A Freezing Cold Hug From Me To YOU!

Tulsa is freezing right now, we are braced for yet another winter storm. However I'd like to think of it as somehow being able to feel a kin to my Nova Scotia friend Jenny, especially since it's her birthday. So from my freezing cold location to yours, here are the Top 10 reasons Jenny Schmenny warms my heart!



10. The first time I met her she had a big smile on her face--just like in the picture. Some things NEVER change.

9. Having her in Orchestra (or Dorkestra as I have called it through out my musical career) made things joyous. Field trips down town wouldn't have been the same without her.
Also the gig in Indiana was super fun too. It was like a giggle fest with some bike riding in between.

8. She plays the violin beautifully--especially her fiddling. I hope more people get to partake of her special talent.

7. She has helped me feel faith in the Lord through the way she acts and pays gratitude to the Lord.

6. Her house in KCK was so wonderful to stay at and I will always remember being brought cinnamon toast and hot cocoa for breakfast.

5. Her giggle is infectious.

4. It was nice to have a friend in high school who was just as naive as me (we were probably the only two people at Paseo who actually didn't partake in HALF of the hoodlum stuff going on--although you were always much better than me--I did have a skipping school problem and if I remember correctly you did not.

3. She is a fantastic writer and her blog is exquisite. I wish I had just a smidge of your writing prowess.

2. I sometimes like you just for your attempt at jumping over the gorge or whatever that was at Rebekka's land--you know the day we saw the beaver dam. I still remember you almost making it and just barely missing, holding onto the edge of the grass as if it were some 007 movie begging for us to save you. Am I remembering this correctly??

1. And last but not least, I like you for your pure heart and your joyous spirit. It's rare to find someone as pure and honest and kind as you.

Here's to your Birthday! Have a Happy Day--or Week. Heck by the time you become a Mom you almost need a week to celebrate!

Making a Personalized Header

This post is for Emily.
Sorry it's taken so long, I was in AZ helping my Dad with his business and for some reason I couldn't log onto my blog. Anyway here is how to post a new header and make changes to the blog.
****By the way I read your blog too and we LOVE the chocolate marshmellow cookies!

First I designed my new header with photoshop type software (making sure the dimensions would fit on my blog--it tells you in the template how big the header they create for you is. It's also listed below in the examples I pasted in. Although you can just use it as guidelines to what you want to do). Next you need to upload that picture to the web. I used a website we have, you can also use accounts that keep photos for you on the web. Cut the web address to the photo link, it should look something like
http://www.dappledapple.com/images/eyedapple.jpg

Then go to the template portion of your dashboard (where you make changes to your links).
Scroll down to a place that looks like



then paste your web link to your photo into the src=" " part of the template code. Then try it out. When Idid this I messed it up a few times (by pasting it to the wrong part) so, I'd just go back and put on the old blogger template I was using then try again.

I hope that is helpful and sorry it took so long to post.

Also if that doesn't seem to work, then I'll get my husband to write something more clear cut, he's our computer guru around here and helped me with it.

On a side note if you want to change the look of your side bar (I did this with my links, profile, archives, etc. )

Then do the same steps as above, just find the same place you add a link. It should look like this when you change the look of the "links".






scroll down to the archive part and put in the source for that, etc. then publish.

Hope that is helpful.

Ciao!

Me, Me, Me!--Here's My List

Ok I'll admit it, I browse the "links" columns of my friend's blogs and read about perfect strangers. Their lives seem so interesting (and crafty--my goodness!), I just can't help my self. So I've been reading some of the "100s" and I thought, "I don't even know if I could come up with 100 "me" statements". So it became a challenge really, just to see if I could muster up that many descriptors of myself. So, here's the attempt. It was easier to do than I thought. Who knew I could be so self indulgent?


100 Things that make me ME



1. I don't mind a good fart joke.

2. I like to moon walk after I throw a bowling ball (just found that out last week)
3. I like to make my kids giggle (usually by acting like a hillbilly)
4. I like to laugh—especially at people in spandex
5. I can get pretty worked up over small things if I haven’t had enough sleep
6. I get anxious and useless when I’m stressed out
7. I love, LOVE the movie Lagaan. Everyone should have to watch it at least once it their life.
8. I am opinionated inwardly—hoping that it doesn’t leak out too often
9. Have a hard time sitting still and working on one project at a time
10. I just realized that I adore soft, chintzy, furry slippers (this is a miracle seeing how I grew up with barefoot/sandal wearing folk).
11. I enjoy swimming year round
12. Mr. Darcy always has a special place in my heart, Elizabeth too!
13. I usually hate books turned into movies—I am too critical about this, that or the other.
14. I love food—it used to be any kind of food as long as I didn’t make it, but lately I’ve refined my tastebuds and enjoy Godiva chocolates, fresh pita bread, Indian cuisine and sweet yummy cherries (drool, drool).
15. I don’t mind having a house full of people, in fact I think I operate better that way.
16. I like cleaning up after church functions (what’s wrong with me???).
17. I love doing impersonations with my Mom especially of people we know and of celebrities—my Mom’s Elvis impersonation is to die for.
18. I daydream about houses, paint color, and gardening.
19. I like to do karate chops and dance like an idiot.


20. I grew up loving—Parker Lewis Can't Loose, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, You Can’t Do That on Television, Wren and Stimpy (Log, log, log), Star Trek the Next Generation, BBC—Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, Keeping Up Apperances, Mystery (Sherlock Holmes—my fav.), Masterpiece Theatre (Tale of Two Cities—my fav.).
21. Love Karate Kid I—Daniel-san also has a fond place in my heart, Mr. Miagi too.
22. Favorite cartoon growing up—Gummy Bears (I know it's a let down right? No cool cartoon like speed racer or thundercats or even smurfs), the theme song used to make me tear up (bouncing here and there and everywhere...).
23. I like ecclectic decorating---artsy fartsy style if you will.
24. I once sat in on an "invitation only" workshop, consisting of YoYo Ma giving one on one cello instruction to my friend Angela, wondering if he’d notice me in the third row—I know I’m delusional.

