Monday rears its ugly head...

oh man...

Ugh.

yikes.

why?

really?

102.8 poor baby

come on...

'sigh'

perhaps I should just get to work instead of taking pictures of it all...no, I think I'll let it sit for another hour or so...it's not going anywhere.

Fun weekend leads to Monday-mess hangover

So I actually wrote the weekend-leftover mess post first but then decided to backtrack and prove the silver lining in it all. We did have a fun weekend, albeit a busy one.
On Saturday Clark went up to Boston early to help with a youth temple trip...the girls and I drove up a couple of hours behind so that I could go to the temple after Clark while he watched the girls. Going to Boston is always an all day affair (which is OK, because we really like it there but it explains why the house didn't get its usual "Saturday scouring") Then we met some favorite friends for lunch at the Rainforest Cafe where they have yummy food and a tropical storm every half hour. The kids loved it and we enjoyed good company. There is nothing like kids and their fast friendships...and a little Haagen Daz...though it helps when the friends are the cutest/sweetest little boys ever.
In home front news, little Mi Mi woke up with a raging fever last night so we are just hanging out today, pampering her and cleaning house.
Hazel is sitting up and trying to crawl...she actually made progress in the forward direction yesterday...it won't be long now until she is combing the hardwood floors for yesterday's cheerios and scraps of paper to put in her mouth.
This is what the last couple of weeks have been like...she could only move backwards and would sit and giggle until someone came to move her out from under the couch or entertainment center.

The sweet rewards of motherhood...

We have had a couple of "those moments" this week. You know, like me doing my best to look like I'm not chasing Abby around the bus stop in front of the other kids and Mom's while trying to retrieve unauthorized contraband from her backpack...she escaped from my grasp just in time to run to the waiting bus in tears. (I did seize the item in question without running to chase her or yell, in case you were wondering.) Then today as we were about to walk out the door on our only fun outing for the week, a simple request of Haley somehow escalated to no outing, no new church shoes, no breadsticks (dangit) and an hour in her room. Fifteen minutes into the punishment she called down that she had a note for me...Haley has been known, in the past, to write a sweet apology on paper in hopes of shortening her jail time. But today, this is what I received.
I think I especially like the part where she calls me Emily. Don't you think she has superb grammatical skills...I mean, did you see where she clarified her concept in parenthesis? Do I need to translate? No please, allow me: (with spelling corrections, naturally)

Dear Emily, You are bad. You are [a] wacky bad grown up. I mean very, very BAD! I (and not you) am going to the store. And by the way, tomorrow I am walking to school. By Haley.

After all, she did decorate with stickers. It must be her way of saying, "you cut me deep but I still love you"...in her own little way.

So remind me again--who thought it was a good idea to teach kids to read and write? Couldn't we just keep them illiterate until they reach an age of maturity?...but let's face it, for some of us, that day might never come.

I almost cried and then reminded myself that it was actually funny...also not the first time I have been told this (and it won't be the last, I'm sure.) I like to take it as a sign that I am doing my job as mother, parent, disciplinarian, and warden. 10 points for me. I kept my cool, followed through and even gave up breadsticks just to teach my child a lesson. Did she learn? Who really knows...only time will tell...again...and again...and again.

Give me a moment to wipe away a tear of gratitude for these satisfying gifts of motherhood that are sometimes awarded daily.

While we're not on the subject...

OK, it may be far from anything relevant...but since Natalie mentioned it in her comment I couldn't resist. An old classic never gets tiresome...and having the next generation brings it new life.

(And for our cousins, this is just a sneak preview of a little video we made for you, if I can ever get it to burn right.)

So you decide. Either:
A. We don't have enough to do around here.
B. We really know how to unwind.

Like mother like daughter...

What can I say...dorkiness must run in the family...

Man, I love these glasses. I've had them for probably more than a decade and it just never gets old.

Fall in New England...

It's coming...

"I'm sorry, the fingers you have used to dial...are too fat.
To obtain a special dialing wand, please mash the key pad with your fingers, now."

This is a favorite quotable quote from the Simpsons. You know, the one where Homer realizes that if he is grossly obese then he gets to work from home and collect disability...so he starts wearing a moo moo and golf cap.
Now split scene to Kramer from Seinfeld doing "movie phone" and confusing George: "Welcome to Movie Phone...You have selected, Brown Eyed Girl....why don't you just tell me the name of the movie you want..."

