In Concert, One Night onLY!

This is dedicated to the one I love...

count baby count!

(one, two, fwee, fo)



This is what makes it all worthwhile.

When I called to sweet talk Jason after telling him we needed x amount for the first week in order to buy books, pay teachers, etc. he says, "Bran. I figured this out. That's about $1500/year on piano lessons." I thought, "What in the world is he talking about and how did he arrive at that figure?" Turns out he thought they were $30 a week. He was still completely willing to pay for them (both of us would love to know how to play an instrument (other than a powwow drum or a kazoo).

More from Cali

I've been trying to think of some more stories about Ft. Ord that I want to include in a personal history, but what I remember are bits and pieces so I'll toss them around here...

I went to a friend's house for a sleepover. I didn't know her very well, but her family was great. Tons of kids. We sat down to eat dinner around a picnic style table and a bowl of soup was placed before me. I have never been a picky eater, so I started right in. I was thoroughly enjoying the meal when I asked what kind of soup we were eating. Her dad informed me it was rabbit stew. One of the children informed me that dear-old-dad had shot it yesterday. I swear I pulled a pellet out of my mouth during dinner, but the mind can play tricks on you (especially one aging like mine). After dinner we spun on the tire swing again and again. The following morning I puked again and again. Cause undetermined.

There was a park down the hill from our house that was situated in a "bowl". I LOVED rollerskating and chipped two teeth in at the bottom of this bowl. Good times :)

My best friend lived in the same duplex we lived in. She was black, her name Jewell Dunlap. Every other Saturday she'd have to spend half the day inside while I paced, to have her hair washed and braided. Those Saturdays were the longest of my life. She and I would put on talent shows incessantly. We'd deliver invitations to the neighbors who'd show up during dinner and we'd jam to Wham!, Michael Jackson, and Whitney Houston.

My mom threw a baby shower for our tiny,enormously pregnant, Filipino neighbor, whose water broke during the shower. My mom finally discovered what she thought was a bladder control issue and proceeded with her to the hospital to coach her through delivery since her husband was overseas.

I'll NEVER forget the day I discovered my third grade teacher, Ms. Cornell was a smoker. I was so disappointed in her. :(

I had an enormous ?cloth? poster of Michael Jackson in a white and yellow suit hanging above my bed and a Burger King poster of the Jackson 5 on another wall.

I played "Lucy" in a Charlie Brown play in 3rd grade. I had to dig deep to get into a an annoying, loud-mouthed, boy-crushing girl like "Lucy".

Tooth Fairy

Having just watched last week's Office episode (classic, by the way), I just walked upstairs to put the temperamental toddler to bed. I found our sickly 6 year-old on the couch, most likely fleeing the annoyance of Georgia, and right next to her I found Georgia.

No biggie. We have an open relationship with the surfaces in our house that accomodate a body for rest. However, said six-year-old is hiding her tooth (which the Tooth Fairy didn't replace last night), under her throw pillow, in a tin. I was going to delegate this one to The Chief, but I'll step up (with a cloth to dull the "tink, tink, tink" of the tooth), and handle this.

Visit

The first-born baby Dial. She and Naali (Navajo for paternal grandmother), are here for a visit. We enjoy them sooooo much.



Naali-

Encourages frequent Temple trips

Bakes like a champ

Folds the clothes everyday in my neverending laundry basket

Is diabetic (so we eat healthily when she's here)

Doesn't say anything when I wake up and my kids are already sitting at the table eating a hot breakfast

Put together the rest (140/150) of my sister-in-law's wedding announcements

Is wise in every way and leaves me better than she found me



Non-

Knows everything an eight year old should know and tells Liv so she'll be ready

Carries Mae around while I clean the house

Will not sleep without Grandma beside her

Was the only excited person in Utah when it snowed today

Easter Babes

The Easter Bunny made it to our humble home (Georgia's shades have not left her freckled face since), we had our City Easter Egg Hunt (still have some eggs from the one I forgot to have at home :), made Easter Cookies (see previous post), and cooked until the wee hours on Saturday. I think next Easter we'll have spagetti. We had our spiritual egg hunt just before bed.