25. I got to do security for a U2 concert and was a little disappointed that Bono was shorter than me---only disappointed for a split second though, I also wore a tuxedo shirt thinking I would look different and cool and perhaps earn the respect of U2--truly living in my own head right?

26. I Love my husband, cause he makes me laugh and he does outrageous things like put me over his shoulder and spin me to the point of dizziness and not so outrageous things like let me sleep in when I'm tired.
27. Love my kids because….a. S brings excitement into our home
28. b. L brings beauty and color into our home
29. and c. X makes us laugh like hyenas or FOBs which is pretty much the same thing.

30. I like my heritage on both sides. Proud of being Maori, Samoan, and German, English, French, Chinese, etc., etc. On my Heinz 57 mix from my Polynesian side..isn't it weird that for some reason when you have family that lives on tiny islands, some how the world just comes to them.
31. I like my body (and that is saying volumes people).
32. I like to read gossip magazine covers (and sometimes articles) when the line in the grocery store is moving slowly.
33. I like animals, but am afraid of 85% of God’s creations
34. I would love to travel around the world.
35. I would love to be a senior missionary anywhere in the world (when I am a senior that is)
36. I often miss the past terribly and get emotional and choked up thinking about this person, this place, this school, that bike trip with friends and jumping into Lake Jacomo---ahhhh freedom to jump into a disgusting lake, nice.
37. Love the show Ugly Betty---speaking of which I had my brothers calling me to ask if I watch the show. Here's the dialogue...

“Why would you call to know if I watched some show?” I asked. “Oh no reason,” they responded guiltily. “YOU THINK I LOOK LIKE UGLY BETTY DON’T YOU?,” I accuse. “No--(enter my Mom's voice in the background)...it’s not so much you look like her, but that you have the same sweet heart.” Hmmmm…. interesting, nice save Mom. I don’t know about having the sweet heart, but I did find Derek laughing after an Ugly Betty commercial and I asked him what was so funny and he said, “There’s this show and the girl looks just like you.” Fast forward...Saw the show, love it, and sadly I’d have to agree with them. She looks an awful lot like my Jr. High School photos. Nice.

38. I talk too much when I am nervous or feel embarrassed for myself or someone else.
39. I never sleep enough.
40. I always eat too much.
41. I always want to sleep more and eat less.
42. I have conversations with myself daily, sometimes quietly in my head, sometimes out loud in the car, sometimes in a British accent (and why am I admitting this?)
43. I’ve embarrassed myself more times than I can count.
44. I love making friends but I get shy and inarticulate when I join conversations.
45. I over analyze my children’s emotions.
46. I can’t multiply worth a darn.
47. I almost flunked out of Physical Science 101 twice, thank goodness for hard working Slovakian friends that make it their life’s duty to tutor me.
48. I like to be silly but often question my actions before I fall asleep.
49. I have to give myself pep talks before I give talks in church or teach a lesson. You can pretty much bet I’m sitting up on the stage thinking, ”You can do this Bucky, they don’t know you from diddly squat. They won’t even care if you fumble words or cry your eyes out. Just take a deep breath and act like a General Authority.”
50. I sometimes feel like a caged Hamster in the winter time.
51. I sometimes feel like it was my life’s mission to change diapers and make food.
52. I was really naïve and made lots of dumb choices when I was younger,
Namely doing things that would get me kicked out of school (and I was kicked out, sophomore year Paseo Academy--long, stupid story), lie to my parents about what movie I was watching, who I was with, where I was going (I was always pretty good where ever I went, but I hope my kids don’t lie to me---I know, ain’t gonna happen---but my fingers are crossed.)
53. Favorite pranks as a child: Calling the Butt family and asking for Harry.

Saying to an innocent passerby, Hey dreamboat (when they look add), Not you Shipwreck!

54. Love Wonder Works and their version of Little Princess, I don’t care how cheesy the set is, or how sad the “real” story is. Their version kicks the newer version's butt!
55. Secretly wished I could have grown up on a farm in New Zealand, just like my Grandma.
56. In the past I always wanted to be cooler, more courageous, outgoing, straight forward, etc. etc. But now looking back I’m glad I was the way I was.
57. I like walking around my house like a gorilla.
58. I like doing cartwheels.
59. I love the mountains.
60. I love my Mother in law and aspire to be more like her.
61. I have wonderful parents, who weren’t perfect but whom I’ve never ever felt anything but love for. They are the best no matter what they think!
62. I don’t like nosey people.
63. I can be a little nosey.
64. I can’t stand messes.
65. Yet I am messy.
66. I love the scriptures
67. But have trouble reading them sometimes.
68. I like to write and have written a lot of small tid bit stuff, but as I said before I have a hard time sitting down and doing one thing at a time.
69. I love my grandparents and I think about them and what they must of felt like in their time, during my stage of life.
70. I love to sit back and relax, I wish it was a full time job!

71. If I was a super hero my name would be...Barefoot Momma and my superpowers would be having children close together and being able to feed them, dress them, pay attention to them and clean the house and look fabulous in lightning speed.
72. I have witnessed a squirrel being killed by a pistol in the basement of my Grandad’s garage.
73. Grandpa AhMu had great aim, but I do not. I once aimed at a bottle and shot a cow on my Uncle’s ranch.
74. I like rednecks- their funny, say things in a funny accent, and look funny(what's up with mullets and tight wranglers?).
75. While I like the redneck I'd never want the redneck to get upset at me as many of them own more guns than bottles of Bud.
76. I love education, but I’m most at home with people who don’t philosophize over what diving into a black hole actually feels like.
77. I am not a Madonna fan (She always makes me laugh with her weirdo leotard--ok I only saw it once on Yahoo or something and all I could think of is her trying to dance like that when she's 77 with brittle bones and saggy everything. There is a point people when one must hang up the towel on the party-girl mystique. (Unless you're Sophia Loren--who really isn't a party girl, but I wouldn't mind lookin like that when I'm 77!).
78. I am not a Britney Spears fan.
79. Contrary to my habits I do like reading and when I get the opportunity to read, I do. I am currently reading Nick Hornby's book, Long Way Down and enjoying it.

