I gotta gooooo!!!

Last Wednesday Steve evaded a catastrophe once again. I was lying in bed trying to get more sleep when I heard Ethan and Luke go into the bathroom (the bathroom is next to the bedroom Steve and I are in) and tell their Dad they needed to go poo. Apparently their father was also using the bathroom. In my half-awake state I could hear the boys saying, I have to go!!! Hurry, I have to go!!! First Ethan got his turn then Luke followed and, surprisingly enough, there weren't any accidents. Phew. If only we had a second bathroom. I mean, we do have a second bathroom...on paper. This is what our second bathroom looks like at the moment.

We tore down the bathroom a few years ago. The plan was to extend the bathroom...until we ran out of money. Now it is used as a storage room. This is actually the master bathroom. I have dreams of moving into our master "suite" one day. One day we'll be grown ups and have our own living quarters apart from our children.

The finished product

I finally finished Sadie's stocking this morning. Here it is in all its splendor and glory...hehe. I think my mother-in-law did a wonderful job. Thank you so much, Elaine!

Here's a picture of all of our stockings hanging "by the chimney with care."

A few of my favorite things

Sadie is two months old today! She is such a good baby girl. She is really mellow, especially when her brothers are attacking her with kisses and hugs. Luke likes to test his limits with her. He'll blow in her face, tug her legs, jerk her arms. Sadie, he really does love you, I promise. She is getting so big so fast. This dress is already tight on her! And so is the onesie she's wearing beneath it and they are supposedly 0-3 month size. I think my little girl might be like her brother Luke, too big for her britches all the time. (Luke is already is 5T pants!!)

We got to go to our friend's the Sheldon's annual Gingerbread house and cookie decorating party again. This is our third year going. I love these parties. I love decorating gingerbread houses. The boys did a really good job of decorating this year. I let them fill their own bowls with candy and I was in charge of the royal icing. After I laid down the glue they topped it with their candies. Sadie slept nicely while we decorated. Then we headed inside the house to decorate a few cookies. It was a blast! Thank you Sheldon's for inviting us again.

Running Smoothly

Training has begun. Like spring training, but its winter. This is my second week of "training" to run the OC half marathon in May. Oh how different my body is since having my baby almost eight weeks ago. So much more different than after each of the boys. Each step I take is an effort, more so than its ever been before. Its not supposed to be this way. I exercised all through my pregnancy, mind you! I wasn't in stellar shape but I wasn't a lump on the log either. But you wouldn't be able to tell. Its a good thing this race is five months away! I'm not doing this alone though. I registerd for the training group too. It was expensive but its SO much more fun to run with a group than all by my lonesome, especially when we start running six, eight, and ten miles. I'm going to need the support of other crazies to get me through. Don't be fooled though, I really love it. I have silly dreams of actually breaking the 10 minute mile barrier (granted, I'm still hovering around 11:30 or 12). I subscribed to Runner's World and received my first issue a few weeks ago. I didn't want to put it down. Especially the article about why we all need a running partner. I have a love/hate relationship with running. Most of the time I hate taking the first few steps. I can talk myself out of doing my run almost every time. But you know what happens afterward? I come home a completely different person. I leave the house an inferior version of myself and when I get back, or when I finish my run on the treadmill, I've been upgraded. I am a better person. I handle stress better. I'm more patient. I'm more kind. I'm so much more fun to be around. I come back feeling like I could be on the cover of Runner's World....until I look in the mirror and am reminded I'm still me. I'm not going to lie and tell you that my motivation to run is for the love of running itself. I don't think you could even call what I do running, its more of a jog. I do it mostly just for the vanity and hope that I can drop some pounds and one day be a jaw dropper again....(haha). But it becomes so much more. Its my antidepressant, my therapy, my stress reliever, my trial of fire. My body is not running smoothly just yet but its running and I'm so thankful for that.

List

Grandma Rasmussen came to visit after Thanksgiving. She brought some fun teeth that Ethan and Luke experimented with. These are their "Arrrrgh" faces. She also brought a recipe for coconut cake. (She heard about my infatuation with coconut macadamia nut gelato and thought she would indulge the sweet tooth a little.) This thing was the real deal. She said she got the recipe from a Family Circle magazine. It had coconut milk in the batter and cream cheese frosting. She made the cake and I happily ate a piece every day, it was delicious! We also made strawberry freezer jam one day. That was delicious too.

She also went to work making a stocking for Sadie. It is gorgeous. Here she is ironing it. I would take a picture of the finished product but its not quite done. I need to embroider Sadie's name on it so I want you to have the full effect.

I love christmas cards. December rolls around and I anxiously await the mailman as though he were Santa Claus himself. I love opening the cards and seeing pictures of friends and family, reading letters or lists. I love how my little snow man card holder looks jam packed with cards from loved ones. I display the most recent card in the front until the next card comes to take its place. Here he is looking a little bare, christmas cards where are you?

Here is our first one!!! Ev, you get the prize for first Christmas card of the season...ding! ding! ding! Ahhh, I feel much better now that my snowman isn't so lonely anymore.

