Photo Album

I started this book when Zoë was a few months old. It's crazy to think it's taken me this long to get it into a book form, but then I blame it on the tfact that the book publisher I can use only take JPEG format. I created the book using Adobe In-Design, which saves the final format as a PDF. I can't find a self-publishing place that allows you to use a PDF format.

Click on book above to view at Snapfish

If you happen to know of a publishing company that takes PDF, I would LOVE it because I also have books finish for Megan and Miranda (with maybe a few edit changes).

I also need to start working on Veronica's book...

March Birthdays Celebration

I have many friends who also share the same month of their birth. Ironically, many of my friends children actually share the same birthday in my church (three: a now 7-year-old girl, 5-year-old girl, and a 4-year-old boy).

I wanted to do something fun to celebrate all of our birthdays. So I threw us a birthday party. We had a variety of cakes, one of which my friend made that was gluten- and sugar-free. One of the Birthday Girls can't eat gluten, and another friend was on a sugar-free diet. It was rather decent tasting- different in texture, but still palatable, even yummy! I made the heavy-loaded cakes: a White cake made with buttermilk that is lightly dense with lots of soft flavor and texture and Fiddler on the Roof cake with almond flavor in a chocolate-yellow cake marble. The frosting was butter cream (made with real butter, not shortening) flavored with a little bit of almond extract. Both cakes were covered with fondant, but the double tiered cake also had decorative butter cream (this time made with shortening).

We visited with friends, discussing many different topics. We had some ladies there as young as early twenties on through ladies that are my mother's age.

Our gift exchange was a little varied: everybody brought a gift that cost $1 (before tax). We then let each person select a gift and unwrap it. The next person could take that gift or open a new one. The hot ticket items were some window gel sticker cards and a kitchen towel. Other gifts included candy, jewelry (hand-made of jade beads! I almost stole that one), books, and stamps. It's amazing what you can do with only $1.

I made a "Date in a Box". I got a DVD at the dollar store that was only $0.25, then added two juice boxes (4/$1) and a package of microwave popcorn (4 in a box for $1). I also had a few extra gifts (in case somebody forgot) and one was some body spray.

It was a great evening, and I'm so glad that I was surrounded by friends, and was able to celebrate our birthdays, our sisterhood, and friendship.

Thank you, ladies!!!

Not another one...

Zoë has an ear infection now.

ARGH!

She missed all of school last week, and now will miss tomorrow. (I got a doctor's note so the teacher knows I'm not just keeping her home for fun. It is a little ridiculous!) I hope we are really done with these bad bugs and viruses. I need a break!

Anyone want to sponsor me for a vacation to Cancun? Or a family vacation to Utah (so I can prevail upon family to watch my children while I sleep for a week?) We've spent all our vacation money on doctors visits and antibiotics.

Listening to the Spirit

I know that Our Father-in-Heaven hears our prayers. I also know that when we Listen to Him, we can be instruments for His work.

A couple of weeks ago, amidst the flood of illnesses (we've really only had 3 days when somebody in our house wasn't sick, and two kids were on antibiotics those three days!, since Christmas), I got a phone call while I was out shopping with the two younger kids. It was Megan's preschool saying she had a fever (the second Thursday in a row!) and she needed to be picked up.

On the drive to get her, my grocery shopping left unfinished- meaning a night trip (which I really HATE, even more than dragging the kids shopping with me), I burst into tears and prayed for some help and support. I was just SO TIRED of sick kids, and sick adults, and sick, sick sick of SICKNESS.

I scooped up a very ill Megan (she ended up having an ear infection and was started on antibiotics) . As I came home I noticed there was something taped to my front door:


Well, I smiled, and chuckled. I pulled off the paper, hauled the three girls in the door and opened the paper.

What I read inside made me smile and laugh.

Then I burst into tears.

Click for larger view

I called Travis to see if he'd spoken with the Missionaries, thinking he might've asked them to do something nice for me. He hadn't talked with them at all. This little note was really just because these young men, who work hard to serve others and follow what they feel is right, had listened to the Holy Spirit and answered a prayer that I'd sent Heavenward in frustration and desperation.

Thank You, Elders!

I believe in the power of prayer! I am so grateful for a Heavenly Father who hears my prayers, and answers them. I don't always get such instant answers, nor so directly! But, this isn't the first time that someone has acted in His proxy to fulfill a need/desire and answer a prayer.

It is my hope, as well, that I live my life in such a way to Listen and be an instrument in helping His children, too.

