Christmas shrapnel.

I have to say that I am thoroughly enjoying all of the post-holiday blogging about afore-mentioned holidays (and by "afore" I mean the ones I just mentioned in the same sentence). There was adventure, intrigue, illness, stitches, lots of family and even more food. I tried so hard to keep things under control but found myself on Christmas morning calling my children back repeatedly to finish opening gifts. I say this every year, but next year WILL be different. We got so much from family I felt overwhelmed as I lugged basket after basket up the stairs to find places for all of our new, fun things...things that will have to be packed in a car in a few months...so maybe I should have solicited donations for a hitch and trailer to get everything back home. But the gifts were so thoughtful and so appreciated. But if I have to eat another meatball, I'm gonna puke.
So really, I hope despite all the stress of the times, your holidays were truly as enjoyable as ours.
Here is another week in pictures:
We got to talk to Clark a bunch this week. His port call made me jealous and sad at the same time. What a fun place to be, stinks that he had to be there all alone and missing Christmas with his family. I could tell you where he was, but then I would have to kill you...OK, not really since it already happened...he was in the south of France eating cheese, poor boy.We went to the Nutcracker put on by Salt Lake's own Ballet West. It was a great show and the girls started out very happy though only one was in "good" spirits enough by the end for pictures (we took this while we were all still very happy to be there...)
Christmas morning didn't wake us until 8am, yipee! We were greeted by lots of fun gifts from lots of loving people. And I'm glad to report that they are still playing with their new toys five days after Christmas...lookin good.
We went to the SLC Church History Museum where they have a fun kids' display. This is me preaching from a pulpit...we get the same effect whenever I open my mouth to talk to my kids.
The grandkids present at Christmas Eve put on a most adorable Nativity where they actually agreed upon playing different roles...last year we had a dozen angels...this year we had all the roles filled...including Mia who we convinced to be a shepherd, though she wouldn't let go of baby Jesus.
We had only one illness which landed me in the hospital for a totally entertaining 12 hours...if the illness hadn't killed me the boredom surely would have...that goes for Mo too who sat with me the entire time...she didn't get to play with the mechanical bed but she did get to keep her entire body covered during our stay (and no samples were taken from anywhere off her body.)

We took the girls to Build A Bear to spend their gifts from their Dad. He gave them gift cards for Christmas and a pre-recorded voice box for their new pets. They are adorable...though when Mia's monkey in the Snow White dress is talking with Clark's manly sailor voice it makes me slightly uncomfortable.

And so it goes...and keeps going.

We are flinstone kids...ten million strong, and growing?

Let me just state for the record, that I find Flintstone vitamins to be a perfectly suitable side dish substitute for vegetables.
I would also like to state for the record that kids watching TV whilst the mother is in the throws of pregnancy induced illness/fatigue is also perfectly acceptable.
For instance, my first trimester pregnant with my second child, my first child ate her weight each day in Saltine crackers and watched TONS of TV, and she is really smart now and doesn't have any lasting behavioral or relational issues (that have emerged thus far...)
And while we're on the subject, sometimes just sitting and playing in soapy water is good enough for a bath...

And having your kids rub your feet with lotion CAN be a fun game...

So pregnant ladies of the world, involve your kids in this time...and by that I mean don't knock yourself out trying to act like life is normal when you're pregnant. I mean, coddle them and give them plenty of hugs and kisses and daily affirmations, but don't worry too much about how acquainted they are becoming with Arthur or how often they eat pasta, frozen pizza or cold cereal for dinner.
Please feel free to add your own advice...just don't tell me what to do.(This is me trying to look credible with my advice...I don't really wear glasses but I still know a lot, OK?)

Mullets anyone?

Do you know that I have actually had the conscious thought in my head “Gee I’m glad my girls have made it passed that age where they thought it was a good idea to cut their own hair.” I love my children, I really do. But sometimes, just sometimes, I overestimate them.

(Doesn't it just hurt to look at?...although with the actual occurrence a day behind me now, I laugh every time I look at them....They didn't even get punished for it...besides the no more scissors thing. I told them that their punishment was going to be living with it for the next 2 years while it grows out.)

