Draw Nearer- Thanksgiving edition

Little Bear Cubs,

Thanksgiving. A day for giving thanks. It's kind of sad if you think about it....one day out of the entire year- set aside for giving gratitude. We usually express our profound thanks by self-indulgence...satisfying our every appetite all in the name of being "thankful". In years past I focused so much on the menu and the planning and the "getting done" that I didn't really take the time to devote to the "thankfulness" part. This year was different. Your dad told me that this was going to be the best Thanksgiving ever and it was. Why? I suppose it was because I recognized all of the blessings along the way. The tiny things that I normally would take for granted. This year I was fully aware of each of these tiny miracles....making it a true day of thankfulness. Can I share a few of them with you???

Sometimes in life you wish you could go back and do things over....experience them one more time.....recapture moments that have long since passed - but leave you aching to re-experience them. This Thanksgiving I was granted this wish. Seeing your cousin David was like reliving the time I had with Aunt Josie when she was little baby. I saw her face again...her eyes....and felt her soft little hands. I am thankful for do-overs.


Karah watched in amazement as I prepared the turkey....indulging him in a herb butter deep tissue massage. I loved that she cared about the process...and not just the end result. I am thankful to have children who love to be in the same room with me....whether I am cooking, sleeping, or peeing. I love that they love me.

Some of the best hours were spent in the kitchen with my little sister who flew in from California to enjoy the week with us. I loved her physical presence....our laughing....and enjoying things we miss like going to the store together. Whatever I do with her is always comfortable and full of laughs.

I am thankful for Uncle Johnny....aka Uncle Donny....I love that he appreciates my food. Moaning, groaning, sighing, and ever praising. Rating it on a scale of 1 to 10. He is a thoughtful little chap. And I dig his whiskers.

I am thankful for an incredible gene pool. Don't have the ugly cousin, cute cousin problem.

I am thankful for my mother in law and the kind of husband she raised for me. She taught Daddy to be strong yet gentle.....independent, yet understanding his total dependence on the Lord. She taught him how to provide for us and be patient with us. She taught him how to love and forgive. She taught him to love nature and to appreciate simplicity. She even changed his dirty diapers when he was a baby.....that's love.

I am thankful for my home.....my kitchen....my aprons.....my love for cooking.....for all of the kitchen helpers I had this year. Did I mention awesome gravy? I am SO thankful for that. It was great gravy this year.

I am thankful for chocolate and that this chocolate mousse cake (that I so LOVINGLY made)brought everyone so much joy....and calories. This is incredible....recipe coming soon....promise!!!

I am thankful for microscopic peach fuzz Mohawks that make me smile.

I am thankful to have a little boy who wants to save his overalls for special occasions.

I love that that there is a bun in her oven.....and she is still willing to camp outside of walmart with me on black Friday.

I am thankful for a mama with a crazy personality.....that thinks the game "catch phrase" is really meant to be"charades". I love that she loves to laugh....and made all of us laugh.

I am thankful for a brother in law who makes my kids feel like they are important....who offers to play board games and watch obnoxious Disney channel movies with them. I love him even though he pretended I was invisible whenever I was holding a camera.

I am thankful for turkeys who aren't bitter about giving their life on behalf of our celebration. And no, that is not a tampon string hanging out of the butt of that turkey. Optical illusion :)

And most of all - best of all- more than anything in the world....I am thankful for your Dad...who loves me - and helps me - and makes me feel like his favorite person in the world. I catch him smiling at me when I'm not looking. He cares about the silly things that are important to me.....and when I get stressed out - he always tells me....

"This is going to be the best _______ ever!"

He is always perfectly right and he will always be perfectly right for me.

I love you little bear cubs. What I did to deserve each of you...I will never know.