Sunday we arose (still cooking), and checked the oven for our Easter Cookies. Sure enough, they were as hollow as the tomb (and mmm,mmm, good). Then, we got on our new digs. I have nothing to do with outer beauty in these babes, but I'll do all I can to exploit it on Easter. They were so adorable! I have purely selfish reasons for getting gussied up on Easter. Next year I'll explain this because it's a much better reason for it all. I'm a schmuck.

Sweeet Baby Mae. She learned to say "hi" on Saturday and said it the entire 3 hour block. Jason and I looked HOT too! We had a beautiful Easter Sunday, focused on the Savior and his resurrection, surrounded by our family and friends. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that He lives and loves us all. I am grateful that my children can learn of the hope and peace they will have in their lives if they place their trust in the Savior.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

The Good:

New Easter Traditions. You can't pry me from my Easter best dresses and ties, this is what I got the kids this year...

(Not pictured is Isaac's black and white checked tie from Children's place that matches Mae's dress [on the right]... which I hope is still avail. because I haven't gotten it yet and I am still in search of a little black sweater to go over Liv's dress.)

At Ms. Valerie's house this Wednesday we got lots of fun ideas for celebrating Easter. My favorite, which we will start Saturday is this:

Easter Cookies

1 c whole pecans

1 tsp vinegar

2 egg whites

pinch of salt

1 c sugar

1 tsp vanilla

wooden spoon

masking tape

bible

ziploc baggie

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (this is important- don't wait until you're halfway done with the recipe).

Read John 19:1-3

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with a spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. [set aside the nuts to add later].

Read John 19:28-30

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross this is what was given to him to drink. *[Add the egg whites to the vinegar.] Eggs represent life. The resurrection will give us new life.

Read John 20:11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read John 3:16-17 & John 15:12-13

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because he loves us and died for our sins. He wants us to know and belong to him.

Read John 19:40

Add the vanilla. Explain that they place fragrant spices in the linens in the tomb.

Read Isiah 1:18

Beat with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks are formed. [5-10 minutes] Explain the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Matthew 27:57-60

Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonful onto baking paper covered cookie sheet. Explain each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read Matthew 27:66

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn off the oven. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Then Go To Bed! Explain they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 &22

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow. On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matthew 20:1-18

[The account of Mary finding the tomb empty].

The Bad (or not so bad):

Read my last post. We need a break and we're not afraid to take one!

The Ugly:

I need (yet again) to reorganize my school things and find a better place for them. We've migrated upstairs since the sun came out and we don't enjoy fetching our supplies from the dungeon anymore. But, since I know this reorganization is coming I haven't done much cleaning of the basement and my m-i-law and niece are coming manana. bleh (not the visit, the cleaning). Do any of you have a magic wand?

Refresher Course

Things are getting much too serious around here. I've freaked out on my 6 year olds enough this week for not remembering to start adding in the ones column and forgetting to "run" the sounds together rather than sound and repeat the Dick and Jane book words.

What in heaven's name am I doing homeschooling?
1. Teaching my children how to learn - freaking out teacher not one of the ways I imagined.
2. Evoking a love of learning - once again, freaking out afrohead mother not going to do it.
3. Spending ever so much time knowing my children - the ones who say, "Mama, I love you," even after I freak out.

Next week we'll be having a Spring Break of sorts. I'm going back to our roots. When we enjoyed eachother's company and I wasn't running to 18,000,000 stores to find this supply or that. Forget creating baby geniuses, impressionist art, or blenvying 'til I want to slit my wrists. Let's eat paste and chill with a couple hundred good books on the back lawn.

I am regressing back to my Grant Elementary days as a first year teacher, changing and changing 'til midnight, and changing again after each seminar or mentor session, or walking by some other teacher's room. Makes me want to throw up.

Elder Robert D. Hales spoke in our last Stake Conference and in the midst of his talk - mostly on temples (I remember thinking it sounded like a random thought), he said something to the affect of 'Why can't we be happy just being ourselves'? He was looking right at me I swear. I was watching on the enormous screen put up in the overflow. I always want to be me, only better, but I always think that girl (or homeschool mom, or photographer, or wife, or diva:) ) over there is my version of better.

