Last night as I was putting Simon to bed, I reminded him to say his prayers. He folded his arms but didn't close his eyes because he doesn't know how to unless he covers his eyes with his hands which were folded so he can't do both simultaneously. Then started off mumbling the few phrases that I can recognize like thank you for this day, thank you for my family, etc. After he finished his typical thank you's, I tried to softly suggest some other things for him to thank Heavenly Father for like the prophet and missionaries, but he had his own "items" he wanted to thank H.F. for that sounded something like this:
"ank you h'opters, ank you ehplanes"
That's helicopters and airplanes if you don't understand Toddler Speak. And before I could slip in a few good suggestions, he quickly finished with a loud AMEN! and laid down as if to tell me that he only cares about the helicopters and airplanes and don't try to say his prayers for him.
4/30/09
4/27/09
Happenings
* Last Tuesday for Young Womens we went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to see the movie about Joseph Smith. It's been a few years since I've seen it, and it was like seeing for the first time again. It was incredibly touching. The mother in me, though, has a tough time watching the part where Joseph has his leg operated on and Lucy has to leave the house but can still hear him screaming.
* I went scrapbooking on Friday. Yes, you read that right - SCRAP freakin' BOOKING. Who does that anymore? Well, me and a few friends actually dug out our big cropper hoppers, blew off the dust that had accumulated over the last year, and gave it a go. And I really enjoyed myself. I got a ton done. I didn't go to the trouble of printing the last year's worth of pictures that I have on my computer. I just scrapped a lot of the old pictures that I never got around to. As good as blogging is, I have never gone to the trouble to have my posts put into a book. I absolutely love pulling out my scrapbooks and reading them, and I don't get quite the same joy reading over past blogs. So I've decided to do both. Who's up for next month?
* Saturday night Zach and I went out with Ben and Natalie. We went to good ol' Italian Village where I momentarily suspended my quasi-diet I'm supposed to be on and scarfed down an entire pizza bender. It was SOOOO good. I will never lose my love for italian food, and Italian Village has so much Murray history that it's always a trip down memory lane just to go there. We saw "The Soloist" afterwards. Girls choice. My choice, really. I don't think Natalie would have picked it. It was way on the other spectrum of the kind of movies that Zach and Ben usually go to, but I think we all agreed it was thought-provoking and very well acted. That's my favorite kind of movie. Thanks for humoring me, everyone!
* Connor learned the art of church hopping yesterday. He started the day off going to his friend Hudson's church. I'm not sure what denomination Hudson belongs to, but from the sounds of it, it was quite different than what Connor is used to. There was a band, pool tables, ping pong tables, casual dress, in a warehouse. He went with a few of his other seminary friends and they were all dressed up as if they were going to an LDS ward. They knew they would be overdressed but felt they shouldn't go casual to any church on Sunday. I was so proud of him. Afterwards, he came home (while the rest of us were at our ward), to leave us a note that he was then going to an LDS ward with his friend Alyssa and her family. I was in shock when I read that note. I have a hard enough time getting him out of bed to go to our ward and stay all 3 meetings. I guess it's a different story when you are with a girl you really like! He got home at 4:30. He left at 9:00 a.m. That is a full day of church going, and he was pretty excited about it all.
* Little Miss Quinci got to come have a play date with Simon today. She and Simon have been buddies ever since Quinci's sister Jaxynn and Simon's sister Emmy have become best friends. But they have never had a play date. It was so cute. She came in eating a sandwich but lost interest in it as soon as she saw Simon's red play kitchen. He intercepted her sandwich and ate the entire thing. I sat there in awe because I have tried many times to get him to eat a sandwich but he will never even try it. Seeing what other kids eat (not his siblings) always seems to do the trick.
* I went scrapbooking on Friday. Yes, you read that right - SCRAP freakin' BOOKING. Who does that anymore? Well, me and a few friends actually dug out our big cropper hoppers, blew off the dust that had accumulated over the last year, and gave it a go. And I really enjoyed myself. I got a ton done. I didn't go to the trouble of printing the last year's worth of pictures that I have on my computer. I just scrapped a lot of the old pictures that I never got around to. As good as blogging is, I have never gone to the trouble to have my posts put into a book. I absolutely love pulling out my scrapbooks and reading them, and I don't get quite the same joy reading over past blogs. So I've decided to do both. Who's up for next month?