Do I stay or Do I go now?

So I know I've been MIA. I will be playing catch up shortly but I have a decision to make and I need some help making it. We have the opportunity to go on a trip to St. Martin January 14-17. I don't know if I want to go. Here is my pro/con list. PROS A free trip to St. Martin Yummy food I don't have to cook A spa treatment as long as I have someone to watch Sadie Staying at a cool resort (http://www.radisson.com/stmartin) Being able to hang out with Steve CONS Seven hour flight plus layover makes for a 12 hour travel time, two days in an airplane with a baby....ehhhhh Only two full days in St. Martin, is it worth the loooooong flights? Steve will be in meetings most of the day Can I work around Sadie or make her work around me? I have to get an expedited passport for Sade I am nowhere NEAR bathing suit ready (I shudder to think) What should I do? What would you do? Help me make up my mind.

Is today Christmas?

Ethan has been asking me that question for a couple days. Today he asked it and I told him no, like usual. He said he can't wait for Christmas because he wants a new toy. He's been carrying around this Wal-Mart catalog ever since it arrived in the mail. He turns the pages and looks at everything. Then he lets us know what he wants and we tell him he needs to ask Santa. Can you see how worn this catalog is? The pages have begun to fall out. I grabbed the book before it got completely mutilated so I could document this and then toss it in the recycling bin. I think this whole thing has been absolutely adorable. He hasn't been completely greedy and impatient. He just looks and looks and dreams. I WANT to give him everything he wants but I know its better if he doesn't get it all. Anyway....hopefully Christmas won't be a major disappointment for him when he doesn't get everything in the catalog. ;)

I have found heaven...

and it exists in a pint of coconut macadamia nut gelato. I know the picture is of dark chocolate gelato but this is the only picture I could find from the manufacturer's website. I'm sure the dark chocolate is just as delicious but I'm more of a coconut fan myself. When I have a pint of this in my home it doesn't last more than a day. Its all I want to eat. It is my new favorite ice cream flavor and favorite ice cream bar none. Seriously, I just want to eat this every day until I get sick of it...if that is even possible. Its a good thing none of the groceries stores by my house sell it. If you come across any you should definitely try it, you won't be disappointed. I've been going on the Cafe Classico website regularly to request a retailer in my area. I'm so hooked. Mmmmm...

One Month Old

Sadie is one month old. I can't believe its already been a month since I gave birth to her! She is getting so big already. I weighed myself on our scale at home and then picked her up and weighed myself again to get an estimation of what she's weighing now and there was a 12 lb. difference. Ethan and Luke love taking turns holding her. They love to touch her and talk to her. They are really great big brothers. Sadie is such a calm baby. She hardly ever cries. The only exceptions are when she's hungry or tired. I am having a lot of fun dressing her and putting bows in her hair. The only one that fits her really well right now is the white one she is wearing in the first picture. She really likes her pacifier to help soothe herself. She's been out of newborn diapers for a couple weeks now, its amazing how fast babies outgrow those newborn sizes. We love our Sade!

Gold Star

Do you remember grade school and how whenever you did something good you were rewarded with a gold star? At least, thats what it was like for me. Anyway, I feel like this is a gold star day. I've recently had parent/teacher conferences with Ethan and Luke's teachers. Now you might be thinking, this is just pre-k what can there be to conference about? Its not like we're talking grades and college aspirations here. I've just sat down with the teachers (or emailed) and heard about what kinds of behaviors my boys are displaying, if they are adapting to their environment, whether or not they are understanding the lessons taught, etc. Miss Leah (Ethan's teacher) and Miss Jessica (Luke's) have both had such positive things to say about the boys that I've had to hold back the tears (I know, I know....I'm blaming it on my post-partumness...haha). As a parent, its not often that you receive recognition or even some sort of validation that you are doing an ok job. But this feels like it. I feel like maybe, just maybe, Steve and I are doing something right. At the same time, I can't take all the credit. My boys and I are so lucky to have a big support network and they really are being raised by a community of people who love them. I'm not trying to "toot my own horn" here. Believe me, I am well aware of my incompetencies as a mother (patience? anyone handing out extra helpings of patience?). But for right now, at this moment in our lives, I feel like I can say that we are doing ok. Who knows what the next moment brings. The only thing I know for sure is that I will try my best to do what's best for these two little guys (and Sadie too). This all has made me think about parenting in general.