Social

Yesterday at church I handed Veronica off to the friend sitting next to me. He doesn't have kids, but he's great with all my girls (he is married, and he's been over to babysit). He held her for a few minutes and did what any smart person does- he sat her on the floor.


Veronica doesn't much care for sitting up. She's lazy. So, she leaned over and started chewing on her shoes.
Then she saw him across the room.

Another friend has a little boy who is exactly one month younger than 'Nica. He sat up about a month before she did, and is almost crawling. Veronica looked over at him, and she leaned over her feet to get closer. Then she screech-laughed at him. Have you heard a baby do that? the screech-laugh? It's almost like a cough, but more shrill.

The little boy looked up at 'Nica and blinked. Veronica laughed again, and the little boy blinked and then, as 'Nica's smile is super infectious, he smiled back at her. There they are, only about six months old, and 'Nica's already making friends.


I swear Veronica's middle name should be Sonrisa (which is smile in Spanish) instead of Selene. That baby smiles SO EASILY! And it isn't a little smile, it's HUGE and then she'll duck her head or even laugh!


SO, if you need a little pick-me-up, some unconditional love and good feelings, come grab my baby and whisk her away for some one-on-one smiles. I won't mind! 'Nica won't mind unless she's hungry, but even then she'll probably smile at you as she arches her back and continue to smile as she laugh-cries.

*These pictures were taken after her social interaction at church. The tights and shoes are off (post diaper change). I had just picked her up and she thought she was going to eat, not have pictures taken. That's why she's all teary-eyed. See? Smiling through the pain.

Who is that?

OK, so they are obviously sisters. Except, they picture above was taken of Zoë at 8 months, and the one below is of Veronica at 6 months. Hmmmm, I wonder who will be bigger...

Privacy

Ironic, and maybe not.

Travis and I were just talking about how ANYTHING that you do on your internet-linked computer is NOT PRIVATE!!!

The NY Times just pubished this article, How Privacy Vanishes Online, a Bit at a Time.

I've taken some steps, here, on Facebook, on my own Web site, so that it isn't easily found through search engines (I haven't yet found it). I HAVE put names and ages of my kids on the site(s), and it's a little obvious (especially here) where we live. Still, I've tried to blank out other information so it isn't super easy to track us down in person, unless you know me (or email me).

Still, all that information is flying out there, and if somebody wanted to find me? even in person? Well, it wouldn't be too difficult.

And, that's scary in a lot of ways. So, those of you who have private blogs that I'm not invited to read, I understand (even if I get a little frustrated because you're locking me out). For those who are able to write about your lives and not reveal names/ages/personal information, WOW!

But, to all of you, please check your Facebook settings (look that one up on the NYT, they had an article about privacy settings on Facebook). Remember that EVERYTHING you put in your computer can be accessed through that wire (visible or not) that connects you to the World Wide Web. So, Big Brother (or, as Travis said, Big Sister) could be watching, somebody you don't want to might find you (did you know that unfriend is now a word in the dictionary?). But in general, this stuff is still a little too technical for most smash-and-grab robbers. Hopefully technology and laws will step in to waylay some of the potential problems.

At any rate, Happy Twittering, Say "hi" to some friends on Facebook, remember that your emails can be subpoenaed, and remember C.S. Lewis' posit: If you were put on trial for being a Christian, is there enough evidence to be convicted?

On the Farm

Last May we went to a local farm to visit some baby animals and go for a pony ride. Zoë and Miranda had a BLAST! Megan was sick and stayed in the van the entire duration of the outing (poor girl!)

We went back to this same farm yesterday. Not for the same reason, although there were two six-week-old kids, a one-year-old milking cow, lots of chickens, sheep, horses, etc. The reason for this visit was to determine if I really wanted to garden.

Some friends of mine have been involved in a co-op gardening thing where they go to a farm, work to plant and cultivate and harvest crops. Then, they get to enjoy the fruits, vegetables, greens of their labors. I've been interested because I LOVE fresh produce, hate paying astronomical prices for good food, have a brown thumb and no good place at our current place to grow anything (OK, I could put some pots down in front of my house, but I have a very difficult time remembering to water!!!)

The lady who runs the farm we visited yesterday said that she was interested in getting a few more families to help with the gardening. She runs the farm not only to provide organic food (she sells eggs and last year pork in addition to some of the produce from her garden), but also for day camps and youth groups to come participate in various means (from working the farm to just petting the animals).

While we were there, the girls got to hold a chicken,

Zoë was the first to take Chicklet.
It took her a minute to figure out
how to hold the little bird, who was most patient,
but she was pretty excited about the whole thing.