* Saturday night Zach and I went out with Ben and Natalie. We went to good ol' Italian Village where I momentarily suspended my quasi-diet I'm supposed to be on and scarfed down an entire pizza bender. It was SOOOO good. I will never lose my love for italian food, and Italian Village has so much Murray history that it's always a trip down memory lane just to go there. We saw "The Soloist" afterwards. Girls choice. My choice, really. I don't think Natalie would have picked it. It was way on the other spectrum of the kind of movies that Zach and Ben usually go to, but I think we all agreed it was thought-provoking and very well acted. That's my favorite kind of movie. Thanks for humoring me, everyone!
* Connor learned the art of church hopping yesterday. He started the day off going to his friend Hudson's church. I'm not sure what denomination Hudson belongs to, but from the sounds of it, it was quite different than what Connor is used to. There was a band, pool tables, ping pong tables, casual dress, in a warehouse. He went with a few of his other seminary friends and they were all dressed up as if they were going to an LDS ward. They knew they would be overdressed but felt they shouldn't go casual to any church on Sunday. I was so proud of him. Afterwards, he came home (while the rest of us were at our ward), to leave us a note that he was then going to an LDS ward with his friend Alyssa and her family. I was in shock when I read that note. I have a hard enough time getting him out of bed to go to our ward and stay all 3 meetings. I guess it's a different story when you are with a girl you really like! He got home at 4:30. He left at 9:00 a.m. That is a full day of church going, and he was pretty excited about it all.
* Little Miss Quinci got to come have a play date with Simon today. She and Simon have been buddies ever since Quinci's sister Jaxynn and Simon's sister Emmy have become best friends. But they have never had a play date. It was so cute. She came in eating a sandwich but lost interest in it as soon as she saw Simon's red play kitchen. He intercepted her sandwich and ate the entire thing. I sat there in awe because I have tried many times to get him to eat a sandwich but he will never even try it. Seeing what other kids eat (not his siblings) always seems to do the trick.
4/24/09
My version of a nightmare
I often get the comment that I am "put together". If that means that I don't leave my house in my loungewear, without make-up/hair being done/wearing jewelry, then OK - I am proud to say I am put together. My theory is that you never know who you will run into or who will show up at your door, so always be ready. There is one exception, and that is when I take my kids to school. At that time of day, I am almost always in my PJ's and super ugly glasses. My teeth aren't brushed and my hair is greasy and gross. But I stay in the car and try not to make eye contact with any other parents in their cars (kind of an unspoken agreement), so hopefully that goes unnoticed.
Last night, I discovered FIRST HAND (in my dream) why I don't dare leave the house looking less than ready. I was going to couples Bonko at Eric and Jenn's house. I was holding their new baby boy that they named Shyamalan but they just called him "Shy" which I thought was a strange choice but to each his own. Moving on...
As I was holding little Shy, in walks Stacy and Clinton, the hosts of my favorite fashion makeover show "What Not To Wear". It took me a moment to realize that I was the one being ambushed. Apparently my sister Erin thought my sense of style sucked and that my wardrobe needed an overhaul. Thanks a lot, Erin. I don't say anything about your "creations". My first reaction was total excitement to be chosen as a makeover and the thought of going to spend $5,000 in NYC with Stacy and Clinton to guide me was more than I could stand! But then they got to the part of the show where they say "and now we're all going to watch the secret footage of you over the past 2 weeks". That's where the nightmare began. They videotaped me at that lovely time of morning when I allow myself to leave the house looking a little less than ready. *Gasp* How dare they? Everyone knows that time of day is off limits from their secret footage! Apparently they didn't feel the same and I looked scary ugly gross. Next, they had me put on some of my favorite outfits and step into the 360 degree mirror. For the record, no one should have to see their behind in a 360 degree mirror, let alone with the whole world who was watching in my dream. After I explain what I like about the outfit, they come in and tell me how horrible it is. I started crying on camera and that's when the dream ended because I realized that there was too much sunlight in my room for it to be 6:30 and that I slept through my alarm and Connor was going to be late for jazz band practice. But I tell you - I will never watch that show in the same way. I never even got to spend my $5,000!
4/23/09
He's home!