Its not what you think

I need to vent. I'm so tired of all the junk going on right now because Prop. 8 passed. I'm so tired of being labeled as hateful, bigot, discriminatory, or any other false accusation. I'm tired of the LDS church as a whole being attacked because it exercised its right to stand up for what it believes. I'm disgusted that individuals are being attacked for their political and moral views. Prop. 8 was/is never about hate. I don't hate homosexuals (is this the pc term or should I just use gay?). I could care less what sexual orientation they choose to practice in their personal lives. But when you try to redefine society by redefining marriage I have to object. But do I stand outside your home or business and call you names and try to defame you? No. Do I write letters to your boss complaining about your personal contributions to causes you support and ask you be fired? No. I get that you are upset. I completely understand you voicing that opinion but your "dishonor list" is going too far. I drove by our Newport Beach temple on Sunday to take a look at the protestors there. They had some pretty catchy signs, like "Hate the Mormon Bigotry, Love the Mormon Bigot" or "Jesus Said Love Everyone Bi*ches" or "Did you just cast the first stone?" Or this one here. But I think this one is my favorite here. This woman is so very brave and I wish I would have known about her because I would have applauded her or shown some kind of support. Way to go!! Here's a good quote from Elton John that I got from an email sent to me by the Prop. 8 coalition. Elton John: Heterosexual Couples Have Marriage, Same-Sex Couples Have Civil Partnerships USA Today published an article yesterday in which Sir Elton John spoke about his position on Proposition 8. John clarified his position on Prop 8 while attending the annual benefit for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. He was accompanied by his longtime partner David Furnish, whom he joined in a civil union in 2005. John was quoted as saying, "We're not married. Let's get that right. We have a civil partnership. What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off, the word marriage." John went on to emphasize that civil unions grant same-sex couples the same rights afforded to married heterosexual couples. He stated, "I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership…the word marriage, I think, puts a lot of people off. You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships." Last but not least, when everyone seems against us its nice to read about people who've got "our backs." SACRAMENTO 7 November 2008 (This news release was issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento) The following statement was released today by Bishop William Weigand, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento and former Bishop of Salt Lake City, in response to attacks on (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) for supporting California’s Proposition 8, defending the traditional definition of marriage: “Catholics stand in solidarity with our Mormon brothers and sisters in support of traditional marriage — the union of one man and one woman — that has been the major building block of Western Civilization for millennia. “The ProtectMarriage coalition, which led the successful campaign to pass Proposition 8, was an historic alliance of people from every faith and ethnicity. LDS were included — but so were Catholics and Jews, Evangelicals and Orthodox, African-Americans and Latinos, Asians and Anglos. “Bigoted attacks on Mormons for the part they played in our coalition are shameful and ignore the reality that Mormon voters were only a small part of the groundswell that supported Proposition 8. “As the former bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, I can attest to the fact that followers of the Mormon faith are a good and generous people with a long history of commitment to family and giving to community causes. “I personally decry the bigotry recently exhibited towards the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — coming from the opponents of Proposition 8, who ironically, have called those of us supporting traditional marriage intolerant. “I call upon the supporters of same-sex marriage to live by their own words — and to refrain from discrimination against religion and to exercise tolerance for those who differ from them. I call upon them to accept the will of the people of California in the passage of Proposition 8.” SOURCE: Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento

Halloween 2008

We carved our pumpkins a week before Halloween out in the back yard. Here's Luke holding still just long enough for me to get a pic. We had another heat wave and, sadly, the pumpkins didn't make it to Halloween. But we had fun anyway!

Ethan helped carve out all the guts and drew on the face he wanted me to carve for him.

I took the boys to the store and let them pick out their costumes. Luke chose to be a blue power ranger (and would tell anyone and everyone who would listen) and Ethan was a SWAT team member. Here they are standing by their pumpkins before the pumpkins died. Halloween night we got dressed and went to my sister and brother in law's house for dinner and trick-or-treating. Steve was sick and I stayed at the house with Sade but the boys LOVED going out with their aunt and uncle and grandparents. Ethan, Luke, Ellie and Amerie posed for a pic after they came back with their loot. Ellie is princess Belle and Amerie is a cute fairy. Hey, maybe next year Sade will make an appearance in that fairy costume! I didn't think my sister was getting Steve and I in the pic or else we wouldn't look so weird. Happy Halloween!!!!

Sadie Anne Photo Montage

Here it is! The quality here on the blog isn't anywhere near as good as it really is but I don't have a website to put it on so this is it for now. Mae did a wonderful job on the photography and I have my marvelous husband to thank for the slideshow. Thank you both for all your time and effort. Thank you, J. Lowe, for the inspiration to do this. (Ok, I feel like I'm giving an award acceptance speech or something.)

Sadie and Me

I asked my sister Mae to do a photo montage of Sadie's birth. I'm going to post it here as soon as it gets done. Here is one of the pictures she took right after Sadie was born.

Coming home

Sadie and I came home from the hospital this past Thursday. When we got home this is what we found - I'm so glad to be back home with the boys and my Steve-o. Thanks for keeping the house together and for the signs and flowers, hon! Mae got me the beautiful hydrangeas. I hope I can transplant them in the yard, they are gorgeous.

This is Sadie's girly car seat. Thank you Wendy for lending us the cutest cover to transform the blue boy car seat into girly dream come true! She loves sleeping in the car seat too. I love how when you pick up your baby from the car seat they stay all curled up for a minute before they stretch their legs again. Its so cute.

I just couldn't resist getting a close up of Sade in her car seat. I love this hair bow on her, so far its the only one that fits! She's so adorable.

A good friend of mine made these cute and delicious treats and sent them to me at the hospital. I was pretty popular handing these tasty morsels out to everyone that came to care for Sade and I. Sorry the picture is blurry, it basically gives Sadie's statistics. Thank you Monique!