80. My favorite female singer is Imogen Heap, she reminds me of Anna Banana.
81. My favorite male singer is Pavarotti, I shed tears when he sang at the Olympics

82. People like to speak to me in Spanish, even after I tell them I don’t speak Spanish.
83. I like canned fish and oysters.
84. I like fake crab used in a salad.
85. I love my brothers and my sisters dearly---I’d try my best to do what ever I can for them.
86. I love my brother and sisters in law dearly as well, ditto to numero ochenta y cinquo.
87. I have a love, hate relationship with my dog.
88. I have a love, hate relationship with video games.
89. My brother Flint, who has Downs Syndrome has taught me a lot about life and a lot about who we must of been in the pre-exsistence. He is my little sweetie and will always be.

90. I often realize the things I am doing wrong when I have a mental break down.
91. My stomach resembles cooked porridge that has been cooled down and clumped together (too much information I know)
92. I am amazed that this list got easier after the fifty first “me” statement.
93. I like to make me lists of 100 if it gets me out of doing housework—don’t worry I’ll blame the messy house on my kids.
94. I hate passing blame.
95. I hate passing gas.
96. I hate stink bombs, of which one was detonated just outside our door this afternoon by my numero uno party girl—S (Grandma's will by anything for the Grandkids, won't they?).

97. I think it is funny catching people picking their noses in their car.
98. I love the outdoors and feel most relaxed laying out on a blanket looking at a clear, blue sky.

99. I love the gospel and I will cry when I feel the spirit.
100. I love my Savior Jesus Christ!!!! La Iglesia es verdad!

Ahh..I think I have a holiday hangover?!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Wednesday!!

It's good to get back to a normal schedule and back to the gym (I swear I gained at least 5 pounds this Christmas, eek!). I just went to the YMCA today for one of my favorite classes, the Latin Dance class. It was so much fun and the teacher came back from Mexico with a lot of great new music we've never heard before. I thought I'd be a little clumsy coming back to class after not dancing for three weeks, but even though my sides hurt, I must of been in need of some "break it down" time, cause I didn't feel awkward at all.

We all went to KCMO for Christmas this year. I was having trouble feeling the Christmas spirit, maybe because I put off shopping till the last minute, but mostly because it was sooo warm. It felt more like Easter holiday than Christmas. However we had a great lesson by Bishop Pace in my Mom's ward. He focused on the phrase, "And they had no room in the inn." He asked us How we sometimes refuse to let Christ in our Inn--or our life, or heart, etc. Also how we turn away other people from taking part in the Gospel. I know I'm a softy (especially since having kids) but I wasn't the only one with weepy eyes. It really brought the spirit to the season.

Here's a few highlights of our holiday Party-Hartying!

Playing at the Crown Center Christmas Playground. It was so much fun. They had random things like trains, animals, tractors, pink cars, and dump trucks, but the kids loved it regardless of the brutal, chilling, winter wind (it may have been warm during the day, but watch out at night!)

There is even a fountain that does a rythmic fountain show, right next to the playland. Our kids were soooo crazy they saw teenagers running through the fountain and of course monkey does as monkey do, so they ran through the fountains. They were timing it pretty good. The fountain would be barely on so they wouldn't get wet. However after 5 minutes they became more excited and didn't wait for the fountains to go down--so they ran through it and got soaked! During super chilly wind too. They're crazy--actually we're crazy (or too tired) to let them play in it!--wish I had a picture of it.





Here they are waiting to rip open the packages. It's a family tradition to read the Nativity Story, so they waited very patiently until it was over so they could tear into the presents. I love my brothers face, I think the girls may have awoken us all a little too early. Also do you see X that is her favorite thing to wear, just a diaper. Maybe that is why she doesn't want to potty train. It's her favorite outfit! I think she would have done well growing up in the jungle.



So the kids each got pretty much the one thing they asked Santa for this Christmas--a Baby Alive, Build A Bear, and a My Little Pony Castle. They also got water colors and one clothing item each. Also a pair of Walmart Brand Crocs--S was way too excited to get those--it must be the trendy thing at Elementary Schools.



New Year's My Family came to visit us in Tulsa and it was all about playing games. Derek had so much fun having other males in the house (we smother him with girliness). So he and my brothers played hours of Yu-Gi-Oh, computer games and they even agreed to play a few games S and I made up (musical numbers and the name game). It was fun, we shot off some fireworks, ate too much, and laughed way too much (I was hoping to see my mom jump in the air and do her Elvis impersonation--I guess she only does that show at Christmas time--hehehe--wish I had video of that gem!). So over all I think we all enjoyed our night of saying farewell to the old and greetings to the new!



Here's evidence that the boys in the family played way too many games. Derek must have staged these photos of Mr. Sniper Spy playing a game of Yu-Gi-Oh with Mr. Penguin (cause I don't recall taking these photos).

Wow--Christmas is just around the corner!

I can't believe December is moving even faster than November did. We have been very busy. I'm sure that is why time has flown by. First off Derek finished his finals and projects just in time to come home and go to the airport and then to...dun, dun, dunnn....DISNEY WORLD!!
We were all so excited. We had such a great time and it felt so good to forget about school, jobs and housework and be together and have a load of fun!
It was so special for my kids. I remember being a kid always dreaming to go to Disney World but never going. It was a great experience to see all the joy in their faces as they saw their favorite Disney characters, ride roller coasters for the first time (even X was tall enough to ride a few roller coasters--that girl is tall!), and experience all of the hustle and bustle.

We arrived home and went to Derek's graduation the next day. That was so exciting! It was special to realize that he has really accomplished so much in such a short period of time. I am so proud of him and all of his hard work.


Last but definitely not least, today is Grandma Jo's birthday. She is so special to us and the kids have reached a new level of gratitude since she was the one who treated us to Disney World.