Zach is finally home from his 9 day adventure across the country as part of the Mustang 45th Anniversary. There were about 2,500 cars involved in this event that came from all around the world apparently. He and Allen started the drive in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado and Utah. That works out to more than 1 state a day. The main reason Zach and Allen went on this journey in the first place is because they are trying to win Shelby over as a client. While meeting with them in Vegas a few weeks ago, this big drive across the country came up and they were asked if Think Tank would like to be the official driver to represent them. It was a no-brainer for Zach. Even if he doesn't end up getting the account, it was a chance of a lifetime. If you know cars, especially Mustangs and their relationship with Shelby, you know why.
Team Shelby stickered up his car to look official:
This retro gas station somewhere in Texas is actually their city hall. It looks like something straight out of the movie "Cars".
Believe it or not, he wasn't getting a ticket here, thanks to radar detectors! The cops they met at stops all along the way were big fans of the thousands of Mustangs driving through their towns, and were always asking for pictures:
The people in Bossier, Louisiana wanted to put on a mini-Mardi Gras for all the visitors, so there were plenty of costumes like these, colored beads being handed out and best of all - alligator gumbo for dinner which - you guessed it - tastes like chicken:
Every town they stopped in threw a big party like this one...
Zach was able to throw a little church history into his trek when he stopped in Independence, Missouri at the Church of Christ's visitor center. They have a marker showing where Joseph Smith dedicated the land for a temple.
And who can drive through Memphis without stopping at Graceland? The pictures of the house that Zach took were just funny - SO gaudy and ridiculous.
Team Shelby stickered up his car to look official:
This retro gas station somewhere in Texas is actually their city hall. It looks like something straight out of the movie "Cars".
Believe it or not, he wasn't getting a ticket here, thanks to radar detectors! The cops they met at stops all along the way were big fans of the thousands of Mustangs driving through their towns, and were always asking for pictures:
The people in Bossier, Louisiana wanted to put on a mini-Mardi Gras for all the visitors, so there were plenty of costumes like these, colored beads being handed out and best of all - alligator gumbo for dinner which - you guessed it - tastes like chicken:
Every town they stopped in threw a big party like this one...
Zach was able to throw a little church history into his trek when he stopped in Independence, Missouri at the Church of Christ's visitor center. They have a marker showing where Joseph Smith dedicated the land for a temple.
And who can drive through Memphis without stopping at Graceland? The pictures of the house that Zach took were just funny - SO gaudy and ridiculous.
4/22/09
Never Speak in Church Again
Where was this guy when I had to speak in church recently??? So glad someone is thinking along these lines. It will revolutionize my world, I tell ya...
For more slightly irreverent Mormon humor, check this guy out...
http://www.myregisblog.com/
For more slightly irreverent Mormon humor, check this guy out...
http://www.myregisblog.com/
4/17/09
4/15/09
American Idol Recap
My favorite performance by far last night was Kris Allen who sang "Falling Slowly" from the movie "Once". I remember when this movie came out, I loved this song enough to put it on my blog. Randy Jackson didn't quite "get it" but only because he comes from the likes of this ...
Kara, however, said that Kris was at his finest. I would have to agree! It gave me goosebumps listening to it. I have goosebumps remembering it right now. Here's a link to a video of his performance.
http://www.rickey.org/?p=14339
Major Disaster Averted
Ever have one of those moments where you feel like you are recreating a scene from a movie? I had one of those last night. I was channeling Sissy Spacek from "The River" (pat yourself on the back if you even saw that movie). Only I wasn't trying to keep a river from destroying my farm or the bank from repossessing it. I was trying to keep a flooded window well from destroying my basement...again. It happened once before 5 years ago. We have a window well that has lost it's seal to the concrete foundation and we have to watch it every time it rains steadily like it has been the last 2 days. We've been meaning to fix it permanently but it just hasn't happened.
I checked the window at 10:30 last night before going to bed, and to my surprise there was already about a foot and a half of standing water right up to the level of the glass which is where is starts to seep inside. So I head outside in my rain jacket and clothes knowing full well I will end up being soaked through by the time I am done bailing water out with my kids's plastic sand bucket. Connor came out with me for moral support, and kept saying "I'm sorry you have to do this" all the while posting updates on his Facebook on my phone. I bailed as much as I could without falling into the window well myself. The rest of the night, I set my alarm every 2 hours to go check on it. I had to bail it out again at 2:00 a.m., then again at 7:00 a.m. By the time I was able to get a hold of Zach this morning in Louisiana, he felt horrible that this happened while he was gone. He got on the horn with his super-handy uncle Eugene who was on my doorstep in less than an hour. He hooked me up with a sump pump that is now automatically doing what took me wet, long hours to do in the dark.