I'm all for improving myself. If I could only improve by myself I'd be so much better off. Anyone seen a good blog on that?

City Mouse/Country Mouse

What's a girl to do?

I adore the big city. All bustle and busy, never a dull moment. People of all sorts and varieties to shuffle through and watch. Culture (although what some call culture these days???). Food from every continent.

I'd love to live smack dab in the center of it all. Not the burbs, not on the edge of town or even "minutes from downtown". In a highrise loft (I'll even take a bedroom or two if that's all you got). Even in Salt Lake City, not necessarily the big city, an apartment downtown costs upward of $300/sq. foot, with no yard for the wild indians.

Then there's the country girl in me. When my hair is especiallly big Jason says, "There's the cowgirl in you." I love the idea of a clothesline in the backyard. Sending the kids out to do chores. Puttin' up fences. Riding and training horses and giving my kids lessons. Going to horse shows. Growing a HUGE garden and "putting up" all the spoils in the fall. I've never done it, but how 'bout raising a cow? You can never be too self-reliant. We've been listening to Little House in the Big Woods on cd in the car and I love that Laura's mother boils the pig's head to make head cheese (ew), and they use a corn cob for a babydoll. There's something about doing it with your own two hands that keeps you humble and innovative. However, Jason's idea of owning land/a farm measures in miles, not acres. You know how he is, "Do it big."

I'm All Out of Love

I've recently fallen out of love with my blog. But now I'm back in.

Simon Says

Follow Me!

www.dollfacepics.blogspot.com

More from Cali

My dad is a born and bred Utahn, and a cowboy. So, it goes without saying that he loved his farm dogs. He loves heelers. So, when we moved to Cali we got a Queensland Blue Heeler. We named her Jesse...and Jesse 2.



This is how it all went down. We drove to Utah for a mid-summer visit. It must have been aroun '84. We always had fun in Goshen because nearly all the cousins lived there and they had horses and trucks you could drive around the field, and hay to stack, and Grandma Mary had a family room the size of Jason's ugly new (old) Cadi that we held talent shows in. We brought Jessie with us.



Grandpa Henry and Grandma Virgie lived in the house across the driveway from Grandma Mary's House in what my mom affectionately calls "the compound" (3 homes within 40 feet of eachother sharing the farm). Grandpa Henry was in the haze of alzheimer's. We'd catch him peeing on the tires of the cars (we thought it was so cool), and my Uncle Brent would lock and re-lock and re-purchase locks for the cellar Grandpa Henry was always tyring to get in to get coal and such. He would tell us the greatest stories of his time playing baseball (was it semi-pro?), and all sorts of stuff that happened many moons ago, but he couldn't remember anything recent.



My parents elsewhere, my awesome, eclectic Aunt Kathy (Dad's Aunt), was sitting with me at Grandma Mary's when Grandpa Henry came in with Jessie's collar. I thought irritatingly, she had gotten away from it and now we'd have to search for her. Luckily, my fears were put to rest when Grandpa Henry asked, "Does this belong to anyone here? I just hit the dog." He said it like he was talking to the neighbors and honestly, after growing up on a farm, maybe that's how you'd say it to your grandkids too. Grandpa Henry made roadkill of our dog and what good did it do to be mad at a sweet old man with alzheimer's? So we moved on to Jessie 2. She had 3 puppies in the backyard dog run and my dad cropped their tales with our butcher knife. Another reason you are so cool if you grow up on a farm.

Talent Show

We were pleased to be presented with a talent show by an acclaimed cast, our creative babies.

Cast:

Isaac-Joseph

Liv-Mary

Mae-Baby Jesus, no...a cow, no...Baby Jesus

Georgia-a cow, no...Baby Jesus, no...a cow, no...a horse

Chloe-a sheep that bites

It was a beautiful recreation of the Christmas Story as you can well imagine. I can send an autographed copy of this press release photo if you send me a stamped, self-addressed envelope and $10.00.

Food For Thought

I've been thinking...


About this.

I share her views on this. But as much as I do, I would hardly believe that I and her Sis. Ryan could ever be peas in a pod. Thinking on this is probably as much as I can handle (let alone throwing in some action)

SideBar

I think my brother moonlights as the host of Cash Cab.