My mom had this delivered to our house. We get to keep the little star and the moon gets picked up in a few days, cute huh? Thanks Mom!!

Ethan and Luke play soccer

Here are a couple of quick vids of Ethan and Luke at their first soccer game. Ethan brings hope that the US Soccer team may one day win the World Cup. Luke didn't score but he got the girl anyway.

Sadie Anne

Here is a quick video of Sadie.

She's Here....For Reals

This is Steve.... Camilla did really well and gave birth to Baby Rasmussen yesterday at 4:22 p.m. She is 8lb 15oz, 21 inches long and has a bit of black hair. More details and pictures to follow....

She's Here....Almost

I thought I'd let all my anxious readers (self-indulgently thinking I have some) that tomorrow is the big day. My ob/gyn called me this morning and told me that he scheduled me for tomorrow morning, 7am. I think he thought I would have gone into labor on my own by now since he stripped my membranes twice. I thought so too! I'm so very glad he isn't making me wait another week though. I can handle one more day. I'm excited and the adrenaline has kicked in so I'm getting my last minute details done. When I was induced with Luke he was born about an hour, no more than two, after my doctor broke my water. I'm hoping things will go the same tomorrow and we'll have our baby girl by lunch time!

Tagged by Sherrie

This is for you, Sher! 8 TV Shows I love to Watch: Heroes NCIS Biggest Loser ANTM Grey's Anatomy Jon & Kate plus 8 Oprah 8 Favorite Restaurants: May Garden (Chinese) Macaroni Grill Cafe Brasil Corner Bakery Cafe Rio In n Out Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes Any good pizza joint 8 Things that happened yesterday: went on field trip with Ethan and Luke went on tractor ride picked organic vegetables went to petting zoo walked through corn maze went to dr. and got membranes stripped again went to hospital for fetal monitoring went to Enrichment night 8 Things I am Looking Forward to: This baby being born This baby being born This baby being born Sacrament program being over Halloween Thanksgiving Christmas New Years and hopefully a visit from the Vegas Rasmussens 8 Things on my wishlist: Monetary Finish our master bed and bath re-do our backyard finish our kitchen finish our windows a picket fence in the front yard beautiful landscaping front and back a new wardrobe a personal trainer Non-monetary my family be together forever my children be able to realize and fulfill their aspirations my husband be happy in his career to have my baby today to have my baby today to have my baby today to have my baby today to have my baby today

Gone

Caution: This is a selfish and whining post. My patience is gone. I've had it with being pregnant. I am done. But apparently, my baby is not. I thought I would have had this baby by now. I thought that since this was my third time my body would kick into high gear but it doesn't look that way. At this point it looks like I'm going to go beyond my due date. That kind of irks me. Ok, it REALLY irks me. My maternity clothes don't fit anymore. I'm breaking out in some weird (and gross) acne on my back which I've never had before. My shoes don't fit. I wake up with fingers the size of sausages. My belly stings when the baby moves. There is just no more room. I'm fantasizing about my last doctor who induced me a week early. Why did she have to retire? I've been googling topics like "how to self induce." My poor hubby is putting up with my craziness. Ugh.

Video

Tangled Web

What's that saying about lying? Something like what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive? Its getting hairy here with all this Prop. 8 stuff. The no on 8 campaign has released this commercial that is full of lies but its ironic because they accuse the arguments that the yes on 8 campaign has as lies (if you want to see the no on 8 commercial I'm talking about go here)!!! I am so furious! There are actual instances that are or have happened and still the no campaign says that its all lies. For example: "In the same week that the No on 8 campaign launched an ad that labeled as 'lies' claims that same-sex marriage would be taught in schools to young children, a first grade class took a school-sponsored trip to a gay wedding. Eighteen first graders traveled to San Francisco City Hall Friday for the wedding of their teacher and her lesbian partner, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. The school sponsored the trip for the students, ages 5 and 6, taking them away from their studies for the same-sex wedding. The wedding was officiated by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who arrogantly welcomed the arrival of same-sex marriage by saying 'The door's wide open now. It's gonna happen, whether you like it or not.'" Sounds like teaching homosexual marriage in school to me (see the actual article here). There are already reported cases of doctors being sued because they refuse to artifically inseminate lesbian couples. Sounds like a loss of religious freedom to me (see the newspaper article here). So we're lying because? I wish I were better at putting together arguments and having a good "comeback" to what these people say. Its all a bunch of filth spewing forth from their mouths.

Miramar Air Show

Yesterday I loaded the boys up in the car (Steve was sick so we left him behind to get better) and we drove down to San Diego to catch some of the air show at the Miramar Marine base. Ethan and Luke loved it! As we were getting out of the car a bike taxi pulled up and the man riding it asked if we wanted a ride. I'm so glad I decided to do it because it was such a looooong walk from our car to the entrance gate! The poor guy though, he got a good workout hauling my pregnant body and my two boys! We got there right before the Blue Angels began their show, they are awesome fliers. I don't know all the real names of the air crafts we toured. Luke decided he didn't want to sit in any pilot seats. Ethan was all over it though. He even got lowered down into a tank to check it out. Ethan told me he wanted to be a soldier and have a heavy gun (he got to hold some guns and they were heavy!) and fly in the aviaos (airplanes) to fight the bad guys.