I wanted to write the top ten things we love about her--in celebration of her birthday.

Here's Mom and Hanner at Minnie Mouse's house.

1. We love the way she is so giving (especially now, as the girls will always remember how Grandma Jo was the one who took us all to Disney World).

2. S especially loves how when she stays at Grandma's she gets to be treated to yummy hot waffles with the choice of blueberry or chocolate chip batter.

3. The first thing L said was that she loved how pretty Grandma is. How true that is, she sparkles from the inside out. It's not only her great genes that make her beautiful but her pure, gracious spirit.

4. Derek's first gratitude towards Mom was to quote from the Book of Mormon, "He never doubted that she always knew it". Meaning that he never doubted that his Mother always knew what was good and true and she taught that to him.

5. There have been so many instances in my life when I asked myself what would Mom do? She is so kind and patient, when I try to gain more patience I ask that question over and over.

6. She is a beautiful synchronized swimmer. She truly has a talent (and an amazing work ethic) for this sport. She has won at Nationals and performs so wonderfully. I hope one of our girls follows her in her footsteps.

7. I have never heard her speak bad about anyone, she seems to find the good in all people.

8. She is fearless. Not only has she been on a sky diving team as a teenager, but she raised 8 wonderful children (8 kids! That can muster up fear in the best of us!), has moved across the country numerous times, and always knows a way out of any sticky situation.

9. She loves the temple and it shows in her demeanor, house decor, and her temple attendence.

10. Derek would like me to put down that he loves his mom for buying him a Nintendo, but I am grateful for her that she once threw that Nintendo away! You go MOM!

Furrrrreeeezzzzing!

Here's a picture of our car taken yesterday, before it snowed all night. There is a pile of snow on our window outside. I just went out to walk my dog and he could only go as far as the bushes or else he'd be engulfed by snow (he's such a little dog!)

Well I'm hoping today's snow day is as laid back and nice as yesterday's. The girls stayed home and at first I was a little afraid we'd all get cabin fever and start getting angry at one another. But that wasn't the case. Infact my kids seemed better behaved than when they come home from school. It must be that they were able to relax and not be all wound up from school.

However my house suffered the ravages of childhood boredom.

This picture is actually quite tame. Imagine more mess, more balloons, christmas music, dancing and perhaps playdoh that's been chucked across the room (Derek found some green heart shaped playdoh carefully plastered to our bedroom wall).

But when the craziness inside gets intense, we bundle up and go outside. Yesterday there was a boy with a snowboard taking all the kids for a ride down a hill. It was fun. Unlike Utah cold though, here it's so bitter and the windchill is such a factor that we can't stay out half as long as our sledding adventures at Rock Canyon Park.

Here's some things we did to have a crazy yet enjoyable snow day.

1. Spend hours blowing up 30+ balloons and letting the kids draw what ever they want on them.

2. If you own a treadmill or elyptical runner it automatically turns into a human hamster wheel. The kids spent a lot of time trying to run as fast as they can--one at a time or two at a time.

3. Play doh is fun for the kiddies but monitor them closely or you may spend your evening finding their "creations" in the darndest places.

4. Dress up your dog as Santa--the kids won't stop laughing or stop taking pictures of him. Here is my favorite shot.

5. Dress up each other in Christmas attire and take photos. Here are some of the results.

6. Play outside and freeze your brains out and come inside for some yummy hot cocoa. **So glad I stocked up on hot cocoa!!

7. Just have fun--We had such a good time being cooped up with each other, it makes me appreciate my "colorfully crazy" family!

Help Me PLEASE!

I've been in Young Women's as a Personal Progress Leader, for a while now and I am sad to report that I haven't been too active with my own goals in Personal Progress. So I made a new goal to work on it actively and I'll need your help. I am really interested in what your opinions and your experience have been when it comes to learning the gospel. The Personal Progress Experiences often have you read scriptures and then journal your feelings, or ask other people what their experiences have been with certain gospel principles. So I am opening up discussions on the Experiences I am currently working on. I've posted these discussions on a second blog called Book of Beginnings. Please, Please, Please check it out and write in your opinions and experiences for the topic I've posted on. It will help me finish my goals in Persoal Progress and hopefully inspire me to keep working on goals. Thanks!!!

http://bookofbeginnings.blogspot.com/

check it out :)

Imogen Heap - Just For Now (live at Indie103)

Imogen Heap - Just For Now live at Indie103 This is why I like Imogen so much. It really showcases what's behind the creative process in music. The video is out of sync a little, but I still enjoyed it! If you want to watch the whole thing and see it with the sound and video aligned properly visit: http://www.rehearsals.com/exclusive/last_kiss/

Ahh..Kids, They're Great Aren't They?

Here are some highlights of my day, get ready for the good, the bad, and the bald spot.
1. Woke up to S sitting at the table doing her homework (I thought of what a good kid she is--we forgot about homework and she woke up early to finish it)--Good
2. I might be able to go visit my Mom all by myself and Adri will be coming too! yeehaw!--Good
3. While I was on the phone with my Mom, Derek cleaned up all the messes I was trying to avoid--Super Good!
4. When L and S got home they informed me that X was in her room covered in Sour Cream.--Bad
5. Then while i was trying to clean up X, L came in covered in sour cream as well.--Bad!
6. While L was doing crafts at the table she made X a hairbow out of paper, then rubber cemented it to X's hair. Found out about it too late. X will have a super huge bald spot if I don't find out HOW to get caked-on rubber cement out of her hair (Any tips will be GREATLY appreciated!)--The Bald Spot!



These two are partners in crime. Two incidents in one day--they are tiring me out! Will post a picture of the bald spot if I can bring myself to actually do it--but if I don't cut it out or get it out I'll feel bad that my kid has a big glob of "bird-poo" looking gunk on the back of her head!

Mixing It Up a Bit

Thought I'd make some changes to the old Blog. I'm sighing with relief right now because I had to figure out sooo much stuff for my non-computer mind. Looking like this right now.