Tara and I had our babies, Xena and Veronica,
in our wraps, tucked and covered
as much as we could from the cold air
(it was about 48 F and cloudy and the air was wet. Brrr!)

Alexandra not even squeamish at first,

became more comfortable with the chicken.

Miranda loved holding the little chicken.
She even did pretty well keeping the bird in her arms.

pet and brush a cow,

see (and feel) where the goat milk comes from,
watch a chicken lay an egg and gather that and others up ("EW! It's slimy!") Feed some chickens sitting on eggs, pet a rabbit, give hay to some horses, and walk around the natural prairie fields and pond.


As I wrote to my mother-in-law:

Miranda was tickled pink about all the animals. Megan was more in her element with the nature walks (where she gathered items along her way: a corn husk, a couple of branches, some pod shells, sticks. etc). Zoë had fun with friends and was happy to volunteer to do things first (hold the chicken, open the cage, feed the horse/chicken, brush the cow).

I've considered getting involved in this very carefully. I know that it's going to be a huge time commitment. What garden isn't? Even if you are sharing it with five or six other families. But, it's once a week, the lady in charge seems somewhat flexible about what gets planted, etc. The best part? I can bring all four of my daughters- to help or just play. The other co-op I heard about allows only ONE child, and that one must be able to help. That just won't work for me!

Bijoux's turn to hold Chicklet

Miranda gave the chicken a kiss.
Sweet or Yuck?
Maybe both.

So, I believe that this experience will be a learning one for all of us. A great opportunity to see where food comes from, how much work goes into growing it, and how yummy the home-made stuff can be. Mmm, the thought of those tomatoes are already making my mouth water.

Oh, and the fact that I get to let my kids play with farm animals, roam the fields, and play with friends as well? That's unbeatable. Yup, it's actually my good friend who found this program and asked if I were interested. It's always more fun to have a companion to do thing with- especially a person you enjoy hanging out with, and with whom your kids get along!

Veronica played with Xena's toys
as her sisters were eating our picnic lunch at our friends' house.

Xena was sweet about sharing,
and had fun "talking" with her buddy, Veronica.

So, it seems that Wednesday mornings will now be my Gardening mornings. Let's hope the weather cooperates.

Searching

Youtube is awesome, but like many of the things on the internet, it's limited by the search function. I just wish I could hum something in and then get a hit or two.

I've been trying to find some Rocked-up primary songs. I love the melody and the words, but, YAAAWNN! they are just so quiet and boring for my rambunctions little 18-month to 3-year-old nursery kids. I have a rocked version of "Sunbeams" that is SO FUN! Kids normally love this primary song because they've been taught to jump when they hear the word "(sun)beam", and they have so much fun with the happier beat. I've also found a fun "Count Your Many Blessings" rock version. But, I know there are more out there.

Youtube has not been very helpful- what one I found had no credit given to the original composers (Book of Mormon Stories done as grunge music).

But, while searching, I found this little vignette that I thought was fun and funny. It's about minute long. Wish they had more about sharing the gospel before they make it to the temple, but hey, even in the real game, it takes a LOT of repeat practice to get all the boxes, kill all the monsters, and get a perfect score on that flag at the end. Real life isn't so different (except we don't get unlimited lives). Practice makes perfect, so, keep working, Elders!

In Style

Well, it was inevitable. Something so good would have to reach mainstream, eventually. And, hey, it's not a bad thing! There's a reason why I love using a Sling or a Moby Wrap. They are AWESOME!

In fact, just yesterday my neighbor came over and asked to borrow my wrap because her 15-month-old, who was sick with croup, would not be put down, and she wanted to go for a walk (she'd let her sister borrow her own wrap). Ta-da! We got the kid settled on mom's hip, and away mom and clingy-now-happy baby went for a walk in the GLORIOUS hint-of-spring weather we had yesterday. In fact, I believe I introduced this neighbor to the wrap, and she's ended up making them for friends/family (that's how she knew to ask to borrow one from me).

The New York Times had on their website today (March 10th) a front-page article about wearing your baby. Not all that much information. There was some concern about baby's suffocating in padded slings (and, yes, I could see that happening with a very tiny baby in a big padded sling. I usually didn't put newborns laying down in the sling- I didn't think they were all that comfortable, and they seemed to sleep better snuggled against my chest.)