Draw me a Picture

One of my favorite parts of having my boys in preschool are the pictures they come home with. Ethan's picture he brought home on Friday is my top pick for the week. Ethan drew our family portrait and this is the first time he has drawn my likeness as a pregnant woman. I guess the name Mia is sticking with him right now. When Ethan was showing his dad the picture he explained to him that he drew him touching the ceiling because he's so tall. I just love seeing us through his eyes. Make me a stick figure any day....haha.....

100 Things About Me

1. I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Its a beautiful place, I really love it there. 2. I speak fluent Portuguese. 3. I hope to take my children and husband there one day so they can see that part of my life. 4. I love to travel. 5. I have a dream that I'll be able to see Italy one day. 6. I analyze and analyze and analyze all the wrong things, I think I get that from my dad. 7. Analyzing is paralyzing, it holds me back sometimes. 8. I want to do something daring on my 30th birthday; sky dive, hang glide, something challenging. 9. Sometimes I feel like I'm out of my body looking at what my life is and I can't believe I'm here. 10. I have a nervous habit of gnawing on my fingers. 11. My husband hates that nervous habit. 12. I hate my glasses but I hate contacts more. 13. People tell me I'm a pretty girl, I've always felt ugly. 14. But I've had this secret infatuation with modeling. 15. I'm so embarrassed to admit that infatuation. 16. I'm not athletic but I consider myself active. 17. I bruise easily, very easily. 18. I play the flute. 19. I want to be able to play the piano. 20. I am craving some change (I guess its good we're having a baby). 21. One day I hope to become a nurse. 22. I dated a man 10 years older than me, I felt like the adult. He didn't last long. 23. I celebrate with food. 24. I love to try new things; new restaurants, new places, new activities. It makes me feel alive. 25. I like to have people over for dinner. 26. I was completely blind for a short period after being in a moped accident when I was around eight. 27. I try to solve people's problems. 28. I love to shop. 29. I have expensive taste. 30. I don't shop because I have expensive taste. 31. I love finding stores that satisfy my expensive taste but are cheap. 32. I change my mind often. 33. I like to cross off days on the calendar. 34. I like breakfast foods. 35. I have always wanted straight hair. 36. I am running another half marathon on May 3rd. 37. I second guess my parenting decisions (see #6). 38. I think my dream job would be a food critic; whatever would require my traveling high and low to sample foods and give my opinion. 39. I have a wild side but I mostly live through my practical side. 40. I was Steve's first and last girlfriend, I couldn't let him go. 41. I love the family I married into. 42. I watch too much t.v. 43. I'm horrible with surprises. 44. My husband is great at them. He surprised me with a new car and I never saw it coming! 45. I thought high school was fine but college was sooooo much better. 46. I was ecstatic the day I got my acceptance letter to BYU. 47. I had two crazy roommates my freshman year at the Y, they both hated me for weird reasons. 48. My first car was one I bought. Walked in and told the dealer what I could spend and took what they could give me, no co-signer. I didn't even have a job yet. 49. I can drive stick but I prefer automatic, especially with kids. 50. I dressed up as Santa's elf and took pictures in the mall for a job one year. 51. I don't know how to wear make up, just eyeliner and mascara. 52. I want to learn how to do the rest. 53. I like to dye my hair. 54. I'm not a big video game person. 55. I support the death penalty. 56. I think politics is a crock most of the time. 57. I took ballet and tap when I was little, ain't got no rhythm. 58. I took karate and thought it was lame. 59. I hated piano lessons but regret that now. 60. I learn by doing, not really by being told how. 61. I'm not a good conversationalist, wish I was. 62. I'm not outgoing unless I'm around outgoing people, they pull it out of me. 63. I wore Steve's favorite lotion to the movies (before we were dating) and hid my hands under my coat the entire time. 64. My dad pierced my ears when I was a couple months old. 65. We will be piercing our daughter's ears before she's six months old. 66. My favorite class was Anatomy at BYU. 67. Especially the lab when we got to study the cadavers. 68. I hated my Economics class, mumbo jumbo. 69. I have only set the bar on one test in my life. 70. I woke up at 3:30am to study once. 71. I never pulled an all-nighter. 72. My grades went up after I got married. 73. After dinner I always crave something sweet. 74. I have a hard time leaving food on my plate, even if I'm full. 75. I used to love scary movies. 76. Now I get nightmares. 77. I hate to cry, especially in front of people. 78. I think I cry easily. 79. I've cried while watching a commercial. 80. After having kids, anything with kids in it can make me cry. 81. I have wanted to take a cake decorating class for years but never get around to signing up. 82. I played with Barbies growing up, I hope to keep my daughter away from them. 83. I have two sisters and one brother. 84. My brother is the youngest of the bunch, I'm the oldest. 85. My sister Evelyn got married before me, I thought she was insane. 86. I was completely wrong about that. 87. I got married 10 months later, didn't see that coming. 88. I wore my sister's wedding dress, just had the sleeves changed to 3/4 length instead of cap. 89. I was over an hour late to my own sealing. 90. Sometimes I play the lottery. 91. First thing I'd do if I won, retire my parents and inlaws. 92. I love movie theater popcorn with butter. 93. I don't like rap music. 94. I used to think country music was worse, now its most of what I listen to. 95. I like to read. 96. Sometimes I read the last page first. 97. I follow For Better or For Worse and Luann comic strips, don't know why but now I'm sucked in. 98. I like to paint but not my house. 99. I love going to the spa, if only I could afford it more often. 100. This list has been hard to put together. Phew, I'm done. This has taken me way too long. I'm not tagging anyone else but I'd love to read yours if you do one!