I have decided that I am way beyond my years in my disdain for certain technological advances. I hope that someday when I really do reach "senior" status I will be as technologically savvy as my 83 year old Grandpa...he has all the bells and whistles of media in his house including cell phones and ipods. He makes an effort to be "brought up to speed" on all of these crazy doohickeys each time he upgrades.
BUT, I hate automated phone menus. Gone are the days of dialing a number and speaking with a human being. Wouldn't it really just save us all a lot of time to get a person that actually says "what do you need?" "what can I do for you?" "I care enough about you to actually speak with you."
Not to mention the hassle of calling one of these automated menus with a host of little people in the background inadvertently deciding where in the menu you go.

"For such and such a department...please say or press 1"
-me waiting in silence while my kids fight over a little pet shop toy in the background...
"I'm sorry...did you say ' psychiatric helpline '?"

I usually get so flustered by my lack of specific needs being mentioned on the menu that I hit the zero repeatedly until someone answers me. And it doesn't help that no matter how long it takes me to find the right option, the computer generated voice on the other end stay cool as a cucumber...obviously they don't have little people fighting over toys in the background while they are trying to talk on the phone.

My Other Girls

Last year I had the opportunity to go spend a little girls' night out in Dallas with two of my very best friends. We made promises to do it again the following year...they even made the offer to come all the way to Connecticut and guess what? They did. It was such a happy happy weekend. I was almost not wanting it to happen because I knew it would be over too soon. I miss these girls so much. I need my friends. It was a rejuvenating weekend filled with hours upon hours of talking talking talking, laughing, joking, teasing, eating (way too much eating!) and pure enjoyment. I love their company so much and I am so grateful that they made the long trip to come see me.

Kristen lives in the Austin area and Natalie lives near Dallas. Clark and I have been discussing moving back to Houston to settle which would complete our little triangle and make our get togethers easier and hopefully more frequent.
They both arrived on Thursday night. We stayed up too late every night eating and talking. Clark tried his very hardest to be home as much as possible to let us go out for girl time. I love that he knew how important that was to me and that he can appreciate what these girls mean to me! So thanks Clarky pants. They stayed through Sunday, long enough for me to show them off at church and partake of our after-church festivities of "nacho Sunday" with a roasted asparagus twist this week just for Kristen. So without further adieu, here was our weekend.

Nat gave us both beautiful necklaces that matched her own--its a big year, we will all be 30 soon!

and how can I resist including pictures that she took of my kids just being themselves?

They indulged me with a trip to visit a submarine...and I tried to indulge them by visiting the Italian Submarine that is here right now...but alas, we saw no Italian submariners (and just in case you are worried about the appropriateness level of this activity, Clark was leading the way...just what does an Italian sailor look like?...we may never know.)

We had fun changing our clothes and doing our best to "gussy up" on our evenings out...evenings that mainly featured lots of talking and lots of food.

There is Kristen who is honest and forthright...with nothing to hide she is bold and kind. Naturally she had her camera with her for which I am always grateful. She is joyful. She has a true talent for "capturing" people both with her lens and her intuition. She has such a knack for conversation and genuine interest in people that she will know more about you in five minutes than it takes most people a year to learn.

Natalie is good and kind. I don't think she has a mean bone in her body but she is also strong and immovable. She inspires me to be more, and do better. She is sincere and so filled with love for people that it is invigorating. She has a countenance that makes you feel like her best friend, even if you've only just met.

It has been an invaluable experience for me to have individuals like this in my life. People with whom I can be myself, all of me, nothing hidden or altered. I can feel totally loved and appreciated even through our differences and disagreements. There is no jealousy, no bitterness, no grudges, no judgements passed....just genuine love, approval, admiration and understanding. They are beautiful and sensitive. They go through trials and so many experiences and come out better than they went in. They are good, and they inspire me to be good. They are wholesome and lots of things that I aspire to be. They are sincere and honest, compassionate and caring. I am so grateful to be included in this friendship. No matter how long its been between visits, no matter how much has changed, those inherently good things remain and will continue to be there. Thank you for such a tremendous weekend!
(Sorry, I would love you to know them better but both of their blogs are private...just take my word for it...they rock.)