Be grateful,

Mama

Sweet, Sweet Emily

There was a knock at my door tonight. It was Emily - thanking me for an area rug I had given her. She stood there holding a pie. Not just a pie. Calling it a pie does not even do it justice. It was a work of art. A gift from God. A glorious, incredible apple blackberry pie. However much my rug meant to her - this pie paid for it 100x over. I know that I can be dramatic from time to time - but please know that there is no over exaggeration here. This was the best pie and crust that I have EVER had. EVAH!

I quickly realized that the pan was not disposable. I don't like to return containers empty - so the thought instantly entered my mind...."Oh crap. It's a pie pan. How in the heck can I return this filled with a pie???? I cant make pie for Emily! That would be like me grilling steak for Ruth Chris or making dinner for Rachel Ray." I will have to get creative and fill it with something that will ATTEMPT to repay her for it's deliciousness.

This is a girl that I need to become VERY good friends with. My life would be complete. My quest for Emily has begun. I will call on her and take her to lunch and maybe even a night out to the movies....before you know it - birthday pies.....fourth of July pies......Easter pies......pies!pies!pies!

Project Emily initiated.

You could only be so lucky to have a John

I have great brothers. Not only do I adore them for how fun they are to be around - but it doesn't hurt that they are both "computerly" gifted. My use of that non-existent term proves my lack of skill in this department.

John just "re-did" my computer. (more proof of my ignorance) He spent hours at my house making everything just right. He even "counseled" me into getting a new 24" monitor....which I LOVE!

He tweaked it, troubleshot it, and babied it like his own. He ordered parts, replaced parts, and even monitored the temperature of my video card....frantically yelling

"It's rising! It's getting to hot!" - I felt like I was a nurse in the ER.

The excitement was almost too much to bear.

He taught me how to reassign the boot order in the BIOS - and tried to show me other stuff too.


Eventually he decided to teach Bradley. The only hope our family has for the future - technically speaking....even if he DOES sleep in a spongebob nightgown.


They cleaned the video card and put a new fan on it.

Dats a big fan.The CPU is now running at a cool 22 degrees C and upgraded to stable condition.

I love Jonus. Biggest heart I know.

Thanks for all of your help, John....and for doing it so willingly and not making me feel retarded for not knowing what you know and for never being condescending and for being patient when I am so cluless and giving up watching Law and Order so you can mess with my jacked up computer and for making so many trips to my house and ordering parts and making me get a saweet monitor and for and for and for and forever and ever amen! (breath)

That's what friends and children are for...

Wallpaper removal.

Look how ugly it is.
Eight years I have put up with it - until one day I snapped.

I started with a loose corner and day by day I peeled away a strip at a time.
Our master bath was in the depths of hell
when one day sweet Courtney said
"Um, Sarah, we need to do something about this wallpaper situation."

Day after day she showed up at my house - helping me peel it from the drywall.
The best tag team ever....I remove paper- she removes glue.
We then found an invaluable help in my children. Turns out they are great scrapers.


Courtney and I turned it over to them - popped some corn and watched some Jon and Kate.
Update pics of the new master bath coming soon!

Ode to Deck

Farewell my foe.

Eight years I have loathed you.

Loose nails piercing my feet.

Paint peeling ....wood warping.

The urine of miniature canines saturates your wood.

The petrified turds lay baking in the hot sun.

You symbolize everything I despise.

With your destruction emerges the birth of a new world.

Goodbye my piece of crap deck....don't come back....EVAH!

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEW AND IMPROVED!!!!

Draw Nearer

Hello Children. Things have been a bit crazy around here. Remodeling, tearing stuff down, building stuff up, and most of all.....decluttering. There is an old saying that "Cleanliness is next to Godliness".....and if that saying holds true, I can safely say that we have all been living in "Purgatory".

Tonight your dad and I tucked you in bed and then hauled approximately 20 huge bags of trash out to his pick up. We also added broken down boxes, styrofoam, and a potpourri of broken down "items" that had finally met their demise.

When we walked back into the house - the feeling was incredible. A huge burden had been lifted.

Most of these things were not items that had been sitting out in the open. They were things that had been "Excavated" during the entire process... things that emerged out of corners and closets.

