The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

My kids this morning instead of attending Church.

Grab a snack.  This is going to be a long post.  In reading in the Book of Mormon I've been trying to impart the importance of journaling to my offspring, so I decided to "journal" in an attempt to make some good of the day.  And, my Aunt Louise cussed me out for not posting enough pictures of said offspring.  I'm also feeling guilty about sluffing Stake Conference.  

The Good: The girls are back in their room with new texture on the walls and ceiling, and new paint.

The Bad: Sans moulding.

The Ugly: Mae fell between the bed and the wall and shimmied under the bed as she wailed at 3:54 this morning.  She came to sleep with me which means that one or more body parts fall asleep, but not my entire being.

The Good: Sunroc had a $5 rebate on their awesome paint.

The Bad: It ended yesterday and I forgot to get the rest of it to finish the rest of the house after it's textured.

The Ugly: It's called "Solitaire"...as in solitary confinement?  Is it grey, is it purple, ugh?  It better look awesome when it's all done. 

The Good: I have a new pantry!   I knocked out a wall, framed the pantry and around the fridge. 

 I even moved an outlet, a light switch and a light fixture.

The door you see used to belong to a broom closet around the corner. 

The Bad: Don't tell a code inspector how low that outlet is now. 

We missed the era when that paint (yes it's paint, not paper) was awesome.

The Ugly: That big new fridge has been broken for 2 weeks.  The compressor that usually lasts longer than the hinges on the doors.  Gone. 

Sunroc and Home Depot have gotten 1/2 of our money this week.  McDonalds and local gas stations, the other.

And my kids look like hooligans.

*Refer back up to the last photo

The Good: She knows the meaning of  "potty", "toilet", and "bafroom", and has the most delicious booty you've ever seen in a pair of Elmo undies.  *we don't say "panties" it sounds so icky.*

The Bad: She will go when I take her, but not on her own.

The Ugly:  She's pooped this week at the library and Isaac's soccer game. 

More Good: Jason and his bro. Jeremy are awesome drywallers.

The  man and his mud.

I found this lenoleum under the carpet in the closet I was working on.  I like to call it "Walking on Sunshine"

The sunshine one gets from fried green tomatoes.  Thanks mom for planting this year since we couldn't!

Homemade bread.  When we were out painting baseboards yesterday, our self-proclaimed nosey neighbor brought us some homeade bread.  It goes swimmingly with our homemade apricot jam!  And I'm pretty sure it tastes better when you cut it on a cutting board that has sheetrock dust on it.

More Good: Jason re-hung the swing and now my kids don't feel nearly as abandoned.

The Bad: I missed pear picking.  Apparently it's not the same as any other kind of picking.  So when I went to see if they were ready I just found them all on the ground already.

The ugly: The project behind the swing that we can't finish without a bobcat.  A dog run that was very well made and very unneccesary.

The Good: My kids love school.

They all got great teachers and are making friends so now it's just Mae and Me in the morning.  We should start a radio show.

Georgia got to go to kindergarten at school instead of homeschool.

The Bad: It was- open the playdough and see ya' mom!

The Ugly: Note the refrigerator pictures once more.  One of those yellow papers magneted to the front lists the school schedule.  While tearing down walls Wednesday last (the second day of kindergarten), I watched the clock intently for 11:30 so I could pick up George on time.  Then I realized at 11:15 that she got out at 11:05!  Then I realized  it was Wednesday, which is early out day so Jorge had been sitting in the office waiting for me since 10:50.

The Ugliest of all:  I've been late to get her twice in two weeks.  I suck.

The Good: Chloe had her 2nd Birthday on September 9th.  Commemorated with a bath and a party.

The Bad: She hadn't had a bath since we moved in two months ago.

The Ugly: She peed on the plastic in the dining room and we had to clean the plastic and the floor.  Ick.

The Good:  I get to do flowers for a really cool couple next weekend.  I did a bouquet for pictures this week.