I'm sure I'll get my sanity back fairly soon.

Happy Halloween!!

Every fairy secretly wants to be a vampire, right? At least our Tinkerbell does.
We went to Hallozooween last friday night. It was really fun. There were a ton of people. Which was frustrating at first, then we found out that zoo members had a VIP pass that got you past all the lines. We felt so special!
The kids liked riding the zoo train at night and trying to see some of the animals that were out. There were booths set up for the kiddies to trick or treating and games and pumpkin painting.

Our kids this year are tinkerbell, dorothy, and cinderella (I still need to get X to pose in her costume, although she does like wearing it).

I was so proud of myself, I made the Dorothy costume all by myself and in one night. An accomplished seamstress might laugh at that because it was a simple pattern. However I was still scared of the gathers as I have never done them before. Now I know gathers are a piece of cake! Well I might do other "dress-like" projects in the future--we'll see.

Warning I will probably post more Halloween pictures after tonight! Hope everyone has a fun and safe night!!

Just What's On My Mind

Ok, ok I really don't have anything SUPER interesting going on right now. The weather is changing. THere is that smell of coal in the air, and there is a splash of pumpkins everywhere you turn.
Yet right now, I don't know if I'd say I am in a content frame of mind. I mean I have things that I enjoy--spending time with my family, dance class, the occassional party but I am just getting ansy. Maybe it's because Derek has been bringing home graduation papers, attire, the whole works. I'm in that uncomfortable pre-change place. I don't know how to explain it. I know anyone who has lived in Provo knows what I mean.
I know the enevitable will come, we'll pack up our things and move to a new place. I guess there are some knots inside my stomach for a mid-school-year change. I'm worried about my kids adjusting to a new school. I'm worried about finding housing, I'm worried about if I'm going to meet new potential friends, I'm worried about moving to a bigger city.
I haven't been admitting this to anyone, but it must be in the back of my mind because I keep getting distracted from house work, schedules, etc. I find it's usually times like these that I need to sit down in whatever mess I've been neglecting and just find my thoughts and come to grips with whatever is on my mind.
It's weird because we've only been here for a year and a half and there is so much I will miss. There are so many people I will miss. I hate to admit that I was a little sad to move to Tulsa because I was really looking forward to living in Rochester, NY. It looked like a beautiful city, I new someone from there and their mom kept calling me, making me feel welcomed and making me excited to move there. Plus I was excited that an old friend from Missouri lived there, I was excited to reconnect and get to know her again.
Then our plans changed and we decided to move to Tulsa. Which really was the best decision, yet I was more excited to be four hours away from my Mom and my brothers than the actual place itself.
But I underestimated this place--to someone who has a real young-party-type-active life Tulsa may not be so much fun. But for a family-it's really great. There are the nicest people here. There is that sweet "southern" hospitality where ever you go. The grocery store, the park, just everywhere. I'll be sad to leave that and go out east where you hardly make eye contact with people walking right past you.
FLashback--happy memory of Tulsa
**THis one's for Miss J. Fryer--I'll really miss our walks around LaFortune even though we haven't walked for sometime--And the people we saw walking that I'll really miss are as follows:
-Man with dog, wearing dog's scarf (probably to go with his booty shorts ha!)
-Tom Hanks
-Group of really fast chubby women who always lapped us (probably my fault I know I was the handicap)
-Group of really old men who'd lap us (my fault again)
-laughing at the spandex pants the old men wore & and especially missing at us laughing at their flat bottoms once they did lap us.
-just laughing-we'd start laughing and never stop it seemed

It's some how a relief to blog--why? I don't know. Maybe it's like talking to a friend on the phone--it's just you don't know which one is on the receiving end.
Well I'm out of that low, unmotivated place. It's amazing what conjuring up images of old men in spandex will do to you. I'm off to clean--gonna play some tunes to keep me feeling good.
Ciao!

Dancing Queen

Once upon a time there was a little girl, who was rather clueless and awkward. She a had a beautiful, talented mother who really was worried about giving her daughter a chance at experiencing new and wonderful things.
This mother saw her little girl dancing in the backyard and watching "Great Performances" on PBS. The deal--She would became the ballet seamstress and her daughter would be enrolled in the Ballet Conservatory. And the rest is ancient "Independence-style- Nutcracker" history!

Yeah, yeah ok, enough of the sappy fairy tale writing. As you can tell-- young, awkward, clueless girl is--of course me. And my Mom??--- the fabulously, gifted seamstress (she once sewed my girls Snow White and Cinderella costumes by hand, with dental floss!).

Where am I going with this you might ask? Well I have rediscovered my love of dancing. As a kid I must admit I down played this interest. Perhaps it was embarrassing teasing from my relentless Samoan uncles and Grandpa (when they heard I was taking ballet my Grandpa said, "Bucky show us some of your moves." So as a good, obediant granddaughter I showed him some of my bar exercises. He and my uncles decided to throw in fart noices when ever I made any sort of bending movement--humiliating and lesson learned--never dance infront of family--potentially embarrassing incident may occur). Or maybe it was due to the fact that standing in front of a mirror as a an adolescent teen of "normal to larger" bone structure, in tights and a leotard next to preteen--let's face it sticks, was the real problem. But whatever the reasons were, the truth was that I really did enjoy ballet class and dancing like a crazed lunatic when ever no one was watching.

Case in point. Any one who drove past my place in Provo might have had quite a show. Cause when the kids went to bed I usually did the night time tidy up to my favorite Bollywood hits and danced around as if Gauri from Lagaan (usually with all lights on and bay window still uncovered). Pathetic and derranged, I know. Thankfully I've taken my freak show to the YMCA for some fine tuning in respectable, "real" dance classes. I am soooo LOVING it!

The nice thing about taking dance now is really three fold.
1. Half the class consists of senior citizens
Don't get me wrong. I am in no way saying that because many of them are older I by default look better. It's more along the lines of-- no one is trying to one up each other in class. They are taking it for the same reason I am, for the love of dance. Of course, not having to look at preteen sticks in leotards is an added bonus. Which brings me to part deux.

