About a Boy

On November 23, 1999 I welcomed to the world(after 17 hours of labor, 3 hours pushing, 4.9 doctors with their hands in my particulars trying to remove his head from my pelvis, me screaming "don't cut my stomach, rip him out of my particulars!", and a forceps delivery)my first born, Henry. As I held him he stared straight into my eyes with a look that could have only said "don't screw this up lady, seriously." And I was hooked, gaga, madly in love, in awe and thrilled. On November 23, 2008 he turned 9. After going to bed early the night before(he was so excited) he woke up, popped into my room and looked straight into my eyes with a look that could only mean, "we have gotten this far, don't screw this up lady, no really." And I realize I am even more hooked, gaga, madly in love, in awe and thrilled. He is a keeper. An amazing person. A fantastic brother. An artist. A kind and devoted son. The only person I know who laughs clear to his toes, often. A wit, an intellect, a goof, and a pal. He is adventurous and easy going. Hardworking, conscientious, and eager. My first born, my Henry. I know he was sent straight from heaven to me and I love. love, love the boy he is. Happy Birthday Henry and thank you for all that you add to my life.(a lot, buddy, a lot.)

Please mom come out of your pregnancy-induced stupor and let me open presents.

I am the Lord of all Bionicles(seriously the boy loves them and has since he was tiny)

Watch as this pig is devoured

I am 9 and awesome

My mom sure makes a mean carrot cake(his choice)P.S. what the H is that chair doing blocking the action?

A couple of questions that need answerin'

Hey Hi Howdy my fellow peeps. So sometimes I sit around and just wonder. You know about this and that and why and how and what the...? Sometimes I figure stuff out and sometimes I don't. Sometimes it seems like I just create more unanswerable questions. So if you have the answers to any of these questions .......well answer them, please, ok thanks. cough.

1. Why does Millie's top hair not grow? She is growing a sweet femullet that would make Chrissie Hynde jealous but I need top hair. I have all kinds of paraphernalia that only responds to top hair. What the?

2. Is America really going to change? How do I play a positive role in that change? Doesn't change start at a really deep personal level?

3. Why do I get so emotionally involved in certain T.V. shows? I actually find myself talking to, yelling at, pleading with, and chastising these poor folks(some aren't even real people) plus they can't even hear me. Am I an idiot?(don't answer that part)

4. What is the square root of 789,688 times Pi?

5. Is it odd that I obsess over my children's lives? That I am in a constant state of worry? About school, friends, their souls, their confidence, their lack of top hair? Is there a cure for this?

6. Are my eyes really going to fall out if I wear my disposable contacts for over 3 months?

7. Does anyone really like those Idaho Spud candy bars besides my husband?

8. If you could have one do-over what would it be?

9. Why is it that some people can keep their houses clean, be good parents, fulfill all church, civic and familial responsibilities and look good doing it and I can barely keep my peeps alive and shower daily?

10. Why can't I memorize my husband's social security #?

11. Why does bagged salad get gooey so fast and the uncut stuff last for so long?

12. Why do so many people I really enjoy have to live so blasted far away? Don't you people see how fun I am? Move closer. There are 4 houses for sale in my neighborhood. Is it really asking that much?

13. Why did the girl at the beauty school with the trembling hands give me a hair cut that would make a neanderthal man jealous and get away with it? I think her instructor was a tad-bit high. I know, I should have said something. But her hands were trembling and she actually curled my hair with the flat iron and I felt sorry for her.