?

When I find a better picture we'll discuss it.

AquaPhobic

Little Mae-toes has suddenly and unexpectadly become water nuts. She must now bathe with another body or she entirely freaks out. Kind of a tush pain, but these are sweet...

And I hardly think Liv minds.

I have used my Christensen butt/thighs to bring to pass much good in my life. Not the least of which is becoming the all-time Chinese jumprope and "bars" champ at George S. Patton Elementary School in Ft. Ord California. *Which is why I didn't get beat up for wearing the Strawberry Shortcake knicker set my Aunt Chris made me, or the ribboned barrettes, complete with dangling star-ish shaped beads.

I jumped from ankles to ears when that rubberband rope (which I constructed), was pulled from my backpack. Though many a transient army brat tried, I was undefeatable. And, when I got bored with my Asian pastime I moved on to "the bars". Utah doesn't have bars like California has bars. We had rows of bars parallel to eachother about 5 feet apart and rising about 4 feet off the ground. We'd face eachother and gossip while we did our genie drops and various other death-defying tomfoolery. I could do anything you asked, and I did. Genie drops were a drop in the bucket. Within a couple of weeks of "the bars", I was doing everything with no hands. I shudder to think.

I got this picture from an ABC News article detailing the bacteria found on playground equipment across America. Really? Why are kids obese? Heaven forbid they get germs on their hands.

Once, while waiting for my brainiac brother to conference with his teacher (sans parents even, show-off), I decided to try the bars at the kindergarten playground on for size. Too small. Guess how I found out. Oh, the simple warm-up of a genie drop turned into a minor concussion that I was much too proud to tell anyone about. Imagine the full force of your body (starting in sitting position), being shoved back, in order to swing ones legs beneath oneself and land upright, hitting the ground at the base of the skull on sand covered asphalt. It was yummy. Maybe the concussion wasn't minor.

I wasn't dropped on my head as a baby. I was genie dropped at age 7.

Link

As you all know, I straightened my hair pre-Thanksgiving. It started curling up again and I tried to make it work for me, but it just wasn't right with some here, some there, some straight, some curly. So I went to Jason's beloved hippie MaryBeth, who is just darling and she permed me.

So, here is the link to my hair blog in case you're interested in seeing my new look. Isn't it FABULOUS!?

To be honest, it makes me look younger. Like 12. I should have said something when the curlers were going in. Poor MaryBeth has never seen me. She is Jason's go-to girl for a wash, deep condition, blow dry, and splitting of the eyebrows. She thought it would look more natural this way (a spiral). This is not natural.

As I've told a few friends, I'm pretending like I'm a supermodel and I wanted to look like this.

I LOVE the 80's!

And now, more about me.

While I'm nearly going to get carried away in the details of my s-i-l's wedding, I must pause and remember...

1983

New address, 411 Hayes Circle Fort Ord, CA

You could have called me at (408) 384-6666

We'll be here for a while. This was a good time for me. I remember a lot about Cali.

My dad was stationed in Cali before we could all leave WA. So, we took advantage of a school break (most likely- my madre was never one to spontaneously remove us from our curriculum), and drove down the coast to Monterey to visit dear old dad.

We were in the habit of "K-mart hogie picnics" :) and so it goes, we seized our samiches and headed to the shore. New in town, we just searched for a place to park near the sea and hiked down the sand-built mountain to the beach. As my father's daughter, it was my duty to need to do my duty immediately upon arrival.

Big Dan graciously volunteered to take me to a potty (surely having to go himself), and Colton tagged along. We did our business and headed back to our feast. I was looking down at the sand as I ran (you'd have thought we were from a landlocked state with our enthusiasm for all things ocean. We didn't get out much), when I heard Colton yell, "DAD!" I glanced up and to my delight, I saw my first naked man.

Oh mama, he was a sight too. Rushing away from the tide. Broad smile, jogging posture, "80 year old balls..." *Big Daddy* sorry, I had to say it. Yes. He was OLD. OLD. And happy as any of the clams beneath the sand on which he chased the sea water. Mid-his-own-jog, my dad scooped us up by the head, fingers pressed against our eyeballs and ran for home. By the time we found a beach that was not nude, our hogies were soggy. Oh, and we saw humpback whales migrating.