Just like our homes get cluttered up - our spiritual lives sometimes get cluttered up. Just as we were shocked at the amount of junk that was lurking in our house....you will be amazed at what you find in the closets and corners of your hearts - if you stop and take time to do a personal inventory.

Take out the trash, little bear cubs. Take it out as it comes in. Take it out of your home and take it out of your hearts.

The bonus of this spiritual decluttering is that you don't have the public humiliation of dragging bag after bag out to the pick up truck. Tonight when we were in the middle of hauling it out, your Dad said ,"We're freaks, you know. Who else has this much trash?"

I laughed so hard, trying to keep my trash bag from breaking, while dodging Gunther's turds that he loves to leave on the sidewalk. It was a night to remember.

Anyway, I can't wait for you to wake up in the morning and see how much "happier" everything is. I love you!

Mama

Neck Nipples...as promised.

Tom had a great idea. Have a department Halloween Costume contest - and pay cash to the winners. He had visions of everyone showing up in all sorts of different costumes. Unfortunately - for Pete (the guy in the video) - only a couple of people in the entire department dressed up. Walk a mile in his shoes (wrestling boots) - as he enters the un-dressed up office. It gives me bad flashbacks of the time I dressed up like a baby for the Halloween parade.....on the wrong day. Enjoy!

His nipples are practically on his neck....I love it. Pete's the best.

Luckily he didn't spend the entire day in shame. He was saved by a werewolf (who only had to wear a mask - as he sported his natural chest hair) and that other guy...whatever he is supposed to be. What's up with the werewolf tracing the nipple with his claw?

And let's not forget the cowboy.

In my book - Nacho took the cake. Any man who parades around with prosthetic nipples - wearing an athletic cup in a pair of tights.....is a REAL man. Maybe that is what Bradley's future holds. A parent can only dream.

Add one more to the list....

"Bradley...why do you smell like poo?", I asked.

"Because I pooped and wiped it with my shirt."

"Why????"

"Because I love you."

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Tell me Why......please.

Some of the mysteries of my week.......Help me unlock the answers......set me free.

1. Why do all "people of Mexican descent" that I encounter pretend like they don't know English? What's in it for them? Simple amusement at my frustration? A power trip? What? I went outside to ask the patio guys if they were pouring the concrete today or tomorrow. (Blank Stares - deer in the headlights - confused shrugs - and the classic response "Yes?".

I call the boss and tell him I cant get an answer out of them because none of them speak English. He then laughs and says, "They ALL speak English.....ALL of them.......just say ,'JESUS! Brian told me you speak English' - and then he'll answer you." (he was still chuckling). WHY????????????????

2. Why are some people incapable of being concise? In a meeting today - over time by ten minutes - and the SAME chick keeps talking and talking - totally unaware and unconcerned that everyone wants the heck out of there. On and on she went. On and On. Repeating and rephrasing over and over and over. What makes it worse is the thick southern accent and the huge eyes - that are just SURE everyone is hanging on her every word - and that we all find her completely adorable. Um, No. The kids are stuck in the other room with the baby sitter - clock is ticking, ticking, ticking as she ends each sentence with "Do you know what I mean?" "That's what I'm saying" and "Does that make sense?" YES it makes sense - but what doesn't make sense is WHY you wont stop talking. WHY???????? (and no, she does not know I have a blog).

3. Why does having babies make you lose control down south? Let me set the scene - standing on back patio with Concrete contractor and Mexican assistant. I've been fighting a cough - bad cough. Standing out in the cold - sudden sharp cough.......even more sudden (not silent) toot. Humiliating. Maybe this is why they wont talk to me.

4. Why are people so obnoxious when ordering in the drive thru? No courtesy. No manners. They YELL - not understanding that the poor lad on the other side is wearing a head set that already raises the volume of their voice. The yelling usually begins with something annoying like "YEAH - I'M GONNA HAVE........" or "GIVE ME ONE OF THOSE......."