Mae the budding photog

My littlest sister Mae is trying her hand at photography. I think she's pretty good but, then again, I'm biased. She is just starting out and has a photo blog you can view some of her work here. She took some of my boys a few weeks ago. It was a Saturday morning and the boys weren't the best models in the world, they were interested in other things. But I think these are good depictions of these two crazies....and their mother....haha

Blast from the Past

I was returning some pictures to my parents last weekend and came across this picture. This was taken during the chubby days Ev and I lived through. I think Ev and I are 11 and 12, around there. I am cracking up looking at this dang picture but I also want to hurl! What was I thinking with my "bangs?" And I love how my short hair just makes my cheeks look more rotund. Poor Evelyn's face tells it all...look at that fro!! My dear ol' dad and his huge frame glasses cracks me up! So I went hunting for a current picture of us. This is the only one I could find, dad is swapped out for mom but you can see we've come a long way! Thankgoodness for evolution...haha.

Fact or Fiction? You decide

"WHAT is this miracle-working, belly banding goodness all about? The Belly Bandit™ is an abdominal compression wrap designed to assist you in bringing your body back to its former beauty and proportion after child birth. Postpartum wraps have been known to help reduce the swelling of the uterus, decrease bloating caused by water retention, support your legs & back and provide additional comfort and support for you breast feeding moms. Ultimately the Belly Bandit™ will aid in getting you back to your pre-pregnancy bod faster than ever!"

I've heard about these wraps to help get post-pregnancy bellies back into their tip-top shape. Is this a hoax or do you think it really works?

First day of school

Ethan was a little hesitant about going to school. I suggested that he draw a picture for his new teacher, Miss Leah. He really liked that idea so we sat down and this is what he drew; a blue sun with two blue clouds, a picture of himself in green and he wrote "I love you Miss Leah" in black at the top (this is all per his discription). Isn't that so cute? This is my kind, loving, innocent, fun loving little boy. When we got to school he was shy so I told Miss Leah that he had drawn her a picture. He told her what it said on it and she asked him for a hug. Of course, being the emotional woman I am I got tears in my eyes. I had to walk back to the car with my head down so all the other parents wouldn't see me crying. As soon as I got in the car I called Steve and told him I didn't know if I could do this. Ethan is in the five day program at Harper this year and I am still debating on if I've made the right decision (I think this is a curse of being a mother, I'm always wondering if I'm making the right decisions for my boys). I miss him more than I thought I would. They are in a great program and they both have wonderful teachers. They both seem happy to be there. I'm trying to hold out until our baby is born and see if I'm still going through my seperation anxiety with the boys. They grow up so fast.....

Lukey-licious

This post is dedicated to my little Luke, who is slowly outgrowing the "little" part. Luke just turned three. We had cake and presents on Sunday with the Powers side of the family. Vovo gave him his own Guarana to drink....mmmmm, lucky kid. Monday was his actual birthday but it fell on Labor Day and Steve and I being the anti-crowd people we are we stayed home and hung out. We did try to make it a little special. We gave him our gift, which was his first bike with training wheels. He took off on it so fast! We got McDonald's for lunch, which he loves. Just little special things like that. Then Tuesday Steve took the day off work and we took Ethan and Luke to the Discovery Science center. They loved it! We stood in the wind tunnel to feel what 78 mph winds feel like. We went in the earthquake simulator booth to feel what an 8.4 and 9 quake feel like. We checked out the "Grossology" exhibit with all kinds of gross facts. There was so much to do.

I still can't believe Luke is three. Most other people can't believe it either. Usually the guess is that he and Ethan are twins, I even had someone ask me if Luke was five years old once! Whoa. He is going to Harper two days a week. He is in Miss Jessica's class with Chloe Manning in our ward. I miss him. When I watch him walk away with his teacher I just can't believe its already been three years since he was born. I picked him up on the first day and he said "Mommy I missed you. I wasn't happy here." This last week we were driving home from picking he and Ethan up from school and Luke was picking his nose. I asked him why he was doing that and he said "Mom, I love boogers." He cracks me up!

On Friday we were running errands together while Ethan was at school and we stopped to get some frozen yogurt. Love you Lukey!! Love you sooooooooo much.