I Want Somebody...

On Sunday we celebrated the last of the birthdays. Clark turned 31, though if you ask me, he doesn't look a day over 28. I had my two dear friends in town last weekend so even though it was his special day he made sure to give us all the time we wanted. Unfortunately, some crazy things were happening on his boat and he had to work part of Saturday and his birthday on Sunday. We did get in a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday and some breakfast in bed before he hurried off to clean up the mess at work. What a joy it is to celebrate him.
Here are 31 reasons why I love my husband:
1. Sometimes I call him "Charmin' Scharman" because he just has that way with people.
2. He is charismatic. People like to be around him.
3. He is outgoing...my opposite so we compliment each other nicely.
4. He can sing. The first time I ever saw him was when I was 13 in church. He was doing a special musical number with his sisters and cousins. I even remember what they sang.
5. Once, he sang "I Want Somebody to Love" at a religious camp talent show...so cheesy and yet I would have swooned.
6. He was recruited by the Naval Academy to play football. I find that...attractive.
7. He wears a uniform to work every day...yowzers.
8. He is awesome at his job because he takes knowing a lot really seriously.
9. He is very smart but doesn't flaunt it.
10. He is a spiritual giant and never stops trying to learn and understand more about the gospel.
11. He has little delicate ankles and muscular calves...very nice.
12. He loves to eat out with me.
13. He loves his family more than anything.
14. He's a Texan and wants to be a cowboy.
15. He has sensitive, smiling eyes that he has passed on to some of our kids.
16. He is a terrific Dad and he adores his daughters.
17. He is slightly pigeon toed so I always know its him from a distance...it makes my heart skip.
18. He is really good at golf and bowling...scary, but admirable.
19. He loves to read.
20. He loves to exercise and be healthy.
21. He loves music.
22. He is compassionate.
23. He is really funny.
24. He is humble.
25. He is thoughtful.
26. He is silly.
27. He wants other people to be happy.
28. He is prepared for anything and capable of doing anything.
29. He is responsible and assertive.
30. He is resourceful and successful.
31. I just love him.

Happy Birthday Love.

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

profile editor

I think I talk too much...is it excessive to write a blog about it? You know that statistic that states "on average women say 7,000 words per day. Men manage just over 2000"?
I am so far ahead that I'll have to be completely mute for the last decade of my life. Not only do I talk people's ear off but I also write blogs...imagine if I didn't have that outlet, I might actually bore someone all the way to death during a conversation. My husband has conceded and learned to just politely nod and "uhu" every few minutes when I am anywhere near him for an extended period of time.
My sister and I have been known to have one long conversation throughout the day even though we live 2,000 miles apart. I'll call her or she'll call me and just start in the middle of the sentence that we left off on a couple of hours before.
I just gotta comment on what we are watching or what I am reading...the quintessential "peanut gallery". This is ironic because I can't stand it when someone talks to me during a movie...except my husband...but only if we are at home...if we are at a theatre, watch out--you'd better keep your trap shut or I'm likely to shush you, ignore you or give an apologetic look to the people around me.
I am the queen of too much information. Give me five minutes and you'll know all of my deepest dark secrets, fears ambitions and how often I have bowel movements....see, I just did it again.
Sometimes I resolve myself to be quiet and introspective. The less is more theory. Maybe people would be intrigued by my quiet fortitude and actually WANT to know more. But then I remind myself about my husband and how he thinks it would be fun the next time we move to pretend to be shy. We all know how long that would last.
Ironically enough, I do not like talking on the phone especially.
So come, sit by me and let me give you an ear full.

Good Day Sunshine

We were ready...
2nd grade and Kindergarten, here we come.
The day started with a song...Good Day Sunshine...the Beatles blare and I rouse sleeping children. They were cool as cucumbers.

Spiffy new clothes...no stains...crisp, clean shoes...gleaming.
I heard one small "I'm just so nervous" and that was it.

Going...going...

...Gone...

"I miss my sisters...so much"

And home again. All is well. They have decided to go back tomorrow.

**And more to come...our five year old finally concedes and rides a two wheeler.