There is no bad or ugly in this situation!

The Good: Finished my first Half Marathon in 2:36!  No resuscitation or iv fluid required!

Apparently my kids are singing barbershop and Jason is beat boxing.

Everyone was at the finish to cheer me on!  Last time George had to use the can and they missed it.

The Bad: I've only been running once since my race.  If I'm going to make a habit of it I should really make a habit of it.

The Ugly: Which, it turns out is VERY good.  My running pants sagged as I ran.  I spent a good portion of the race tugging them back up :) 

Phew!

Adoption! Spread the Word!

To the Relative Who Doesn't Understand
by RevaBeth L. Russell
(my awesome neighbor)

When I was young I played with dolls and imagined.
Other interests replaced the dolls
But I would remember.
Marriage,
And as a couple we made plans
But we were to wait and wait
And wait.
After time
I kenw that I would never be a birth mother.

Well-meaning people had their suggestions.
Silent crying
We smiled and nodded.

A nine-month pregnancy couldn't seem as long as my
two-year adoption pregnancy,
A doctor checking your weight, blood pressure
must be easier
Then the official lady
Checking
On your fitness
For parenthood.
No stranger questions a birth mother about her money,
marriage, home, and childhood.
No letters of reference are sought as to her character.

Well-meaning people discussed adoption,
Telling of "so-and-so" and "it only took them two months."
We smiled and nodded.

Listening to the heartbeat
Feeling the strength of a kick
The final minutes of labor
Sitting carfully on stitches
Could not bring more pain than
"It will be eight months to a year
Before we can process your papers."

Well-meaning people inquired how many children we had
Telling fo the joys we were missing.
We smiled and nodded.

When your boy was placed in our arms
And as a couple you realized this child was yours, forever,
Did you ever think that even when our child is placed in our arms
We would still haave to wait
For the adjustment period to be over
For the judge to say he was ours
Legally.

Well-meaning people say,
"Oh, you had your baby the easy way."
We smile and nod politely.

I want you to acknowledge that this child is mine.
I have cried the same tears as you.
I have said the same prayers as you.
Your child was born from under your hears,
And close to your heart you fed him.
My child was born from within my heart,
And close to my heart he was fed.

Now I plead that you will accept him and his differences.
He  may not look like us
As would one carrying our genes,
But he is ours:
Carrying our training, care, and love.  I watch him now at play...imagining...
And these words never rang more true:
"For unto us a child is born,
And unto us a son is given."

Had the pleasure of taking pictures of this wonderful, waiting to adopt couple. 

Dave and Michelle Mitchell

daveandshelladopt.blogspot.com

See other photos here.

Blessed #7 (Lucky)

Le Menu

(Because anything French is Fancy)

Roast Turkey with Rosemary and Sage Butter

Citrus and Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Creamed Potatoes

Corn Bread and Herb Stuffing with Gizzards and Egg (I know, super fancy)

Sweet Potatoe Casserole with Candied Pecan Streusal

Collard Greens With Bacon

Mixed Greens with Strawberries and Herb Garlic Brie (just for moi)

Fried Cornbread

Desserts

Banana Pudding

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Pie

Happy Thanksgiving!

The big Indian and I are in full Thanksgiving-prep mode. He has yet to clean off his desk and we have to gut the living room to serve dinner because in the 1940's everyone was a midget and therefore dining rooms needed to be no bigger than 6x8.

I've painted the window frame in our bedroom and the wall behind our bed where I spackled around the too big holes for the sconces many moons ago. I'm making new bedroom curtains and pillows tonite. Very important for hosting Thanksgiving dinner. I also painted the baseboards in the hallway downstairs because they attract grime impervious to cleaning solution and Thanksgiving partygoers would lose their appetites if they travelled their before dinner.

Nevermind that the people coming for dinner are here at least twice weekly and hold handrum practice in our bedroom.

Blessed #6

I had another post up because I thought I ought to post something this week.

