What Were You Expecting?

Started reading a good book for book club this month. It was this:

It was witty and heartfelt, about a mother at Harvard working on a doctorate while expecting a baby with down syndrome.

However, the more I read the more uneasy I got about her disparaging comments about Mormons. She'd obviously left the church. So. Good on ya'. Do some soul searching, make a decision and live happily. Then she made comments about LDS folks that are indicative of any one's crazy, eccentric neighbor, but they were not the generalization she made them seem.

Then she started having her own "spiritual" episodes. Great. Hold on a minute, though. Some of her experiences were very outside the box. So, this obviously intelligent and experienced woman is welcome to any kind of bizarre happening in her life, but Mormons are nuts? Who does she think she is? No matter how charming her writing, it smacked of condescension. Her book made it sound like she'd gotten beyond all that while discovering the two faces of Harvard, the one in which everyone is perfect in every respect and the real one that every faculty member and every student hides so well.

Hold three fingers in the air and chalk it up to a giant "whatever". But, I was left wondering what the heavens this chick looked like. I can usually conjur an image while I'm reading, but she didn't give any clues. I typed her name into Google and the floodgates opened.

We had a lot to talk about at book club.

Bull!!!

Last week we ventured to the:

With Aunt Lisa and Uncle Colt and the Grands. Here's what you missed...
And some other bull...

The guy running this contraption told me he'd take it easy. "I'll make it like a rocking chair." So after a couple of rocks and easy turns Georgia cries out, "Make it crazy!"

Isaac didn't appreciate us telling the guy that he was our athlete. He didn't take it very easy with him.

Liv
Aunt Lisa and I then got in on that action!
It's difficult to find a flattering picture of oneself on a mechanical bull.

I must have hurt something. I did have bruises on my monstrous inner thighs the following day!

And it Goes a Little Something Like This...

aerobics

change stinky kid

set outside water

change laundry

sand wall patch

eat a muffin

vacuum highchair and surrounding floor

change water

bring dog in

put spray texture on wall

vacuum baseboards

take trash out to the curb

vacuum bedroom floor

take dog out

soak up dog pee w/ towel

put salt on dog pee

dust bedroom

change stinky kid

vacuum up fish food

fold laundry

give baby a hot dog bun to gnaw on

vacuum salt on dog pee

steam clean carpet w/ dog pee on it

vacuum floor where baby has drug the hot dog bun

create blog post of the last 2.5 hrs.

ALL BECAUSE

I DON'T WANT TO PACK

What else can I do before I've got to commit to it?

There should be a company who packs 5 people for 4 days for $5

Of the People, By the People, For the People

Quote of the Day:
There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.Alexis de Tocqueville

Which inspired me to post an e-mail I sent to our book club members the other day (we read teh 5000 Year Leap). Find out who represents you and find out if they represent you...

The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority.
Alexander Hamilton


We missed a lot of you at book club last night! I promised after a lengthy (you know how I am :), and interesting political discussion that I would get everyone information on who our representatives are at the federal level and their contact information.
Also, we agreed that it is reallly difficult to keep up with what is going on at the federal level even though it affects us, especially at this time. Here is a blog I found that is very imformative on the bills being looked at and info on our representatives: http://www.opencongress.org/



Our Congressman (congress passes laws, decides how to spend our money, and shapes foreign policy - I looked it up:), is:

Jason Chaffetz

Washington, DC Office
1032 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-7751Fax: (202) 225-5629

Provo Office
51 S University Ave Suite #317 Provo, UT 84601 Phone: (801) 851-2500Fax: (801) 851-2509

West Jordan Office
3895 West 7800 South Suite 201 West Jordan, UT 84088 Phone: (801) 282-5502

Our Senators (who sign treaties, confirm nominees of judges and high officials, and hold impeachment trials of elected officials), are:

Bennett, Robert F. - (R - UT)
Class III
431 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5444
Web Form: bennett.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

Hatch, Orrin G. - (R - UT)
Class I
104 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-5251
Web Form: hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Cont..

Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.
John Adams

Brandy

The New Digs

Notice my new header. It's been about a week in the making. I was inspired by a book we found at the library with the craziest pics (If I remember I'll do the right thing and reference it here later).





ANYwho, I wonder if you take a second, could you find all the references to who we are.





Do that now.














Did you see the snail crawling across G's hat? She's a snail fiend. It's disgusting. I want to go back to rolly polly fanaticism.





Liv's gift is a box of chocolates. Her grandpa gave them to her for her birthday. THE BEST gift she received.





See that tall drink of water in I's hand? That would represent MY MAN, and Isaac's love for all things "that make you strong".

I also couldn't figure out which sport to have Isaac play in this little vignette, so we've got a little baseball and a little soccer. *I should have had a football hitting Mae in the head as he's not very careful when he plays*





The flower (my favorite garden variety, blackeyed susan), on my ear {up in the tree, of course}, is one that George gave me. She does it nearly every day. THE BEST gifts I ever get.





Mo-ta-toes is holding her favorite animal and their favorite food (besides hotdogs) (the girl, not the monkey. I don't think turkey hotdogs are available in the amazon).





{(I love italics) (that is why) (the blog title is) (in italics)}

Sleepy Time

Apparently the beds provided by ourselves and my parents are no good...

Blechhh

It's not how you pick your nose, it's where you put that booger that counts.

Tre Cool

go HERE for more info (comments)

The Weekend Starts on Wednesday

Oh the good ol' Wednesdays. I'd call Tiffany while at my post at Zanavoo.

"I'll get cut (restaurant term, I wasn't into self-mutilation), early and we'll head down."

We'd get gussied (or hussied, the terms could have been used interchangebly in those days of my hour-glass shaped youth :), in a hurry, and drive at mock to make it to THE ONE, THE ONLY,

OMNI.

Center Street, Provo, Utah 84604

Even if my waitressing duties gave us but a small moment to jam at the neon flashing, b.o. smelling, music pumping joint, we'd go. Oh we'd go!

Here we are jamming to "California Love".

And oh the trips to the bathroom! I have naturally curly hair, right?! The humidity heads to 97% on that floor folks.

Yes, I was one of those girls. Short skirt and too much make-up wearing, clubbing fool. The weekend started on Wednesdays ( I quote my love), because that was the night the Omni was on fire.

And then, that fateful Wednesday. "Twisted" came on and Keith Sweats' sexy alto voice came through the speakers. I was probably sweating because we'd just gotten our groove on to a Biggy jam. That was our first, our last, our everything slow dance, my man and I. Although he'll kill me for posting it.





He was wearing an obnoxious Tommy Hilfiger shirt (probably one of the first in the state of Utah. I still couldn't pronounce it yet). And then, in the parking lot, when I'd recovered some of my hearing, he pushed that slow Southern accent through his preppy (oh yes, preppy), plump lips. It was all over for me. I was on him like stink on a girl who dances in the middle of 150 people at a nightclub with little or no air conditioning.

Next week we will have been officially jamming to Keith Sweat's "Twisted" for 13.5 years (11 of them married). We've both still got our grooves although they jiggle a little on the up beat, and we now usually have a child or four, hanging on our leg or held between us when we're getting jiggy.

Tonite we had a bbq with the old group. Boy, we had some times. We were all (with the exception of James, the only one with a real job), broke. We'd bbq every Sunday, and if we had it we'd pitch in $5.

Denali & Tenniel, Damon & Summer, James & Shannon, Moses & Lindsey, Moi & the big indian

Salt of the earth, these guys (if they didn't lose it all on the dance floor oh so long ago). Between us (including Tiffany), we have 18 little buggers to lock down in the next 18 years so that Wednesday is reserved for quiet scripture study or knitting.

How's the Weather?

Somewhere

We drove through construction, over bridges, under bridges, through numerous stoplights and behind grandpa drivers because my mouth watered for some chicken tika masala and naan.



When we arrived, we got an eyeful of something akin to this:

"NNNOOOOOO!" I moaned. "NOOOO, NOOOO, NOOOOO!" for several minutes I whined and complained and I moaned.