Labor Day

Steve spent most of Labor Day with his brother Brian (first shift) then our brother in law Clay (second shift) putting in a new door on our future master bedroom and molding our windows. I know Steve and Clay are fuzzy in the door picture but you're supposed to focus on the door. And the picture of the windows, well, the one of the right is the before and the left is the almost after. I know its dark but it was the middle of the day and this is the best I could do. The windows look great! Thanks to Brian for saving us from killer dust storms with his why-didn't-I-think-of-that suggestion of wood instead of drywall. It feels good to be one step closer to getting our "house in order." Steve deserves the biggest pat on the back though. He worked all day until it was too dark to see outside at the table saw. Thank you Steve-o!!!

Protect Marriage

Six Consequences the Coalition Has Identified If Proposition 8 Fails

1. Children in public schools will have to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage. The California Education Code already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage. (51890)

Therefore, unless Proposition 8 passes, children will be taught that marriage is between any two adults regardless of gender. There will be serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.

2. Churches may be sued over their tax exempt status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public. Ask whether your pastor, priest, minister, bishop, or rabbi is ready to perform such marriages in your chapels and sanctuaries.

3. Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston already closed its doors in Massachusetts because courts legalized same-sex marriage there. 4.Religions that sponsor private schools with married student housing may be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if counter to church doctrine, or risk lawsuits over tax exemptions and related benefits. 5.Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages may be sued for hate speech and risk government fines. It already happened in Canada, a country that legalized gay marriage. A recent California court held that municipal employees may not say: “traditional marriage”, or “family values” because, after the same-sex marriage case, it is “hate speech”. 6. It will cost you money. This change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits, including some already lost (e.g. photographers cannot now refuse to photograph gay marriages, doctors cannot now refuse to perform artificial insemination of gays even given other willing doctors). Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today’s activist judges), think of the money – your money — that will be spent on such legal battles.

And think of all the unintended consequences that we cannot even foresee at this time. Where will it end? It’s your children, your grandchildren, your money, and your liberties. Lets work together to protect them. Join with us in walking precincts and phoning voters to vote Yes on Prop. 8.

This was a handout we received recently. It gives me the chills. I don't mean to sound all drama or anything but this feels so big to me. These consequences are scary of themselves but its the ones that I can't foresee that frighten me even more. I was told about a documentary, Demographic Winter, made by a group of scholars (non-LDS) who discuss the economic and social consequences of the decline of the family. Go here to see more about it. The banner I included is from the documentary. I think everyone interested in the fight to preserve the family should watch this.

No longer video-handicapped

I've got a list of everything we need to record. Luke picking his nose - this one should be easy because he is quite the gold digger lately (how do you get kids to stop?). The boys chasing each other round in circles like dogs chase their tales. Ellie and the boys playing princess and prince Philip, I've got to catch them kissing each other so they wake up. You may think I'm being a good mom but I've got alterior motives. Two words...black mail. Haha.

This morning Steve was showing me how to work the little piece of equipment and Ethan and Luke enjoyed being the "movie stars." In this little clip they are taking turns reciting the scripture D&C 68:27. We started saying scriptures after family prayer in the morning and the boys do really well memorizing them. I have to admit I was surprised! In our primary the children are all asked, throughout the year, to give the opening prayer and recite the scripture of the month then the rest of the primary repeats it. Ethan's turn came around, the second time, and he had it memorized and said it all by himself at the primary pulpit! I was so proud I was holding back the tears (especially since I was conducting that day and didn't want everyone to see me as soon as I got up to continue the exercises). His first attempt was not pretty but we didn't prepare him enough. We learned and this time was flawless. Another moment we missed during our video handicap days.....(sigh).

Since I'll probably be posting more videos now I've decided to go private...yet again. I know, I know, I'm pretty schizophrenic about being private. Thank you for all your patience. My husband can attest to how I have a "talent" for changing my mind :) (If you want a recent example talk to me about preschool.) I'm having deja vu, I think I've said this before.

7 years ago

Happy Anniversary babe!! I can't believe how quickly it has gone by. I love you bunches.

Hooplah

1. This is the second week I've been volunteering with the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. I am so outside my comfort level. Last week I went "walking" - basically knocking door to door to see how people felt about Prop 8 and whether they would support it or not come November. Today I did phone calls. I don't know which one I liked better. Last week went better than I expected. No one really shut their doors on my faces. Some people just refused to come to the door but its all good. The people that did come to the door were, for the most part, genial. No one was particularly happy to see me but no one chewed my head off either. Today it seemed that 90% of the phone numbers I was calling belonged to those individuals in the 70 and older category. I struggled to make myself heard a few times, a couple people were afraid I was after their money, and one lady just asked me "what do you want from me?!" But most of what I did was leave a message hoping they would support Prop 8 in November. I don't so much enjoy using my Saturdays to work on this campaign but I just can't have peace if I'm not doing something. Not to sound too dramatic but I don't want to even think of what's going to happen if this doesn't pass. 2. I've been daydreaming lately of my afterlife. Not my afterlife afterlife, as in after my literal life is over. I'm talking about the post-delivery afterlife. And I'm not daydreaming of the sleepless nights, juggling three kids, feeding schedules or whether or not I'm going to nurse. I'm daydreaming of my transformation and having my body back. Doing things like washing my car, bending over to pick something up or wash my kids without a big belly cramping me, or jogging again. This is what I'm envisioning in my head....