2. Not having to wear a leotard to class.
Ahh liberating. Let's face it, no one in their right mind wants to see me "'a la Madonna" prancing around on the dance floor with a glossy leotard and leg warmers. No! For me, wearing workout pants and a regular shirt does wonders for my dancing self esteem.

and

3. Variety.
I am taking ballet and jazz, latin dance, and belly dance. All are fun and I don't get overloaded with one genre and each is a great work out for different reasons. Plus having so much variety helps me remember I'm not trying to make it to Julliard, just trying to loosen up and have fun dancing--which I find is necessary for me.

So perhaps I'll keep an update of my dancing experiences. I've been doing the dance thing for a month now and have been enjoying every second of it!

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!!

There are a lot of amazing things about Elizabeth. She has always been good to me and my family. Thanks for being there when I needed a friend. Elizabeth is one of the calmest, sweetest people I know, emphasis on calm! I hope you have a fabulous birthday!

Here are the top ten things I admire about my good friend Elizabeth

10. She makes the yummiest desserts! From peanut butter and chocolate popcorn balls to delicious fruit tarts--she definitely has a talent for baking yummy food.

9. She is very thoughtful. I still remember her watching my kids right before I left for Tulsa and making them all gift bags and taking me out with some friends my last night in town!

8. She is nice to everyone.

7. She is a very caring wife and mom--you always think about the other person.

6. She has such great taste in movies. Any show Liz has said to watch has always been good.

5. She is fun to be around. Liz has a calm personality but really knows how to let loose and have a GREAT time!

4. She has been to more countries than states. That is definitely something for me to admire.

3. She always has such great stories to read on her blog--it makes me admire her and feel a little jealous :)

2. She says I can stay at her house if I ever visit Hawaii--Admiration is overflowing by those prospects!

1. My favorite thing about Elizabeth is.....
she has a great outlook on life, I've never felt pulled down around her. She really has an optimistic personality.


Happy Birthday!!!

And I Say Hey! What's Going On?

Here's a little update, for anyone wondering about my family's sanity after my last post. We are all healthy again and doing fine! Derek and I finally had our date night and it was terrific of course! We were able to watch a movie--The Gridiron Gang (it was really good, which I was glad about because we mostly watched it cause the Rock was in it--only Samoan Hollywood Star--can anyone think of any other famous Samoans??)
Then we went to Borders to hang out, that is actually a lot of fun for us. Especially when we can peruse through the store with out us sheep hearding our kids to stay in the kiddie section. We had a fabulous babysitter too. She's a Young Woman in the ward and my girls were doing back flips when they found out she was coming to babysit--it was really funny.

Also S and L were Pom Girls for a high school football game here. Sports here are a real buisness and they go all out on their stadiums, cheerleaders, pom girls etc. They both enjoyed it. I failed to hear the instructions to dress the girls in black shorts, so you can clearly see S she is in pink shorts in the middle. L was harder to see since she was in black shorts.

We went to a birthday party for a little boy in our ward. His Grandpa owns a horse ranch and they brought up a horse for the little kids to take rides on. Most of the children were afraid. In fact only my kid's and the birthday boy and his sister rode the horse, because all the other little ones were too afraid to sit on it. The Grandpa just loved X. She by far was the most excited by the horse. And Granpa was very patient with X's enthusiasm. Because when ever we tried to lift X off the horse, she'd clech her legs against the saddle and stiffen up so it was soo hard to remove her. Grandpa just let her stay and pet the horse until she really understood her turn was over. Then afterwards he came and sat by me and said, "Are your kids Native American?" And I said that they were and he looked at X and said that he thought he could tell. I guess he was part Cherokee and Chactaw (sp?) is what he said.

Just Been One of Those Days.

When I woke this morning I had totally forgotten it was my birthday. I got the girls ready for school. Then my husband came out and gave me a big hug and wished me a Happy Birthday. If I was smart I would have ran to my journal and jotted down how wonderful my 28th Birthday was.
However, in life some times there aren't happy endings, or else the happy endings come much later than expected. Anyone catch where I might be going with this one??

Well after the nice hug and morning prayers I walked the kids to the bus stop. I found it highly unusual that S was hiding behind me grasping to me around the arms. When the bus pulled up she flat out refused to ride the bus. So I waved Goodbye to L and went home with S clenching onto my arm. When we got home she seemed sad and she said she felt sick. I told myself something was up, she didn't want to go to school. I had to take X to her little gymnastics class so I said Adieu to S and Daddio thinking that I'd sort it out later and left to go to class.

When I got home S was wailing. Wailing is really an understatement, apparently she really WAS sick and her ears were in excruciating pain. One thing I learned about S today, she REALLY hates medicine. Especially tylenol. I tried to conceal it in ice cream, no go. I tried to mix it in water, still tasted it too much. I even tried to teach her how to take the tylenol gelcap. Well after 3 hours of pleading, frustration on my part, and for her agony and pain, I decided (this may sound harsh, but she was in so much pain!) to force it in her mouth. I held her arms made her open her mouth and tried to pour the liquid in her mouth, then tried to squirt some water in her mouth too to help her swallow it.

Mistake! She was NOT amused, apparently she thought I was trying to hurt her cause she screamed at the top of her lungs- "Why are you trying to KILL me!"

Well her daddy came out to help with the situation and I went to sit on my bed. I felt horrible. I kept thinking what a terrible Mom I am. She must of thought I was some maniac trying to make her take poison. On the other hand, she rarely gets sick, so that may explain her uneasiness towards taking medication.

Wait...
cause it DOES get worse. I think some friends from church were coming by to surprise me and take me out to lunch when the whole episode was going on. Cause I get a phone call and my friend asks, "so how is your birthday going?" Okay maybe it was innocent. But I kept imagining them standing outside my door questioning each other whether they should knock or just go back to the car and call me to make sure everything was ok.