The funny thing is that I told Zach when he was leaving on this trip that Murphy's Law would probably go into effect and I would have a sick kid - CHECK - and that something major would break down. I was thinking more along the lines of an appliance, but this qualifies as major, too. Come home, honey!!!
4/14/09
In like a lion...
I know that saying is supposed to apply to March, but I'd say it applies more to April this year. Yesterday's sun and 60's had us playing and working in the backyard. I got some precious shots of Emmy and Simon. My poor Emmy just can't do a cartwheel or handstand to save her life. I figure it's because she's not in dance or gymnastics and doesn't have the flexibility or upper arm strength. At her age, I was cartwheeling around the yard constantly and walking on my hands. So she makes do with headstands and somersaults. Simon of course was imitating her every move...
Simon's emotions remind me of April's up and down weather. In a matter of minutes, he went from this...
to this...
to this...
Simon's emotions remind me of April's up and down weather. In a matter of minutes, he went from this...
to this...
to this...
4/12/09
Happy Easter!
It's been a different Easter today. Zach is on the road for play/business and it just feels downright wrong to celebrate a holiday without him. It's hard on him, too. He has been calling every hour to hear about what is going on.
My friend Natalie gave a touching lesson on Christ in Young Women's. She outlined every detail that is known about his last week of life starting with Palm Sunday. I learned a lot of things that I didn't know. At the end of the class, she handed out empty easter eggs to represent the empty tomb with a sticker on them that said "He is risen." I love it when we are able to tie the spiritual meaning of a holiday to the whimsical symbols like easter eggs.
After church, we went to my in-laws for their Easter Egg hunt. This is the first year that Connor decided on his own he was too old to participate, which made me a little sad. But then I saw him helping hide the eggs for the younger kids and I realized that the fun doesn't stop just because you can't run in the egg hunt. He also helped Simon find his eggs which was cute.
Tonight we are going to my mom's house for Easter dinner with my sister Erin's family. It's Erin's 39th birthday (yes, Erin, I just announced on a PUBLIC blog how old you are!) so we will double up on the celebrating. Happy Birthday!
This is a very typical sight when these two are around each other. Simon has cousin Zeke's new easter toy and he knows it!
Here is where Zach is today - the Badlands in the Petrified Forest of Arizona...
My friend Natalie gave a touching lesson on Christ in Young Women's. She outlined every detail that is known about his last week of life starting with Palm Sunday. I learned a lot of things that I didn't know. At the end of the class, she handed out empty easter eggs to represent the empty tomb with a sticker on them that said "He is risen." I love it when we are able to tie the spiritual meaning of a holiday to the whimsical symbols like easter eggs.
After church, we went to my in-laws for their Easter Egg hunt. This is the first year that Connor decided on his own he was too old to participate, which made me a little sad. But then I saw him helping hide the eggs for the younger kids and I realized that the fun doesn't stop just because you can't run in the egg hunt. He also helped Simon find his eggs which was cute.
Tonight we are going to my mom's house for Easter dinner with my sister Erin's family. It's Erin's 39th birthday (yes, Erin, I just announced on a PUBLIC blog how old you are!) so we will double up on the celebrating. Happy Birthday!
This is a very typical sight when these two are around each other. Simon has cousin Zeke's new easter toy and he knows it!
Here is where Zach is today - the Badlands in the Petrified Forest of Arizona...
4/11/09
50's Day
I love having a daughter who likes to participate in these school spirit days. Connor never once wanted to put himself out there for silly hat day, 50's day, funny hair day, backwards day, 70's day, etc. Emmy is all over it, although sometimes mom doesn't get enough notice to pull something together. We were prepared for 50's day, though.
Ham it up
I'm not a big fan of ham, unless it's made this way...
9 to 10 lb. butt portion ham
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 c. orange juice
1/2 c. honey
Score top of ham diagonally with a knife. Place in a turkey bag (follow instructions on box) and place in a roasting tray. Mix rest of ingredients and pour over the ham. Close bag and bake at 325 degrees for 4-5 hours. When it's done, I just pull it apart in big chunks with a fork like a roast. I made this with stuffing and fresh green beans tossed with feta cheese. "Phenomenal dinner" was how my mom/dinner guest described the meal. My friend Kari tells me the ham hock is good for lots of bean recipes, too, so keep that.