From the back seat came the request, "Mom, stop crying, you're making me nervous." (Liv)

She only said that because she was gleeful that my favorite Indian joint had closed. The only thing she'd eat when we were there was the tandoori chicken by the plateful. hmmph.

I may never recover from this. Indian folks who cook so marvelously, who charged me for one adult and one child even though I have 4 (which is probably why you've closed your doors), wherever you are, know that I love you so. Somewhere out there, beneath the pale moonlight, someone's thinking of you and loving you tonite. We may yet be reunited. Somewhere out there, out where dreams come true.

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

The Good:
Art City Days :) Nothing like a small town celebration, especially one as big as this one!

BBQ with friends! The most amazing pulled pork and brisket with BJ's homeade bbq sauce

Fireworks with s'mores.

The Bad:
Mae puked up her fries and was sleeping during said fireworks, so we couldn't watch with friends.

Emmeline puked (whatever she'd eaten), so Sarah and Angelo couldn't stop by to say "adios" before leaving us utterly alone again.

The Ugly:
French fry puke

Pay It Forward, Backward, Sideways, Upstairs, West, Down Under, Wherever...

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN

1. Be one of the first three (3) bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me. disclaimer: You may say, "Oh, you shouldn't have!"

2. Winners, you must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first 3 bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway. (or do a Facebook entry)

3. The gift that you send to your three friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the spirit and the thought that count.

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate links. Unless you think it stinks. That wouldn't be nice.\

and Thank-you Lisa for the idea!

Make a Wish

Liv made a wish...

and it came true!

For me too! We both got a cruiser!

We had entertainment at the bbq...

Water fun...


Plenty to eat and drink (Chloe and Mae from the Slip n' Slide)

And a clean-up crew

Must Read

If you don't already read this blog, at least read this. It just worked out my abs for the evening.

Oh My Heaven! Nearly Seven!

Despite the fact that she already acts like she's 17 (she just went to bed crying after we spent the last 2.5 hours arguing about not arguing. Yes, I'm 32 years old), she's just about 7. Monday in fact, is the big day. Her dirtday (no type-o, that is how she's always said it).

She asked for a new mom this week. She just told me that she wanted me to act like I wanted to be her daughter (you know what she means). The fact that she's adopted may make me slightly more sensitive, but at least Sarah's son (biologically), packed his bags and headed last year too.

She's a great "little mama", she is very loving (generally speaking), and she's a magnificent artist. She has a flair for drama and an eye for decorating. She is everybody's friend.

She's the best 6.95 year old fancy dancer I've ever known. She is a self-taught biker and a movie buff.

Well little mama,

Happy Dirtday!

I love you and want to be your daughter, and will in fact, be for eternity :)

Finger Lickin' Good!

North Carolina has a famous strawberry season. We visited a farm an picked somewhere near 10 gallons of strawberries in a 10 x 3 ft. area.

My kids were overwhelmed and in the first 30 minutes Liv had 5 berries, Isaac had his bucket at one end of the row and was walking back towards us at the other end with one strawberry in his hand, and Georgia was just eating. With moi taking pictures, Naali (grandma) was the only one with a bucket of strawberries. We eventually buckled down, however.

Better Late...

I vowed to take Mae's 1st Birthday pictures in a tutu and I finally did today. Grandma would kill me if she knew I had possession of these and did not share them.

Notice the perfect curlyQ of her bellybutton :) Is there no end to the perfection of my children?

A Man Named Pearl

Just 1.2 hours south/southwest of my m-i-l's house is Bishopville, South Carolina. There, at #165 so-and-so street lives Mr. Pearl Fryer, his wife, and his garden. We stopped at the Chamber of Commerce and asked where we could find said garden. When he moved into town some folks didn't want him to buy a home in their neighborhood (shame on you), because they didn't think he'd keep up his yard.

Well, in an effort to win the Yard of the Month award he's created this...(mostly with cast-0ffs from a local nursery)

My kids thought they were in Wonderland.

You may have heard of Pearl.

It was a little strange to walk right by this gentleman's home to stroll his gardens, but it's neat to see how one person can affect the world by staying put.