14. Why can't I keep secrets? Like the one the little stick just told me. You know, the one with 2 blue lines?

15. Does anyone want to go to the Body World's exhibit with me? Dave is totally grossed out by the idea.

16. Does anyone know where I can get a great treadmill and a great piano for CHEAP? No, seriously?

17. What should I get the boys for Christmas that doesn't cost an arm and a leg but that blows their young minds?

18. Isn't life a trip?

Here's to the Halloweener...ME

This year I was humbled by Halloween. Seems like I am a tad high-strung. Having issues that swing toward perfectionism. Want to create memories, or in some cases, force memories. Trying to learn to just be and let these people take me on the journey of THEIR lives. I am learning still. Be patient. By the time these kids are raised I am gonna be one awesome mama.
Let me recap.
1. Costumes
A.Made Millie's costume.
1. Fit like a straight-jacket, putting it on could be likened unto torture.
2. Feather's are still turning up in the oddest places in the house.
3. She was super cute in it, thus I laughed at her a lot which she did not appreciate.
4. Costume took about 6 hours to make(after going to H and back to find all supplies)
B. Made Henry's costume
1. Took the better part of a day in which I became "mean, yelly mommy" and may have said some REALLY bad words in my mind (more than once)
2. Had to do two major re-hauls to get it to Henry's standards
3. Boy never even wore the blasted thing(used grim reaper robe from 2 halloweens ago)
4. Did I mention it was a boy being abducted by a werewolf? yea. and it was quasi-awesome.
C. Made Max's costume
1. Made it last year for Henry
2. Poor Max got the short end of the stick(but don't tell him)
3. Awesome Indian costume.
2. Events
A. Neighborhood Halloween fair
1. Day of the BYU game that Dave's family came in town to watch, had a gaggle of peeps at my house
2. Felt obligated to do a booth with Yvette and attend said fair
3. It was cold, I was crabby, Millie was clingy because I was away from her all day
4. Henry wore aforementioned Reaper robe with nothing underneath but his skivvies. Needless to say it was a sight to behold(little stick body wrapped in thinnest material known to man)
5. Millie was afraid of 96.8% of the costumes; spiderman, batman, any masked people and an awesome yoda baby, just to name a few.
6. Max won a candy bar, got himself a hotdog, putting the equivalent of his body weight in ketchup on it and then used his costume as a giant napkin
7. Did I mention that Henry really should have dressed as a skeleton, it would have been horrifyingly convincing(don't tell him I said that)
B. Halloween night
1. A few days before the BIG day the boys and I, with help from my parents, gutted and cleaned all of our pumpkins. Halloween day after school I asked boys if they wanted to carve them. Max gave me a sketch and Henry was no where to be found. I carved all of them myself and for some reason this ticked me off. You plan these traditional events and then your people don't even care( I have since realized I need to chill, and have)
2. So as stated I am in a sour mood(I know, I know I need to take medication, get some shots, or see a trained profesh) the boys are no where to be found when it is optimal-costume-putting-on time and so mood becomes more sour(we are talking lemons, people)
3. Yell at boys. Say NO to pre-trunk-or-treat trick-or-treating.
4. Say sorry and trick-or-treat our block
5. Millie warms up after the first couple of houses as she watches candy being dropped in to her pumpkin and holds out bag saying "teet" (seriously adorable)
6. Mood becomes less sour (akin to lemonade)
7. Go to Trunk-or-treat at parents ward. Millie refuses to eat dinner insistently saying "TEET"
8. Get gobbs of candy by walking around the gym and holding out bags saying "teet"
9. Millie reaches optimal sugar capacity and is actually running and spinning in circles giggling, finally throwing up on chicken costume which is absolutely uncleanable
10. See a bunch of people I adore including Candace, Matt, Heidi, Jacoy, all the old wardies, an old guy that seriously has the best pirate costume I have seen, and more.
11. Go home exhausted but happy. Too late to do "real" trick-or-treating which I am secretly exstatic about
12. Get to spend quality time with my brother Matt, whom I love. As do my children.
13. Seriously apologize to kids for Mommy Madness and thankfully they forgive me and shower me with Reece's peanutbutter cups.
14. All in all really enjoyed the holiday, found some fun decor and have recommitted to not trying to have traditions for traditions sake(no forced pumpkin carving here) but to try and remember that this really is all about my little spooks and to chill baby, chill baby, chill baby, wait.
THE END