4/10/09
To Eat Cake or Not To Eat Cake...That is the Question
It has been officially 3 years since I became pregnant with Simon, which is exactly when I stopped exercising and watching what I eat. As can be expected, it's taken a toll on my body. A week ago, I suddenly got the desire and motivation to do something about it. My plan is to cut out most sweets, all snacks, and eat half portions of what I normally would. The exercise will come soon, I hope.
It just so happened that the day I got this newfound will to turn down desserts and snacks was my mother-in-law's and brother-in-law's birthday, and the cake being served was my very favorite, Adri's carrot cake with to-die-for cream cheese frosting. It was excruciating to say no, especially when Zach was literally trying to shove a forkful in my mouth to test my will.
What's ironic is that I just finished reading the book "Eat Cake" by Jeanne Ray for book club. In the very first chapter, she says something that I actually want to believe and should have remembered that day...
"Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always one person at the table who holds up her hand when I serve the cake. No, really, I couldn't, she says, and then gives her flat stomach a conspiratorial little pat. (I DIDN'T DO THIS, I PROMISE!) Everyone who is pressing a fork into that first tender layer looks at the person who declined the plate, and they all think, That person is better than I am. That person has discipline. But that isn't a person with discipline, that is a person who has completely lost touch with joy. A slice of cake never made anybody fat. You don't eat the whole cake. You don't eat a cake every day of your life. You take the cake when it is offered because the cake is delicious. You have a slice of cake and what it reminds you of is someplace that's safe, uncomplicated, without stress. A cake is a party, a birthday, a wedding. A cake is what's served on the happiest days of your life."
That is a serious gem of wisdom, I've decided. Last night, I hosted book club for this very book. Pepper had the brilliant idea of everyone bringing a cake and doing a cake walk. I haven't done a cake walk since my elementary school carnival! I fought the temptation to go buy a marzipan cake, but I pulled myself together and actually made a Skor cake, also known as Better Than Sex cake. Take a look at some of these beautiful creations...
The bundt cake with the Minnie Mouse in the middle is funny because that is how the author described her "mental place" where she goes when she is overwhelmed, stressed, in need of an escape.
"The place that I went, the place that I still go, was the warm, hollowed-out-center of a Bundt cake. It is usually gingerbread, though sometimes that changes. Sometimes it's a gingerbread crowned in a ring of poached pears. The walls that surround me are high and soft, but as they go up they curve back, open up to the light, so I feel protected by the cake but never trapped by it. There are a few loose crumbs around my feet, clinging to my hair, and the smell!"
What a visual! After the cake walk, we sampled almost all of the cakes, myself included...but I skipped dinner in anticipation of this to make up for it!
On another food-related note - McDonald's fries are my absolute favorite and soooo hard for me to resist. But you can't stop taking your kids there just because you aren't eating that stuff anymore. I took Simon there today in between my hand doctor appointment and his sick child appointment. I sat there and watched him eat a kids meal while I sipped my water and almost caved in. But what I did instead was pick up his fries, held them close to my face, and inhaled as deeply as I could. I swear it was almost as good as the real thing.
It just so happened that the day I got this newfound will to turn down desserts and snacks was my mother-in-law's and brother-in-law's birthday, and the cake being served was my very favorite, Adri's carrot cake with to-die-for cream cheese frosting. It was excruciating to say no, especially when Zach was literally trying to shove a forkful in my mouth to test my will.
What's ironic is that I just finished reading the book "Eat Cake" by Jeanne Ray for book club. In the very first chapter, she says something that I actually want to believe and should have remembered that day...
"Cakes have gotten a bad rap. People equate virtue with turning down dessert. There is always one person at the table who holds up her hand when I serve the cake. No, really, I couldn't, she says, and then gives her flat stomach a conspiratorial little pat. (I DIDN'T DO THIS, I PROMISE!) Everyone who is pressing a fork into that first tender layer looks at the person who declined the plate, and they all think, That person is better than I am. That person has discipline. But that isn't a person with discipline, that is a person who has completely lost touch with joy. A slice of cake never made anybody fat. You don't eat the whole cake. You don't eat a cake every day of your life. You take the cake when it is offered because the cake is delicious. You have a slice of cake and what it reminds you of is someplace that's safe, uncomplicated, without stress. A cake is a party, a birthday, a wedding. A cake is what's served on the happiest days of your life."