There are many,many more things I demand answers to......but we will start with these four. Please help.

Draw Nearer

Little cubs,

Today you played, and laughed, and fought. Typical end of the weekend.....having enough of each other and getting ready for school to break up the monotony of your uninterrupted togetherness.

I wasn't in the room - but I heard the smack....the screams...the smack back....the cries.....and the "You're not my friend anymore Dawah!" I entered.....divided....and conquered - sending you both to your rooms for some time apart. This is now where I will make mention of the fact that you should be GRATEFUL that I am your mother - and not the redneck who used THIS method of time-out.

As I was saying....I "responsibly" removed you from the situation without the use of duct tape.....and went about my "bidneth". Within minutes I heard giggling and laughter as you both decided that making up -beat an undetermined length in time-out. You came to my bedroom door - knocking. I opened to see you both standing there smiling. You asked if you could come out (which baffles me because you ARE out when you are asking if you can COME out). I asked if you made up and you both embraced and swapped a hug and a kiss.

Always do this. Please always do this.

Luke 17:3-4

"Take heed to yourselves: If they brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying, I repent; though shalt forgive him."

Joseph Smith said, “One of the most pleasing scenes that can occur on earth, when a sin has been committed by one person against another, is, to forgive that sin; and then according to the sublime and perfect pattern of the Savior, pray to our Father in heaven to forgive [the sinner] also.”.....“Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us.”

As siblings there will surely be disagreements, misunderstandings, and hurt down the road. It is an inevitable part of life. My prayer for each of you is that you will always recognize the misery in being apart, like you did today....that you will be able to humble yourselves and reunite with a hug and a kiss - letting the hurt go. We are in this thing for the long haul.....so we better get really good at forgiving. :)

I love you little bears.....to forever.

Mama

It's About Time

I have come out of the contractor hole (that kind of sounded sick, didn't it?) to FINALLY give a teeney weeney Halloween recap. Tonight I will just cover the costumes and then climb back into the dungeon of home improvement. I will later emerge for a few additional Halloween stories which include a 200 pound man whose nipples were on his neck, my biggest "therapeutic" breakthrough evah, haunted house with a pregnant woman and pumpkin carving with OCD children.

For now let's just address what everyone is wanting to know.....For those of you who are new to my costume conundrum - in a nutshell....Bradley wanted to dress up like a princess for Halloween. We decided to let him decide what he would be and just be cool with it. What did he decide? Drum roll please.......a witch. A masculine witch, if there is such a thing. We made every effort to make him scary. Green face.....cut off the sleeves.....green hair. I like to think of him as a hulk witch....who flew on a purple broom :)

My make up job was scarier than he was, unfortunately. I DID get fired from a face painting booth, you know. Now you know why.

Karah was a witch, as well (which explains Bradley's choice of costume. He wants to be just like her).

She was a sassafrass witch.....girly....princessey. She even had a cat....but Punzel wouldn't let us spray paint her black.

Bryce didn't want to be left out so he wore a T-shirt and tights - going as a little ghostie. Aunt Shanaynay held him as he got powdered and creamed. He was confused by this - since he is used to white cream and powder being applied to his bickies - not his head. Had we all gone mad??? If babies are capable of thinking things like "What in the hell..." that is SO what is going on here.

He decided it wasn't all bad when he got the whole "system" down.

1. Dad rings doorbell of house

2. Dad yells "trick or treat" in an awkward child voice

3. Person at doors asks baby a question that they lack development to answer

4. Awkward silence and Daddy answers for him..."Yes, he's having SO much fun tonight"

5. Person looks in candy bowl and finds treat that isn't choking hazard - and then looks at daddy like....."yeah right....like YOU aren't going to eat all of his candy!"

6. Find next house and repeat

John and Shanaynay were kind enough to hand out candy at the house so we could do our Trick-or-Treating as a family....with our friends....our 3rd Annual tradition!

And then the partaking.......