their silver as Team U.S.A. was for their bronze. Once again, I swelled with pride in my country and in the people who work hard to represent us at this amazing sporting event. I can't wait to see what other "Olympic Moments" lie ahead!

As a side note, I cannot fully appreciate the Olympics without giving a shout out to Little Caesar's pepperoni, Blue & Red Funfetti cake in the pan, figure skating, and an artistic Olympic pedicure. That was certainly a gold medal night! :)