If they had wanted a mullet of any kind they really should have asked first. As you can see, Haley got the worst end of it. Sometimes kids can be dumb. They are grounded from ever using scissors for anything until the hair grows back to a normal length. I am truly questioning their intellect this evening. I want to know not only how the six year old convinced the four year old, but how then the four year old convinced the six year old that this was a good idea.

Even though they were all playing together today, somehow Mia escaped this temporary lapse of judgment of her sisters and went to bed tonight with all of her hair intact.

So tonight I put their hair in sponge curlers for church tomorrow and let them wear shower caps for a while...do you think anyone would notice if they wore them permanently for the next couple of years?

Winter Wonder'freakin'land

(This is me giving the evil eye to the snow.)

So here is my recent realization and guilt stricken confession...I hate the snow.
You think it's beautiful? Think again. It falls deceivingly graceful to the ground where it lays in wait silently to maim and destroy all who come in contact. It beguiles even the smartest winterer into playing and frolicking..."come look how fluffy and fun I am"...I know it too well but my poor naive daughters run into it's icy arms only to return 30 minutes later with frostbitten toes and fingers.
It is slippery and cold and wet. My car thinks so too. I vow not to go out in it again until it melts away into Spring...after I go to Costco. Texas is looking pretty good to me this December. (Note the driveway of death to the right...Mo is concocting new inventions that would prevent the shoveling and salting of this precarious situation including an electric net that you throw over it to immediately melt and clear its path...she hasn't worked out the kinks of the electric shock factor...it has tried to take the life of Grandpa and Dad already...evil and plotting...)

(On the upside, everyone is shopping
at the Macy's one day sale.)

"Why Sylar would want to eat my brain"....or..."My super powers"

These are some of the reasons why Sylar might want my brain...aka my special powers:
(including, but not limited to...because I'll think of lots more after I post this...)

1.I have a talent for grabbing the exact number of needed napkins or paper plates, without counting them out.
2. Sometimes I make it through an entire day without yelling at my kids.
3. I can go "X" amount of days without showering before someone notices.
4. My Christmas shopping is done...and its not December yet.
5. I can pick lots of things up with my toes, including manipulating the faucet on the bathtub without sitting up.
6. I can grow a human being right inside my body cavity.
7. I could eat an entire pumpkin chiffon pie by myself (if I had only made it right...)
8. I can cook pretty good (if my target audience is not between 2 and 6 years old).
9. I can be funny.
10. I can use ... as punctuation in lots of places...
11. I know when people are lying.
12. I have x-ray vision.
13. I can read fast.
14. I can color really well.
15. I can nurse a baby and cook dinner at the same time...without exposing myself.

"Hm...surprised you didn't know that."

What are some of your super human abilities?...

The best kinds of therapy...

A massage by a Dominican in a hut by the ocean in Costa Rica...(sometimes I just dream about it, again and again).
My favorite little Nano can suddenly enclose me in a bubble of private space that can't be touched...sometimes I keep one foot in reality by wearing only one head phone...not as fun but very necessary.
A little temple goes a long way.
Blogging buddies that make me feel connected and normal...or special.
Fresh snow, hot chocolate and little girls with excitement that can't be contained.
Coloring in the lines with just a smidgen of shading here and there.
A down comforter and a room with a ceiling fan.
Projects with a beginning and an end.

Blah blah blah

I got the blahs. We started out great but the kids have gone through a doozy this week. Adjustment hasn't been easy on them, it turns out. I have always been so impressed with their ability to adapt and be happy wherever we are but I think this may have just been too much all at once. We are without Dad, living at someone else's house, leaving their familiar surroundings, tired Momma and new place. I saw fits this week that I never though possible, lots of whining, lots of crying, lots of sass. I am trying hard to be patient because I know what they are going through...I'm sure a bunch of it came off of my vibe. The first couple of weeks are hard and lonely and stressful but I feel like we are on the up now. I sat through church on Sunday (on the verge of tears...kind of how I have felt the entire last week) and decided that it was time to be over the hard part and move on because this week just wasn't working for me. So when we got home, things got back into gear.
I sat with them and worried only about them. We snuggled more, we did activities together, calmly and quietly. We made a paper chain to connect them with Dad (it was disturbingly long). Then on Monday we had a family home evening where we reset their behavior buttons. We made a family rule chart that they helped with - along with the consequences and a reward system. We need more positive reinforcement. So we are all reset and ready to go. So far so good. We'll still have our rough patches, no doubt. But at least for now I feel a little more back to normal.