Still, I'm not trading my sling or wrap for a stroller. It's great to free up that stroller so the two-year-old can ride while the baby is on your body, and you STILL have two free hands! Perfect. It's also great that dads are willing to wear the baby. Travis has asked me to strap a baby on him... in fact when we went roller skating for Zoë's school, he had Veronica in the wrap, Megan on skates*. I was with Miranda. Zoë was doing laps around us. Great fun!!!

So, if you're still interested in making a sling or wrap, wanting to know how to wrap a baby in one, check out the internet (there's LOTS of help there!) or even give me a call! I'd be happy to show you what I've got and help you get comfortable using them.

Oh, and you can check out my old post to see my review. Sadly, I haven't experienced the ERGObaby (although I have a friend who has one, and she really REALLY likes it- she also has the wrap and the sling. I might ask her to compare them...)

Wear your baby... it's the new trend!

Oh, and those of you who have used the wrap or sling, ERGObaby, or any combination of the aforementioned, what are YOUR thoughts???

*For some reason, blogger won't let me upload pictures right now. I'll try to post them later.

Budget- update

I have to post a link about some of the AMAZING things a friend of mine does to not only eat inexpensively, but HEALTHY. For her family of five, she only spends $18/week per person. That's rather impressive to me, especially when I think about how she eats whole grains, organic produce, and free-range meat. Wow.

Anyway, check out her post on grocery shopping.

Also, I will have to make another poll about where one grocery shops, just because I realized I did not make it possible to select more than one store. I know that I have to shop at two stores each week (Aldi for most of my stuff, and WalMart has the milk and soy butter I can't get elsewhere and are staples in my diet).

I hope these posts have you thinking more about the money you're eating.

Namaste

So, I've plugged exercisetv before. It's a great place to find free workouts that can be streamed to your computer (you can purchase them, too). There are TONS of different workouts, and all of varying length (2 minutes to 2 hours!).

Meaghan Townsend is a yoga instructor that has some free full-length yoga workouts. They are amazing great for getting your heart rate up, but also stretching. I really feel like my body is warm and limber after her workouts, and I love that I still feel like I've worked my body as hard as some of the floundering workouts I've done (Have I mentioned that I frequently feel like a fish flopping on the floor?)

At any rate, at the end of her workout, she says that it is customary to say "Namaste". She defines this as meaning, "All the goodness in me salutes all the goodness in you."

Although Wiki states that the translation really means "I bow (reverentially) to you."

There's something to saying that at the end of a workout. Maybe it's the subjecting the flesh to the control of the spirit- making my body do things it doesn't necessarily feel natural doing. Maybe that control allows my mind to be more open to other Spiritual things, and I am more comfortable greeting the goodness in others.

Or maybe, I'm just hypoxic from the workout.

Still, I know that frequently I feel like praying at the end of a workout. Not just the, "Thank you, God, that is OVER!" but more along the lines of prayers that are full of gratitude. More gratitude than requests, with which I frequently feel my prayers are overweighted.

I feel more settled in my mind, and although I am tired and probably sore, I'm ready for the next thing in life (hopefully a shower!)

And, as a Child of God, with you as my brothers and sisters, I love that at the end of a workout I am better ready to great all the goodness in you.

Namaste, my friends!

Budget

So, we've had lots of talk amongst friends about setting up a budget. I am curious to know how much you (or your family) spend a week on groceries. So, in my sidebar, I've set up a poll. Please indicate, PER PERSON how much you spend a week on groceries. Groceries is defined as anything you purchase at a grocery store. That may include diapers and cleaning supplies (which aren't edible, but one can consume).

For example: a family with husband, wife, two girls and a baby (5 in house) spend $100/week on groceries. That means the average per person a week would be $20 (100/5=20).

Although I know there are differences in prices based on living location, I still want to know how much people in general spend on food. Maybe another time I'll ask how much people spend on dining out (restaurants, fast food, drinks, etc.)

Oh! I also want to know where you go grocery shopping. I wish I could correlate the two answers, but that might be for another time (or maybe for another friend who is a genius at math and statistics).

Cast your vote!

It's been a crappy week, and it's only Thursday

In the last week, Veronica has had two ear infections, started on a second course of antibiotics. Miranda has had a runny nose and cough and crankiness, sleeping poorly (including naps). Megan got sick at school last week and this week, enough that I had to come pick her up and bring her home. Travis is getting a cold. I've had a perpetual headache, most likely due to severe sleep deprivation (with Miranda and Veronica being sick, I've not slept more than 3 hours at a time).