That is a serious gem of wisdom, I've decided. Last night, I hosted book club for this very book. Pepper had the brilliant idea of everyone bringing a cake and doing a cake walk. I haven't done a cake walk since my elementary school carnival! I fought the temptation to go buy a marzipan cake, but I pulled myself together and actually made a Skor cake, also known as Better Than Sex cake. Take a look at some of these beautiful creations...
The bundt cake with the Minnie Mouse in the middle is funny because that is how the author described her "mental place" where she goes when she is overwhelmed, stressed, in need of an escape.
"The place that I went, the place that I still go, was the warm, hollowed-out-center of a Bundt cake. It is usually gingerbread, though sometimes that changes. Sometimes it's a gingerbread crowned in a ring of poached pears. The walls that surround me are high and soft, but as they go up they curve back, open up to the light, so I feel protected by the cake but never trapped by it. There are a few loose crumbs around my feet, clinging to my hair, and the smell!"
What a visual! After the cake walk, we sampled almost all of the cakes, myself included...but I skipped dinner in anticipation of this to make up for it!
On another food-related note - McDonald's fries are my absolute favorite and soooo hard for me to resist. But you can't stop taking your kids there just because you aren't eating that stuff anymore. I took Simon there today in between my hand doctor appointment and his sick child appointment. I sat there and watched him eat a kids meal while I sipped my water and almost caved in. But what I did instead was pick up his fries, held them close to my face, and inhaled as deeply as I could. I swear it was almost as good as the real thing.
4/9/09
If Dr. Seuss wrote the Book of Mormon...
Our girls camp this year has a Dr. Seuss theme. At our planning meeting on Tuesday, this was read to get us all in the mood:
Nephi: Of goodly parents I was born
I've never drunk, I've never sworn
This is Lehi, he's my dad
Laman, Lemuel, they are bad
And who is this? Why this is Sam.
Sam: Yes, this is Sam; Sam I am
Laman: That Sam I am, that Sam
I am I do not like that Sam I am
Sam: In a tent, my father dwelt
Laman: And it's so hot, I think I'll melt
Lemuel: Our father's brain is out of whack
Laman: Yeah, it's too hot, I 'm going back
Lehi: Then go and get the plates, my dear
Laman: On second thought, I'm staying here
Nephi: You said you'd leave and go away
Now all you want to do is stay?
Lemuel: That Nephi always gets his way
Laman: Here we are in this damp cave
Sam: We would not be here if you'd behave
Nephi: I will go and I will do
There's the angel, that's my cue
Laban's had too much to drink
Now he'll lose his head, I think
Nephi: Look what I found, a brother from the quorum
Sam: We will take him home, we will call him Zoram
Laman: Our gold and silver we have spent
I do not like it in this tent
Lemuel: I cannot read the Liahona
I must have drunk too much Corona
Laman: We hate it here, we have no lives
Lehi: Then go back to the city and get some wives
Lehi: A tree, a tree, I see a tree!!
The fruit is white, the fruit is free!
A floating building, could it be?
Why do they laugh and stare at me?
Laman, Lemuel, come and see!
Laman: We will not eat your precious fruit
Lemuel: We will not wear a tie and suit
Laman: We will not help you build your boat
Lemuel: We do not think that it will float
Laman: No not this boat, it will not float
Not even in a shallow moat
I do not care what Nephi wrote
Lemuel: We will not eat your fruit I say
Laman: We will not eat it on a tray
Lemuel: And we won't eat it in a tent
Not even if your clothes you rent
Laman: We'd rather have a can of spam
L&L: We will not eat it, Sam I am
Sam: You do not like it, so you say
Try it, try it, and you may
Try it and you may I say
Laman: Sam, if you will let us be,
We will try it, you will see
L&L: Say, we like this fruit of life
Sorry that we caused such strife
You've saved us from an awful jam
Thank you, thank you, Sam I am!
Nephi: Of goodly parents I was born
I've never drunk, I've never sworn
This is Lehi, he's my dad
Laman, Lemuel, they are bad
And who is this? Why this is Sam.