OUR WEEK IN PICTURES:

The biggest fit this side of the Mississippi...I left her to "cool off" and when I came back she had stripped the bed and pulled the mattress off along with half of her clothes...kind of like the incredible hulk but her skin was angry-pink instead of hulkishly green.









My Cheerios told me that they loved me...it made my morning in a very pathetic sort of way.







Aunt Abby found a prehistoric cell phone on our Sunday walk...it was funny...and in case you were wondering, she was phoning Mrs. Flinstone about a playdate.








To help everyone find a new focus on behavior we refreshed and made new family rules along with the cutest set of jars wherein they will put the cutest little laminated "tickets" for certain good behavior...25 of which will get them a pick from the equally adorable prize bucket (full of all sorts of little girl fancies...its amazing how a candy necklace or bouncy ball can shape behavior.)...its also amazing what materials I have at my fingertips here at Mo's..."Is this Heaven?....no, it's Mo's office."

My how things have changed...

So I thought I would take a moment and speak for everyone when I say our lives have changed for the time being. How you might ask? Let me illuminate the situation. (I am taking it upon myself to say how both my family's life has changed, and Mo's, since she is currently "under the gun" with schooling...educate on, Mo.)
With the exception that we are now minus one parental unit, our transition has really been quite minimal. We unloaded our carload of stuff and made ourselves comfortable. Physically we are acclimated (except of course for the disturbing increase in nasal secretions from the dry Utah weather...not so much secretions, as "witholdings" ie. We all wake up every morning with excess boogers. Mia doesn't like this new sensation and uses many opportunities a day to tell me, "boogers" while pointed to a wrinkled nose.)
Haley started school and is enthusiastic upon drop off and pick up...I am taking that as a good sign (and have found my comfort zone with yet another public school system after utterly defeated, I lower my standards, again....why don't I home school you ask? If you knew me, you would just know...let's just say we have acquainted ourselves with the local library for now.) And Haley has decided to start spelling her name with and "i"...I figure, whatever helps this 6 year old cope. I'm afraid she has carried the majority of the weight with this new transition...emotions are high. Bless her little heart--we're working with that as lovingly as possible.
Abby also started a pre-school with a really nice lady in Mo's ward who generously allowed us to skip ahead on her waiting list. Abby is also enthusiastic, mostly about the little rainbow chairs she gets to sit in during art time. She asks on a regular basis if Dad is coming home yet...she will single handedly drag this deployment out, I'm afraid. And in her prayers she always blesses Dad the "he will swim safely in his submarine".
Mia doesn't really know what is going on except that she has extra boogers that are too far up to reach and has now regressed (in the last six months) from her toddler bed, back to a crib, and now to a pack n play...I hope she doesn't think that she is just growing out of her spaces uncontrollably. There are deer in the backyard at any given time of day, thus providing Mia with hours of dinner conversation..."cuse me Papa, cuse me Papa...deer, go home...eat dinner...yada yada yada"
Ours is a win win situtation...we have loving grandparents an arm's length away, fun cousins, an endless supply of Orange Cream Soda and the biggest box of mozerella sticks you've ever seen in the freezer.
The moth population is booming in Utah. They cling to the front porch and the garage door. We have to make a mad dash out the door and often times just pretend that we are running through a poetic release of doves or butterflies like a bride and groom leaving the church. (Sometimes a few renegade moths make it all the way to the car with us where they cling to the windshield for dear life until I hit a high enough speed and they spiral off into another neighborhood.) I finally convinced Haley that they are "too fragile" to handle and "would you please stop catching them in your hands!"
I have discovered all of the delightful places to eat just within my reach here and take advantage almost daily. I love to eat out and it just so happens that all of the best places in the world are within five miles. So here I am, the kids in bed, 8pm, monkey pj's, Pei Wei in hand and watching all of Heroes season 1 with Mo in the most delicious chair ever made (I then proceed to bed whilst looking vigilantly out of the corners of my eyes for special powers among my house mates...then dreaming about Peter Petrelli and crazy super human abilities.) I also have a loving, reliable babysitter at a moments notice for school drop offs and doctor's appointments. It is such a relief.
Mo's life, on the other hand, has declined in order and organization. There is more trash, more dishes (which we try to help out with), more crumbs, more shoes and more people (and stuffed animals) in her bed upon waking up many mornings.