I'm not super mom. My house is upside down. I haven't done enough laundry (my oldest has had to wear skirts all week because the slacks aren't clean). I haven't been grocery shopping (thankfully we have enough milk to get us through at least one more day, and food storage if it becomes critical- we'll just lack in the green veggies department* but we have vitamins so we might make it) because I got called to go pick up Megan. I think once in the last week I showered before noon, and I won't recount the number of days I didn't shower.

But, my kids are fed, and medicated. They've had some shouts, but lots of hugs and snuggles. They have some clean and warm clothes to wear (but if my four-year-old decides again that black polka-dots on pink go well with multi-colored plaid, that's her choice, not a style based on lack of clean options; I'm still trying to convince the 2-year-old that she has to wear something over the tights, as anchors and hearts are adorable on legs, but people would still rather have something covering the bottom besides the thin tights through which the diaper print shows#).

I'm hoping that my Birthday will be a different kind of celebration this year... not just the conclusion of Winter (my birthday falls on the last day of winter most years), but the onset of SICKNESS-FREE SPRING! That's all I want for my birthday: a few good solid months where I don't have to wipe noses, take axillary temperatures, awaken to my blank-year-old in the middle of the night with fill-in-the-blank illness (options: vomiting, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, fever, diarrhea, etc.) Is it too much to ask? I don't expect to never have them sick again, but just for a little while so EVERYBODY in the house can get a good night's rest.

If I can have that for my birthday, I promise I'll be a better mom; I won't yell as much (at myself or my husband or my children), I might have the laundry caught up, and the house might not have so many dust bunnies. Such a gift of illness free month would be one that would have much more return on the investment. But what kind of effort would it require? Barring the doors and creating a level four lab out of our home? I wouldn't mind having my people pass through a decontamination chamber before entering our home. Nor having a "clean bomb" that I could set off at church so the nursery toys were actually germ-free instead of germ overpopulated. I know the leaders try, but how do you keep 10 2-year-olds from putting anything in their mouth?

I've gotta go. The 2-year-old is making scary noises in the kitchen and the six-month-old is crying miserably on the living room floor. It's nap time. For me, at least...

*Do you have any ideas for storage of a green vegetable that isn't green beans? or peas? My family won't eat either of these. I have corn and tomatoes in our food storage, so far as vegetables go. And, yes, I consider tomatoes a vegetable. If it were fruit, we'd be grossly off the food pyramid, and I can't take that kind of stress right now.

#What is the DEAL with having stupid little prints on diapers? I don't care of they are disney, Pooh, or polka-dots. My favorite diapers are the 7th generation "environmentally friendly"(although it'd be nice if they did print a size on them). But, at twice the cost, I have a hard time justifying the expense at this point in my life. Still, it's nice to not have to see stupid patterns showing through clothes, or peeking out through waistbands. I bet it'd be $0.02 a diaper less if we could forego the licensed prints, and go without any ink on diapers.

Making Play Dough

I have a great recipe for Play Dough Cookies that is lots of fun to make and then eat. If you haven't tried it yet, I really recommend that you give it a try. It's fast to make, uses ingredients most American's have on hand, and the kids LOVE it!

But since we got lots of play-doh toys for Christmas this year, I decided I needed to hunt around for a recipe to make our own play dough. I didn't have a cup of salt, and didn't want to make that much dough, so hunting on the internet I found this recipe:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1/4 cup salt

You mix the dry, add the liquids and stir until smooth, then cook over low heat stirring until it starts to clump. Turn off the heat and continue stirring until it forms the dough. Knead until smooth. I add the food coloring at that point, just because I like to have more than one color (but many people make all the same color and add it before cooking). Store in an airtight container for about 3-4 weeks.

It made the perfect amount, and it's a good recipe. Miranda loved "helping" me make it, and really loved playing with it. I won't feel bad about colors getting mixed together, or about throwing it away. And, it's a LOT cheaper than buying new Play-Doh!

Keep it in perspective...

As I look around my house where we have a huge overpopulation of dust bunnies (they are crawling up the walls!), tiny pieces of toys scattered in every room, stacks of papers sitting next to my computer monitor, beds that need to be changed, laundry to be done (cuz it never reaches that state), food to prepare, dishes to wash (by hand, darn it!), homework to help with, and a myriad of other chores and responsibilities that I don't care to numerate, I was encouraged by a message sent from my dear Relief Society President (she's so awesome!)


"A woman ... need not try to sing all of the verses of her song at the same time."
~James E Faust

Blog Giveaway Results

Using this Random Number Generator in two different ways,

Melissa gets some homemade bread!

Thanks for getting the word out there. I've had quite a few people lookin' at the diaper change kits.