Sam: Yes, this is Sam; Sam I am
Laman: That Sam I am, that Sam
I am I do not like that Sam I am
Sam: In a tent, my father dwelt
Laman: And it's so hot, I think I'll melt
Lemuel: Our father's brain is out of whack
Laman: Yeah, it's too hot, I 'm going back
Lehi: Then go and get the plates, my dear
Laman: On second thought, I'm staying here
Nephi: You said you'd leave and go away
Now all you want to do is stay?
Lemuel: That Nephi always gets his way
Laman: Here we are in this damp cave
Sam: We would not be here if you'd behave
Nephi: I will go and I will do
There's the angel, that's my cue
Laban's had too much to drink
Now he'll lose his head, I think
Nephi: Look what I found, a brother from the quorum
Sam: We will take him home, we will call him Zoram
Laman: Our gold and silver we have spent
I do not like it in this tent
Lemuel: I cannot read the Liahona
I must have drunk too much Corona
Laman: We hate it here, we have no lives
Lehi: Then go back to the city and get some wives
Lehi: A tree, a tree, I see a tree!!
The fruit is white, the fruit is free!
A floating building, could it be?
Why do they laugh and stare at me?
Laman, Lemuel, come and see!
Laman: We will not eat your precious fruit
Lemuel: We will not wear a tie and suit
Laman: We will not help you build your boat
Lemuel: We do not think that it will float
Laman: No not this boat, it will not float
Not even in a shallow moat
I do not care what Nephi wrote
Lemuel: We will not eat your fruit I say
Laman: We will not eat it on a tray
Lemuel: And we won't eat it in a tent
Not even if your clothes you rent
Laman: We'd rather have a can of spam
L&L: We will not eat it, Sam I am
Sam: You do not like it, so you say
Try it, try it, and you may
Try it and you may I say
Laman: Sam, if you will let us be,
We will try it, you will see
L&L: Say, we like this fruit of life
Sorry that we caused such strife
You've saved us from an awful jam
Thank you, thank you, Sam I am!
4/7/09
Clients with Benefits
You know that old saying "friends with benefits"? Every now and then, Zach comes back from meeting a new client or possible client, bringing with him samples to try out to become familiar with their product. The other day, he brought home a whole box of professional teeth whitening gel for me. I have been needing to order more gel from my dentist for months now but never got around to it so that was timely and my teeth are sparkly white again.
Today's client with benefits is my favorite to date. He came back from a meeting with a company called Jewel Kade. You may have seen their products at places like Oh Sweet Sadie shows, Thanksgiving Point or various boutiques around town. Megan Joy has been wearing their stuff on American Idol as well. They look like this...
You typically wear them on a long chain, or several chains. If you want, you can get really jiggy with it like Megan did...
I probably won't go all out like she did, but I'm loving my "K" pendant, and plan to add more just as soon as I can get my hands on them. Keep those kinds of clients comin', honey!
Today's client with benefits is my favorite to date. He came back from a meeting with a company called Jewel Kade. You may have seen their products at places like Oh Sweet Sadie shows, Thanksgiving Point or various boutiques around town. Megan Joy has been wearing their stuff on American Idol as well. They look like this...
You typically wear them on a long chain, or several chains. If you want, you can get really jiggy with it like Megan did...
I probably won't go all out like she did, but I'm loving my "K" pendant, and plan to add more just as soon as I can get my hands on them. Keep those kinds of clients comin', honey!
4/4/09
Spring Break - Plan B
Spring Break Plan A - going to Montana to visit my dad and step-mom - fell through when the weather forecast both in Salt Lake and Red Lodge predicted snow. Driving through major mountain passes in the snow is a death wish. So I had to break the bad news to my Dad, but we plan on going there as soon as school gets out.
Zach and I scrambled at the last minute to come up with a mini-getaway to make up for it. We ended up going where we always tend to go when we want to leave town but can't go too far ... Provo. Why? I don't know. I don't like Ogden that much. Park City tends to be too expensive during the winter season. And we like to go somewhere with a great mall nearby, because we usually end up doing some shopping. I also love to drive around the BYU campus to show the kids the different places I lived and tell them some of my crazy stories while being a student there. My hope is that they will go there someday, too, which they both want to at this point. My fear is that we will never be able to afford it and that they won't be accepted.
On the way down, we stopped at Thanksgiving Point to do the Dinosaur Museum. Simon is just getting into dinosaurs, so it was perfect. My older kids haven't been in a few years. Connor is at the age where he might consider himself too old for this kind of stuff, but having a younger sibling is the perfect cover-up to feel like a little kid again and not feel dumb about being the oldest kid there. I think he really enjoyed himself. We all did.