I try not to feel bad about our intrusion...you see, I long for the day when I have my space back and I can actually find things where I left them...we have forced Mo back into those early years of whiners, random whiffs of urine and handprints on the wall...all good for a Mom in that stage, probably a tad frustrating for a Mom who has been there, done that (and done it well.) I know that they are happy to have us and they are a tremendous support so we don't have to feel so lonely. For this we are grateful...I will just keep apologizing for our messes until next Spring and hope that little girl hugs can make up for our less convenient presence at times.

This is Haley's creative contribution to our stay. Isn't she crafty and optimistic? I'd say rather adaptable in my opinion.

The results are in...

Do you see any obviously "extra" appendages?

Neither did we. It's 86 the boys, ALL GIRLS for us!

*When I told Clark, he couldn't stop laughing...and then I promised him a membership at some manly golf club or his own bowling ball and shoes.

(her profile shot)

Brief recap

We left fall in Connecticut.
We drove from Connecticut to Utah...three long long long days (though Clark gets major points for logging ALL 40 hours behind the wheel while I read, tried to sleep and complained about little girls in public restrooms).We arrived in Utah, welcomed by loving arms and a comfy home.
Clark left.
There were some tears and I continue to hear "I miss Daddy" even though he has only been gone for 1 1/2 days...it might be a very long 4 months.
We had Halloween and even though Abby was sick she trodded down the street for a few houses of trick or treating.

Living in a van down by the river...

My family is now really living in a van down by the river...or more like living out of a van by the river. The packers have been at our house for the last two days. The truck comes tomorrow morning to take it all away and deliver it to storage for the next 6 months. I have been relatively "cool" the last few days...kind of unusual for me. Our packing crew is funny and capable (except for the one child molester who stays under my watchful eye...creepy man). They worked so quickly that they have been done by 1 and 2 pm yesterday and today. We have moved to the hotel for the next three nights before heading West.
I am full of mixed emotions. Glad to be leaving our house...sad to be leaving new friends and fun playground out back with kids always willing to play and get filthy in the dirt...happy to be going to family...sad to be saying goodbye to part of my little family...so happy when I drive down the road and see fall all around...sad to be leaving New England...happy to be moving closer to Sonic...sad to be moving my children again. This feeling of transition is the worst. I dislike staying in hotels and trying desperately to keep tabs on precious blankets and stuffed animals (they were each allowed to bring 2 along for our stint in UT.) not to mention clothing and shoes, hauling dirty laundry and keeping kids happy with nothing to do. I just want to skip the next two weeks and feel settled into the new norm. All in good time. I actually have been rather proud of myself in thus far being able to keep perspective and not panicking or being too stressed...yet. Clark is scrambling to finalize lots of plans and details before his departure.
So as it becomes increasingly late on the day two of pack-out, the thoughts are 'randomizing'.
The next 6 months are packed in our van, we can see the river from our hotel...all we need is some fast food containers on the floor, a shaggy rug, tacky seat covers and little custom curtains in the windows...where is Chris Farley when you need him?

These are a few of my favorite things...