I know its going to mean major change and going to take some major time. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

3. I just found out that the OC marathon changed its race date to 5.3.09 instead of being in January. I'm so excited because now I can run it, the half marathon that is. Anyone want to join me? I start training six weeks after this baby girl is born (around Thanksgiving or beginning of December), if not sooner. Don't be intimidated by the mileage. If I can do it, you can too!

4. I'm kind of tired of other people's pets coming in our yard and relieving themselves. Our backyard is some cat's personal litter box and I am tired of cleaning up after it! If I wanted to scoop up a cat's poop I would get one! Ugh, I feel so imposed upon. I'm not a cat hater, don't get me wrong. I think they are cute and cuddly. I don't consider myself much of a pet person period. Therefore our lack thereof at the moment. But I still have to clean up after someone else's so that my curious little boys don't get into it. Blah.

5. Just finished Escape by Carolyn Jessop. Holy Moly I can't believe what she put up with. I can't believe any woman can put up with the junk the FLDS women put up with. I gained a new perspective into religious fanaticism.

H is for Handsome

Yesterday we were leaving the mall and walking back to our car. An older woman walked past us heading towards the mall. As soon as she passed Ethan said to me, "Mom, that lady looked at me and I was so handsome." I immediately started laughing because that statement was so cute (and, of course, so true). He got a little embarrassed and giggled too. I told him I think he is handsome too (I didn't see whether the woman had looked at him or not). Out of the mouth of babes...

Sunflower massacre

Our furry friend that I used to think was so adorable scampering around our backyard has now become enemy #1. Mr. Squirrel, wherever you are, you will pay for this! Don't lay your furry paws on my sunflowers again, you hear me?! Up until now we have let you roam our yard freely and this is how you repay us? No more freedom in our yard, no sirree. Back off. Back off. (Yes, that is sarcasm you are reading between the lines. Except I am not happy so it won't be welcome here anymore.)

Highlights

1. Ethan and Luke made it through their dental exams with no buggies! Hooray for clean teeth! Luke even let them take x-rays of his teeth. I was so proud of both of them and I just wanted to do the hallelujah dance that we walked out of there paying nada, zero, zilch! Clean teeth aside, I really like our dentist office. The office and staff are perfect for children. There is never a grumpy face (unlike the doctors office today). If you need a pediatric dentist, I have a great one.

2. After waiting a week I finally received my copy of Breaking Dawn. I read it in two days, thanks to my wonderful husband who let me just dive right in. Thank you Stephenie Meyer, you sure did deliver. Now I'm moving on to a book I just got from my hold list at the library. I've been waiting for this book for a few months now. Its called Escape by Carolyn Jessop. She writes about getting out of her polygamist marriage with her eight children. Should be an interesting read.

3. The boys got TB shots today to get ready for preschool registration. Neither of them shed a tear! Luke later told Clay that he was "revy, revy, revy bwave." For some reason he was having a hard time with his ll's and r's. I'm registering them at the school nearby but if they don't get in I'm not too worried about it. I see it as a way for them to get out of the house and participate in an educational and social environment, since I will have my hands full in October for a little while and might not be able to produce one for them myself until I get a grip on having a newborn again. But, like I said, if they don't get in or for some reason don't want to stick it out then I'm more than willing to pull them out....no harm, no foul.

4. Luke lost his paci almost a week ago and we "haven't found it." Honestly, I found it the next morning but he didn't see me find it so I stashed it away. We've been using this as an excuse to get him off his pacifier. He only ever used it to sleep so he wasn't quite as hooked as Ethan was but its still been tough. He has skipped a couple naps and had a harder time relaxing to sleep at night. I feel bad for him but I know its just part of reprogramming himself. Steve and I have tried to stay by his side a little longer and help him settle into sleep at night. There are days I'm tempted to give it back to him, like today when he and Ethan just played in their room the entire time they were supposed to be napping. You can do it, Luke!

5. Ironing clothes in not my favorite past time, I just have to say....blah....

6. The boys have really been enjoying the farm class we signed up for through the community. We have two more left. The first week they got to brush a big hairy pig! The pig just stood their and ate its carrot soup while all the kids took a turn brushing its brittle hair and feeling its leathery skin. Then they got to take a pony ride, definitely the highlight. Except I didn't know to bring helmets and they had to use one that was provided.....ohhh, nasty! I just pray they don't get head lice or something. Anyway, the second week they got to hold little baby chicks. These chicks were so adorable and they fit right in the palms of their hands. They got to feed them too. And again, the pony ride. Luke is too young (notice I didn't say little) to ride by himself so I am always asked to walk beside the horse with one hand on his leg just in case. They are in heaven each time. Again, I forgot the helmets....shudder. I need to ask someone to take a picture for me one of these times. Only two more classes to go.

7. I can't believe its mid-August already.....wow.