Connor thought this one was hilarious. I don't know why.....
I thought this thing was the coolest. It was HUGE.
Simon is letting this little girl know she is in his space and to proceed at her own risk.
We also took in a 3D IMAX Dinosaur movie. Simon didn't understand the whole glasses thing and ended up taking his off for most of the movie. Surprisingly, he wasn't scared by the massive screen and loudness of it all.
After the Dinosaur Museum, we drove on to our hotel. It was filled with lots of marathoners who ran 13 miles this morning in the snow. Ugh. I don't understand runners. Never will.
We went to University Mall to look for some Easter clothing. Connor was surprisingly a willing participant at being fitted for his first real suit pants. He hates clothes shopping, but wants to look good more and more these days, so I think he's coming to the realization that some effort on his part is necessary to achieve it. He ended up with a couple pairs of suit pants, 2 new church shirts and 3 new ties. Yeah! Emmy and I both found Easter outfits at the same store - bonus. And Simon will have to wait because we ran out of time.
Zach is going to be out of town for Easter on a big Shelby Mustang drive across the country, so we were having to rush things ahead of schedule, including the Easter Bunny's visit. The Easter Bunny visited our hotel room in the middle of the night and brought the kids their baskets, to the surprise of all. Zach was grilling Simon about the Easter Bunny the day before since he knows nothing about the holiday, so he was so excited to actually find a basket there in the morning just like Daddy described.
These mini-getaways are one of the ways we stay close as a family. It seems like we talk and laugh and joke so much more when we are in hotel rooms. It feels special and the kids are more friendly with each other. We can't afford to do much more than this right now, so I'm glad that overnighters like this are at least in our budget.
Zach and I scrambled at the last minute to come up with a mini-getaway to make up for it. We ended up going where we always tend to go when we want to leave town but can't go too far ... Provo. Why? I don't know. I don't like Ogden that much. Park City tends to be too expensive during the winter season. And we like to go somewhere with a great mall nearby, because we usually end up doing some shopping. I also love to drive around the BYU campus to show the kids the different places I lived and tell them some of my crazy stories while being a student there. My hope is that they will go there someday, too, which they both want to at this point. My fear is that we will never be able to afford it and that they won't be accepted.
On the way down, we stopped at Thanksgiving Point to do the Dinosaur Museum. Simon is just getting into dinosaurs, so it was perfect. My older kids haven't been in a few years. Connor is at the age where he might consider himself too old for this kind of stuff, but having a younger sibling is the perfect cover-up to feel like a little kid again and not feel dumb about being the oldest kid there. I think he really enjoyed himself. We all did.
Connor thought this one was hilarious. I don't know why.....
I thought this thing was the coolest. It was HUGE.
Simon is letting this little girl know she is in his space and to proceed at her own risk.
We also took in a 3D IMAX Dinosaur movie. Simon didn't understand the whole glasses thing and ended up taking his off for most of the movie. Surprisingly, he wasn't scared by the massive screen and loudness of it all. 
After the Dinosaur Museum, we drove on to our hotel. It was filled with lots of marathoners who ran 13 miles this morning in the snow. Ugh. I don't understand runners. Never will.
We went to University Mall to look for some Easter clothing. Connor was surprisingly a willing participant at being fitted for his first real suit pants. He hates clothes shopping, but wants to look good more and more these days, so I think he's coming to the realization that some effort on his part is necessary to achieve it. He ended up with a couple pairs of suit pants, 2 new church shirts and 3 new ties. Yeah! Emmy and I both found Easter outfits at the same store - bonus. And Simon will have to wait because we ran out of time.
Zach is going to be out of town for Easter on a big Shelby Mustang drive across the country, so we were having to rush things ahead of schedule, including the Easter Bunny's visit. The Easter Bunny visited our hotel room in the middle of the night and brought the kids their baskets, to the surprise of all. Zach was grilling Simon about the Easter Bunny the day before since he knows nothing about the holiday, so he was so excited to actually find a basket there in the morning just like Daddy described.
These mini-getaways are one of the ways we stay close as a family. It seems like we talk and laugh and joke so much more when we are in hotel rooms. It feels special and the kids are more friendly with each other. We can't afford to do much more than this right now, so I'm glad that overnighters like this are at least in our budget.
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