How do I have the time to be writing a blog days before our movers come? Good question. Clark and I think we are ready...we're just waiting to remember something big, something that we have overlooked...but right now it feels as though we are on top of it. (We'll see.)
So I have come to terms with the fact that I like TV, so sue me. We did the no TV thing for a while. Clark and I enjoyed it after the withdrawal had subsided. We read, we sat and stared at each other. I don't really think that our relationship was any more enriched by the absence of TV from those couple of hours a night we spent staring at each other...though we did perfect our Cribbage game. So we take joy in our nights of mutual vegetation in front of the TV. We laugh together, we are geeky and we relax. Especially being pregnant, I hit that time of day when the kids are in bed, the house is picked up and I literally plop into the tacky blue recliner and grab the remote for some good old fashioned mindless decompression.
These are some (but not limited to) the shows that make me giggle.
First lets get the confession of my guilty pleasure out of the way. Who hasn't dreamed of Tyra saying these words to you: "Congratulations. You're still in the running to become America's Next Top Model". OK, probably lots of you haven't had that dream. I think I mostly just want to sit and have someone do my hair and makeup and make me look amazing...but my self esteem is too high to be on that show, and I don't have an eating disorder...and I've had three kids (being pregnant might be an issue as well.) I just want to meet Nigel Barker and tell him that he is a silver tongued devil and kind of cute in a repulsive sort of way. We really do try to limit our a-moral TV shows though we have been guilty also of popping in and seeing what Dr. Rey and his wife are fighting about on Dr. 90210...his suits are ridiculous and entertaining enough.
We love Thursday night TV and have a system where we watch Survivor while recording NBC...though I have to express extreme disgust at sell-out NBC's shameless promotion of Jerry Seinfeld's new movie--I wonder who their biggest money maker in history was?...it makes me not want to see the movie. Shameless.
Enough talk. These are some of my faves.
Dog the Bounty Hunter. They pray before a capture and give thanks while holding hands after. Gotta love 'em...and Beth's bazoongas are unbelievable. Oh, and last week we discovered that Dog likes to tell his wife what to wear (and she loves it.) He said, and I quote: "I don't like my women to dress trashy, just next to trashy." Classic. Love Dog, love Beth, love Leland and his braid.
Next. Love Scrubs, though its obnoxious to have the change the channel when they border raunchy. Our favorite from that show?...Ted the lawyer. Awwww.
30 Rock. Again, bizarre humor but it makes us laugh. Our favorite from that show?....Kenneth the page boy.
and speaking of 30 Rock, Tracy Morgan has his moments...we liked the one where he stopped taking his medication...or the one about his entourage. But our favorite Tracy Morgan moments happen to be from Saturday Night Live before it got ridiculously stupid and unfunny (we actually conceded that maybe we're just getting older and don't get the humor anymore...its a possibility.) Go watch Tracy Morgan as Brian Fellows, the animal enthusiast with a sixth grade education. "That bird is a liar!...that bird's trying to steal my credit card!"
The Office, 'nough said. Endless hours of entertainment, quick wit and dialog, pathetic people, scheming office politics and frozen cats.

And dear Charlie and Lola. We love them. We have all seasons. They just make us happy, and they are nice to each other. I hate all the cartoons out there where the kids whine and the siblings fight--that's not just life. Charlie and Lola we love you.


Maybe watching TV turns our brains to mush...but we'll be all entertained and mushy together.

**Disclaimer: I would rather my kids play outside than watch TV...they are not old enough to turn their brains to mush just yet. First the education, then we'll turn it to mush.

Chilhood Entourage

I am always fascinated and entertained by the entourages of children--all those toys that "are scared to be left behind"...I love the loads of friends that go in the car, to the store or get tucked into bed each night with the kids. I mean, I don't love taking all of those things everywhere but I love the novelty of being attached to stuffed animals (even though I have an uncomfortable dislike for stuffed animals...they get dirty.)
Anyway, what I want to know is, Who is in your child's entourage? The only thing funnier than a child's clan of things is the names that they have been given. Here are ours, please share yours.