Well I totally dished about the whole thing to my friend and she was adamant that she would pick up the right kind of medicine for S. I went back to my room contemplating whether I should have just let her scream about the pain or tried to trick her a few more ways...

Well true to her word my friend brings a present and the medication. It is fast dissolving children chewable tylenol--bubble gum flavor. So I tried it. Boy, it was still a no-go. S put it in her mouth for two seconds and spit it out. However there were only a few bits to spit out so I tried to coax her to just stick a couple more in her mouth (her dosage was three tablets). So after a couple more hours she finally had dissolved her other two and she laid down. Probably exhausted from all the screaming.

Ok while all this was going on I called the clinic we usually go to and they say I should go up there tomorrow at 7:30am to get in for someone to see her. I'm crossing my fingers she doesn't feel as sick tomorrow and that this ear infection can go away quickly.

Well after all the screaming I looked at the clock and realized I didn't feel like going out. I'd rather have a fresh day to get excited about going out, so I cancelled the babysitter. Watched Wife-swap while my husband took X out to play and put S and L to bed.

Oh yeah and my birthday cake I had left out so we'd have it when everyone to got home ended up looking like this--

That was X's handy work. I guess she was tired of waiting. I guess it's a little worse looking because L had taken a piece by this point.

So I will be celebrating my birthday this friday--sitter is ready and we will be having birthday cake again--when everyone can enjoy it!

However I should list some of the GOOD things that happened for my birthday this year:

First, good things started coming in early--Grandma Jo and Grandma Kathy sent gifts--thanks loved them! Elizabeth I got your card--it really made my day--I got it on Saturday! I love the thoughtfulness of Mark Twain! On Sunday some other friends from church gave me some goodies and a much wanted Karate Kid II movie.

Dad called and wished me a happy day as did Carly and Mom and the boys. And of course Elida and Diane who came by bearing gifts and the life saving fast dissolving chewable tylenol--THANKS!! And my husband who started the day off with a hug and helped out with so much today and gave me a card that put tears in my eyes. I guess there are a lot of things to be grateful for! Oh yeah, and for my kids--they are great kids even if they refuse to take medicine and put paw prints in my birthday cake.

After writing all the wonderful things that actually happend I feel a lot happier!

On a side note, my favorite quote of the day is from my brother Carl. After I went into detail about S and the medicine incident--his reply was classic.

"Well here's to one more year of parenting."

Right you are Bro, right you are!

Week Update

Labor Day weekend food aside, was a lot of fun. We rode four wheelers at my Uncle's farm and went to Stockton Lake. We had a really good time.
Then when we got home I heard the news that Steve Irwin died. It made me pretty sad, I wasn't crying or anything. But randomly through out the week I'd just say, "I can't believe the Crocodile Hunter died. "
It's weird because I know he just had a TV show and that it is sad because his wife and children lost him so tragically, but where is this sadness coming from inside of me???
So I thought about it some more and I realized something.. . . .FLASHBACK .....
Does anyone remember when we had the little preschool in Provo where we would go to everyone's apartment and do a little lesson and let the kids play? Does anyone remember when S was in her Animal Planet kick and she'd set all of the stuffed animals up and explain what they were and what they ate, etc? Well I just realized that I have fond memories of my kids learning from the Crocodile Hunter, so that's part of the reason why I was so bummed, it was like an old teacher of their's dying.
Why am I writing about all of this you may wonder, well Derek was either sick of me randoming saying "I can't believe the Croc Hunter died." Or he was just being sensitive to my feelings so he emailed me this link check it out http://hunterjedispirit.ytmnd.com/
Did you check it out?? Hope it isn't disrespectful but I really enjoyed it. Hope you all too, especially if you got a little down over your favorite Aussie.

Culinary Delights

Yeah that's the face I usually make when I think about Kansas City. The Beatles singing about KC who knew???


Just came back from good ol' Kansas City. I am sure I've gained 5 pounds over the weekend. One nice thing about KC that I never gave it credit for when I was a kid was how fantastic food is there. No wonder it's one of the "over-weight" states. There's good eats every where you turn.

Just as a good daughter of KC should I hit some of my favorite spots over the weekend. First stop wasn't so much a restaurant as it was good grocery shopping. We stopped at the Kansas City Farmer's Market by the river and the deals and the assortment were delightful. I say delightful because I didn't buy so much (cause I was visiting my Mom and I knew all the home grown yummy tomatoes would probably get squashed on our way back to Ok.) so mostly I just walked around and appreciated the atmosphere.

Here's the typical scene on Saturday at the farmer's market. This is only a small portion. There are lots of earthy looking people and Mennonites who come down to sell their home grown organic produce. And the prices are amazing! The things they sell are so non-mainstream. There were yellow flesh watermelons, white japanese egg plants, and many types of tomatoes--talk about yummy!

Here's a Mennonite lady selling some of those delicious tomatoes. It's really weird at first, because when you go up and start talking with them you are struck by their thick accent. And you think, "they are Americans since way back when, living in Missouri just like me, but they have a thick--"German" accent." I like that--diversity, it's good.

I just got done watching Sound of Music a few nights ago, so when I saw the young man with the suspenders and "Alps" hat I had to take a picture! This kid had a thick accent too. Weird--you expect them to sound like Joe Schmoe down the street and they surprise you with the accent--as you can tell I can't get over it. Take a look at those cantalopes--Do Mennonites bio-engineer produce cause those are gi-normous!

Well after the farmer's market I was patting myself on the back for being "healthy" as I had bought home grown grapes, and egg plant (to make Babba-ganouch--my Mom's is the BEST!), and pita bread from the Jerusalem Cafe (for the Babba-ganouch of course) and some small pear tomatoes for the kids. Then as Mom and I were driving through the city we saw this guy with a box of Lamar's donuts walking down the street. Our sweet-o-meter was going through the roof (Lamar's are the best donuts ever!). So we asked the guy where the Lamar's shop was and off Mom and I went to indulge in some goodness. Take a looksy.