And that's how sex education should be done.

No sign of this sign

Charmed, I'm Sure

What you are about to witness is perhaps the greatest transformation of all time.

The prettiest bathroom you've ever seen...

Thanks to my br0-in-law Jeremy I got a fresh coat of plaster on my walls.

Thanks to Ray from Tile Utah I didn't have to stress over my not-so-plumb walls.

I plan to put each child's name above their towel hook.

After a visit with my balance board (all you mii's out there will understand), I will be the first to christen the new lav.

Like it Never Happened

I am enrichment leader and lucky me, the first 3 activities were pre-planned and mostly I showed up and hosted. Well, last week we had Mrs. Cora Sawyer (her love's name is Tom and one of her son's is Mark Twain Sawyer), for our Relief Society Birthday dinner. She displayed some of the most beautiful dresses and "drawers" dating from the 1800's. She knew story after story about her "Onery Armstrong" side of the family. She said (basically),

"If you don't write it down it's as if it never happened."

We were encouraged to write our history. You do it too.

So here goes.

Story #1

My Earliest Memory

As far as I know I was only 3 or 4 (1980) when this happened. I remember going to a large park in Washington. We were at some sort of festival. Colton and I were intrigued by all the goings on and especially with an area where there was water. I don't have the foggiest idea if it was a lake or a fountain, but I wanted to swim. Well, Colton, being of the male persuasion just stripped down to his skivvies. I, on the other hand, had to have a more creative solution to nakidity.

My dad was all over this. I distinctly remember being whisked into a potty and stripped down to the My Little Ponies's and my dad's long striped knee highs tied together in front and back to hide my baby boobs. I think even then I was slightly embarrassed. Probably didn't last long when I hit the agua. Thanks for not using duct tape and pennies dad.

Other 1980-ish stats:

-Lived at 5604 South Mullen, Tacoma

-I had a bowl cut, my mom, an afro, my bro the partridge family kid cut, my dad, same as today

-We had a robber break into our house and steal some jeans while we were in the back

-I went to The Little Red Schoolhouse

-We watched Star Trek laying on our giant pillows next to the fireplace my parents re-faced with diagonal cedar. That was a HOT look. (I took the same wood off of my fireplace in our first condo)

-We watched a 3d movie at home

-My dad was travelling for the Army all the time and my mom used to take Colton and I to a place called Racks (Rax?) for stroganoff baked potatoes and salad bar often.

-My mom's co-workers hired a stripper covered in balloons to surprise her on her birthday.

-My friend's dad used to call me Brandywine- what an idiot

-I would eat kimche at my Fillipino friend Jennifer's house.
-Colton took break dancing lessons from my bff Linda's brother, Mao. He was hot.

-I chased Colton around the house with a meat knife while we were being babysat. Don't know if my parents knew that one! :)

-I was jumproping at recess in my favorite grey and purple striped mini-skirt outfit when said skirt ended up around my ankles.

-Our school had a "Santa's Workshop" where we could buy gifts for our parents and I got my mom a faux gold fan necklace that really opened and closed. I was so proud.

-I jumped off the top of the "big toy" (playground) at our school, Manitou Elementary and bit through my tongue.

This is the Alma-mater today

-I had a shoe kicking fetish and kicked my shoe on top of the onery guy's grocery on the way home from school. I had to go ask the jerk if he'd get my shoe down. He actually did.

-Our babysitter's husband Mike Tysoned some guys ear up the street in a neighborhood feud.

-Our babysittery's son tore up his knee while we were playing pickle in the yard.

-Across the street from our babysitter lived an old man that had a grandson in a motorized wheelchair that used to run over us for fun.

-The people across the street from us had purple velvet curtains and tons of kids. 10 I think.

-I spilled something every dinner as I spun the lazy susan on our table.

-My brother got bitten by 3 dogs within a span of about a month.

-I had a big baby blue bike with a fat ol' seat. I dreamed of having a banana seat.

-I gave my parents a one-woman show singing "Ebony and Ivory", only I thought they said, "...on my kiano keyboard..." huh?