It was really stupid (that's a bad word at our house so don't tell my kids I posted it).

I needed to be reminded of how great my friends are and how blessed I am that I've had so many close friends. It was pretty silly.

I am in sort of funk ever since some folks on Facebook blacked out their names on me.

They were mad that I didn't agree politically. One put "Oh good grief" as a comment and just like that, we were estranged.

Then the other one followed and she wasn't even part of our conversation. The first one must have told her friend not to like me.

I don't know these people, which I think makes it worse that they want nothing to do with me.

Then Chloe ran across the street to try to make a new friend while I was blowing leaves and the lady holding the dog that Chloe was so anxious to get to know proceeded to scream louder than the leaf blower and kick the dickens out of her in front of her mom, Olivia.

Liv said, "You know what I wanted to do Mama? I wanted to tell her, 'Do you like me to kick your dog?' and then I'd still kick it."

A friend of mine posted, "likes people. Almost 99% of the time." Yup.

I'm still feeling funky, but today I feel blessed that wasn't on the list of people that a former boss of mine hired some inmates to murder.

And because I am going to see a silly movie at midnight with some people who would never blackout their names on Facebook.

Blessed #5

I am so thankful to be able to hang out at home with the chittlins while Jason is off hunting bacon.

We have a sort of educational system here that we call

Home Schooling.

However, my kids are not homeschoolers as this educational video will point out.

blessed #3

I don't know who you are or what posessed you to dismiss this incredible fixture, but tonite, to you I am entirely grateful.

Seconds before I left my parents' home my dad casually produced this masterpiece. She's so fabulous I'll have to give her a name.

Franny.

Who gets rid of this stuff?

Are you high?

My dad used to frequent the Logan Deseret Industries when I was growing up. I literally hid under the dash until we were at least 50 feet clear of the driveway. Now I daresay I go more often than he does to thrift stores. At least 85% of my children's clothes and shoes are secondhand. This is my little way of giving back to the environment by recycling. LOL. LOL again, with my mouth really wide open. Really, I'm just both cheap and vain(ish).

Blessed #2

{Please take for granted that these are in no particular order

as my mind is no longer in any particular order

and I'm currently rebelling against my anal retentiveness (and doing a particularly fabulous job),

and therefore will not post anything with any forethought. Also take for granted that my husband is right up there at the top, but I will not post any patronizingly gushy entry re: him. So until he does something silly or incredibly fascinating I cannot write about the big indian.}

Demae Dressing

disregard the crumbs on the shelf. My battle with retentiveness works in all aspects of mother and wifehood.

I'm rather embarrassed that I don't have a photo of my beloved sushi/noodles joint on Center St. in Provo.

But I think they should be even more embarrassed that they have no presence on the web and therefore I couldn't even pirate one.

However, this dressing has my blessing. And more importantly carb and protein loading Liv's.

This girl can eat her weight in salad as long as I've splashed it with Demae Salad Dressing (and the slivers of carrot and cabbage are large enough to remove with fork tines).

Order Udon noodles. They are to DIE for!

Blessed

Every post in November will focus on our blessings.

This a.m. I got a text from Sarah that I must visit a particular url. It brought back the sweetest memories.

To have been given 4 babies.

Our birth stories are different, but oh so special.

Liv: 4 years of marriage, 2.5 years of "trying", 5 months of paper work, 1 last interview, 2 days 'til birth, 2 more 'til "delivery"

8 months later...

Isaac: "come pick up your son!"

18 months later...

Georgia: 2 months of paperwork, 3 weeks of waiting, birthmother phone call, 2 weeks 'til birth, 18 hour drive, Christmas Eve introduction.

3.5 years later...

2 months of paperwork, 3 months of delays, 2 weeks of waiting, 1 phone call during class, 8 hours later in our arms.

It is so exciting and divine much like this...

She does such a wonderful job of capturing the intensity and exhiliration. Grandma's face is the face of all adoptive grandmas, I swear!