The second donut is regular size, it's a crueller, the chocolate iced, custard filled bismark on the bottom was mine of course! It was more the size of a cake than a donut really.

Next that evening Derek and I went on a date to . . . . drum roll please. . . . . .our favorite. . . . . .

Ahh... the awesomeness of BBQ. It's a great debate in KC as to which place is someone's favorite. I have many but for all around goodness, a nice place to eat, and reasonable prices Rosedale's is my pick! Here's what we got. Rack of ribs $13.95, order of fries (like we needed that--but they are seriously the best fries I've ever had) $1.70, and rootbeer $1.50 each. A nice meal for under $20, yee-haw! On Mondays and Wednesdays the rack of ribs are only $11.00!!!

Note the sliced white bread. They usually stick it under the ribs, maybe they're changing their style. But words to remember, you know it's good BBQ if they serve the ribs on ordinary cheap-o white bread--tis the truth!

I took a lot of pictures of food this weekend, but since we were in the neighborhood )--this picture is for Jenny!

Did I get it right?? It's been so long I wasn't sure if it was your's or not.

Oh yeah and I know it's getting picturey but I saw this van driving on our way home, I HAD to take a picture of it.

It says "power to the peaceful" on the bumper. And if you haven't figured it out, that is an actual wooden entry way on the back of the peaceful-purple van. Bizarro!

Fond Memories of ....Aldi?

Did anyone grow up around an Aldi? Or as I called Aldis which is either Missouri style or my family style. I haven't been around one for YEARS. Infact one time in 1998 I went with my in-laws (Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters all of them) to the Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra. On our way back we wanted to stop at some place to buy food for our trip home. When we were in Pennsylvania and I saw the big Aldis sign. I became VERY excited--probably too excited---anyways...after ME telling THEM how GREAT Aldis was --cheap pop, chips, ice cream (apparently these were the only things I liked to buy when I was a kid) we stopped. So after I was asked , "You mean it's like a Trader Joe's?" and I replied, "Oh yeah, probably, it's a really cool store". We decided to shop there.

I guess I was having too much fun trying to find the exactly right dimension of box to fit my chocolate coverd graham crackers, Aldi cheetoes, and Aldi grape sodas to notice how they must of felt when they went through the line only to find out that Aldi doesn't accept credit cards (because as all Aldi regulars know it's cash only--well until recently I think). After they scrounged up enough money to pay for the food we got back on the road. Someone iwho apparently failed to hear my speech on the wonders of Aldis, started bad mouthing Aldis! Gasp! What? Not fall in LOVE with Aldis??? How could someone say that?!

In their defense, now that I've had the Trader Joe's experience, I realize that they were seriously led astray as to the type of store Aldis truly is. After all there are no Italian sodas, frozen Thai noodle entrees, or gourmet truffles anywhere in the store.

But for the meager in cash Aldis is AWESOME! It's a little warehousey looking. People usually have to find a box to put all their groceries in. But when your a kid with a buck to spend---Aldis was definitely the place to spend it--I could have bought a million sodas with that kind of cash, or at least 20 sodas with a dollar, back in the day that is.

But I digress....

I just went there. I placed my quarter in the cart to unlock the chain and went on in. All the memories started flooding back. My brother and I sliding down the tiled isles, looking for boxes to place groceries in and getting to pick a soda and a type of cookie (chocolate coverd graham crackers are STILL my favorite Aldi cookie).

Now there is a lot more selection than I remember, but it is still great. As I was standing at the counter where you box your own groceries I saw the sign that said no running, standing, or playing on the boxing counter. Ha! That sign must have been there when I was a kid, but I remember actually running back and forth on that boxing counter. It's a miracle I never fell of off it and broke my neck. Oh well, there it is the wonder that is Aldi. On a side note I always thought Aldi would do really well in Utah. Does any other Aldi-lover agree??

What they're actually saying about Aldis, I have no clue. But if I was hungry on a spaceship I'd want to be beamed down to Aldis to replenish my pantry supplies--definitely!

A little rest is what's best!

The school year just begun and I'm trying to find my rhthym again. The two oldest are in school all day which really frees up my days. I've started to go on outings again. By outings I mean a relaxed, I'm-in-NO-rush type of outing. What a contrast to the past few years when I had one kid in this school and another in this pre-K across town.

I've found out a few funny things about my littlest one now that I have all this free time.

She loves rocks! Actually love doesn't even describe it. She's obsessed with rocks, is that normal? We went to the zoo (as I said tons of free time) and I decided to check out the butterfly exhibit where the butterflies fly all around you. I was worried X would try to catch one and touch a wing. However, this was NOT the problem. ex. a beautiful, large, velvety clubtail flies and lands right in front of us on a bush. I turn to X, point and say, "Look at that beautiful butterfly!" X makes the most animated surprised expression and says, "Ohhh...Wow....a wock!" and picks up a large, normal looking grey rock laying in the dirt directly under the bush the fantastic looking butterfly is hovering on.

Now fish on the otherhand X definitely loves! We went to the aquarium (free time is great!). She ran from tank to tank doing her signature squeal, "WOW!" She loves fish. She'll sit and look at them floating back and forth. Quite frankly I was getting a little bored but you know I was in no rush so we sat for however long satisfied the little squirt and went to the next display

Here's the cool fish I really liked. Look at those lips--eeekk! He's like the Casa Nova of the fish tank for sure!

Ok. So one last and final thing I realized. I always thought X did silly things, because she was following her older sister's example. As you can see below. . .

Just a typical morning at breakfast time. Girls laughing at each other--their cereal getting soggy, and THIS is what they are laughing at ( I thought it was pretty funny too). X would have done this also except she couldn't figure out how to get the raisin to stick to her tooth.

Well a few days later, I was totally dismayed when I went to the kitchen and X was in the fridge with the yogurt opened. She turns her head and this is what I see. I laughed so hard that she gained some confidence with what she must have done so she ran to her sister's room roaring like a lion trying to make them laugh and they were in hysterics and they loved her moustache. So she is silly by her own accord. Interesting, very interesting. . .