Judy
Mow Mow
yellow blankie
big blue blankie
little blue blankie
Kaylee
Magica
Puppy
Katy
Chi Chi
Shamu (or "Mamu")
Bunny
Pup
Fuzzy
...just to name a few

And here are some pics from Columbus Day weekend. We met the Oscarsons in NYC for an afternoon in Central Park, visiting the carousel, the zoo and a parade. Spencer and Sho were having fun playing with their new, fancy camera. It was a fun day!
















(this pic is simply evidence of "the bump" that has taken up residence in my belly...and I imagine that Haley's face is one that will follow her into adolescence in response to most of what her parents do.)

The brood

Every year or so I like to make an entry in my journal-a description of each of the kids. I am anxious, as I have been since before they were born, to watch their personalities and character, to see how it evolves, what changes, and what stays the same. They fascinate, they frustrate, they amaze, they entertain, they annoy and they love. They are easy going and fairly well behaved. I don't prefer to, but am not afraid to take all three to the mall or the store with me. I like to have them around and I miss them when we are apart for school or a trip. I love when strangers comment on what a hand full just so I can say "we love it" or "they're good girls".

Haley maintains her place and status as eldest child. She is quick to follow the older neighborhood kids around but when we're at home, she is the natural leader. When she is not bugging them, she is coddling her younger sisters and loves to help "mother" Mia (way more than Mia would like). Several weeks ago I was having a morning sickness moment and throwing up in the sink downstairs. While the other girls stood by and watched, on her own Haley ran and got me a cup of water (which she has done several times) and then ran back to where I was and held my hair. How did she even know how to do that? Sometimes she is so thoughtful and compassionate that it makes me want to cry. She loves to be praised for her accomplishments and still loves to climb in our laps and cuddle. She has a missing tooth that was knocked out on her cousins head but is excited to have her first real loose tooth now. Haley has always had a lower raspy voice and I get asked all the time if she is sick. I love it. She is sweet and funny and smart. She loves that she can read chapter books and begs to take them everywhere with her. She bites her nails constantly so I never have to cut them. She likes to help and be the biggest sister.

Abby is just a silly girl. She is the most spontaneously entertaining out of all of them. She has had dimples since the day she was born and is such a goof. She has developed a disturbing taste for mixed Ranch dressing and ketchup--and requests it with nearly every meal. She leaves her bed a mess during the day but cannot lay down to go to sleep until all of her blankets are folded and in their place at the end of the bed, and her stuffed animals lined up biggest to smallest. When we check on her before we go to bed we usually have to cover her up with something and put her shirt back on (that is a recent habit, we're not sure why she takes it off because its usually chilly in their room.) She loves to make people laugh but doesn't do silly things necessarily for other people. She does does it to entertain herself but is completely tickled when other people find her funny. This girl does not sleep. She would go and go and go until the sun came up. She climbs into our bed 99% of the time and is so cuddly and cute it's hard to kick her out. She has smiling eyes like her Dad but difficult hair that she doesn't like to keep done up. She also hates shoes and especially socks. She is shy but friendly. She also loves to cuddle up in our laps. She is just likable.
Abby's voice is high and cute. We repeat what she says all time just because its so funny--hopefully we're not causing any kind of complex.

Mia is a lot like Abby but in her own unique way. She is silly and goofy and has dimples too. She's a bright girl and has started talking much earlier than the other girls so we have fun teaching her new things to say (ie cheese-burger and fo shizzle) When she talks she is very slow and articulate, pronouncing each syllable clearly and deliberately. She can keep up with her sisters and tries very hard to do everything that they do. She also knows that as the youngest of three she has to defend her territory and does so mercilessly. However, all you have to do is ask her 'please' in a sweet voice and she'll give you anything that she has. The girls love to baby her and she lets them, most of the time. She has the worst hair to do of anyone with cal licks and crazy swirls all over the place. She is also a self proclaimed vegetarian and refuses to eat nearly any and all meat placed in front of her. She used to be an angel sleeper but life in our current home has hindered her ability to be so easy going in that area (ie sleeping in the "dorm" room with her sisters...very distracting.)

It's hard to imagine how the addition of another little squeeze will change the dynamics of this family but we have learned and loved so far.