Please excuse this interruption ...

I'm sure no one's going to notice this, but for about a week it might seem like I'm neglecting my favorite little blog here.  I'm getting ready to be the guest blogger on auntie lolo's blog (so excited!) next week from the 12th to the 17th!  Furthermore, my brain is also preparing another crazy idea.

All About Me - #9

Friends

Three traits you look for in a friend - they like me, humor, easy to be around

The friend you have known for the longest amount of time - Kayli, 27 years, 8 months

Is this person a close friend - the closest

Why? - We've been best friends forever

The friend you miss most - Any of them I haven't been able to see or talk to in a while

A friend who makes you laugh often - I find all of my friends quite humorous

A friend whom you can tell anything - I'm kind of an open book to my friends, so all of them

A friend to whom you can go for advice - most of them, especially Katherine

The best piece of advice this friend gave you - everything she says is what I need to hear but I always repeat the one, "You feel the way you feel because that's the way you feel."

A friend you can have adventures with - all of them

The best adventure you had with a friend - girls' camp

A friend you don't take seriously - not anyone I would say is my friend

A friend you may lose soon - I'm counting on not losing any

A friend you lost for a reason other than death - a few of them

A friend with whom you would like to be closer - every one of them

Describe the barrier that exists between you and the friend - time

A friend to whom you would never lend money - ha ha

A friend you would name as godparent of your child - I've never thought about it....Kayli, Lisa, Amanda, Amy, or Katherine

Your two closest friends - I have more than two

One trait you admire in each of them - (warning: if I leave you out I'm sorry, tell me and I will put you in)  Lisa, supportive; Kayli, loyal; Amanda, loyal; Amy, understanding; Katherine, wise; Tammy, good listener; Emily N., hilarious; Rachel, happy; Jennie, validates me; Emily F., good ideas; Morgan, creative; Natalie, hilarious; Katie, identifies with me; Trina, good memory; Jones, great pins on pinterest

Your mother is your friend - yes, I even have a necklace that says so

Your father is your friend - yes

Your best friend as a child - Kayli

Your worst enemy as a child - the girl who stole my lunch

Your best friend as a teenager - the Laurel class

Your worst enemy as a teenager - the girl I pushed over at softball

Your best friend as an adult - so many

Your worst enemy as an adult - not worth thinking about

If you could, where would you banish your worst enemy to? - the Australian outback

 Are you able to forgive your enemies? - yes

The friend who is most like you - I don't know because we all change all the time

The friend who is most unlike you - I don't know

The friend who uses most of your energy - I probably use all of their energy

A friend you will see in hell - I hope I don't go to hell

A friend you will see in heaven - all of them

Being a mom is ...

On this blog, Stephanie, or NieNie as the world likes to call her, is hosting an essay contest about being a mom.  I haven't really considered entering the contest but I decided to take the challenge that it would be to describe what a mom is.

I am the youngest daughter of six children.  My mom has given herself a very busy life by choosing to have us all and stay at home with us.  She was the mom who knew that messes can be cleaned up and that creating builds a child's mind.  She knew that small things add up to be the traditions we remember and that consistency in teaching built us each a foundation to build our own lives on.  She taught us that we were smart enough, and kind enough, to solve our own problems.  But after we all became adults, she told us about the few times she did stand up for us. When I began worrying about my own daughter's education, she taught me that I should be kind, but that if I don't stand up for my child, no one will.  

Since becoming a mom, she taught me that it's okay to let loose with the kids.  You see, I became a mom just one year ago.  My first anniversary is on Mother's Day this year, which is appropriate because on my wedding day I became a mom to a beautiful little girl and a toddler boy.  I've had to work hard to learn how to have fun and be wild with the kids, while giving them a stable and safe home.  I was worrying so much about them coming and going between homes and the emotional strain they are going through or may go through, that my brain took a sabbatical.  And oddly enough, it was my mom who helped me find my brain, balance, and prioritize so that I could have more joy in the journey.

As a mom, I can see how I could widdle away everyday, thinking about how things are now, how I wish they were, or what the future will be like.  The days could pass with me running around the house, fighting against the eternal pile of laundry or the sink that refills with dishes with just a blink of the eye.  I could even waste time with a routine, that I might have originally thought was the solution.  I've learned that the best thing I can do as a mom, is have joy in my journey because in turn, it will teach my children that no matter our circumstances, we CHOOSE joy.  My mom taught me how to choose joy when I was very young.  It's just one of those lessons you have to use to feel the results.

That's my job now.  I'm a mom.  I teach reading, writing, math, work, fun, creativity, potty training, speech, health, the gospel, how to deal with emotions (including disappointment) but the most important thing I can teach is that on any day and at any time , we each have the ability to CHOOSE joy.  Being a mom is the most taxing work I have ever enjoyed!

Sponsored by the letter.....

I've been inspired by the 10 seasons of Sesame Street, going for their second round in my home.  (We're obviously hooked on learning).  Every Thursday will be sponsored by a letter.  I'm as interested as anybody to see how this goes..... 

A is for Auntie

I am an auntie.  For the sake of record keeping, I thought I would write a few thoughts I had when each of my nieces and nephews arrived.

Marlie - I was living in Salt Lake City with Wendy.  On a Monday, after a long day of work and school, I got home to hear a voice mail from Cody asking where we were, the baby was here!  Snow storms and school kept me in Salt Lake for a couple of days.  She literally, was the first perfect baby I have ever seen.  She was so small with such a pretty head.  She loved to keep her arms in the air while she was all bundled up.  I got to stay at the hospital over night with her and Amber.  I loved, loved to be a new auntie.  Marlie has given me a lot of firsts ... barf on my front and back, sleepless nights, voice instant chats, etc.  When she was small, and her legs were shorter, she made up a game called "Jump the Aunties."  It was hilariously painful.

James - I was living in Logan, finishing my last semester of college.  Wednesdays were horribly long days for me but he made this one so much better because I was anxiously waiting for a message that he had arrived.  My dad sent me an email picture that afternoon.  He was so beautiful!  I got to see him a couple of days later.  Jimmy and I were trying to change his diaper in the hospital crib and I'm pretty sure James is the first boy to pee on me.  Even after that, I think he is the sweetest boy I know.  He likes me to play "Auntie Fanny" with him.  I chase the kids around and knock them over with my bum.

Jack - I was living in Layton but went to church at Weber State Institute.  I think he was born on a Sunday morning because I raced across the street to see him after church.  I loved seeing how Jimmy and Amber were just as excited to be new parents again as they were when Marlie was born.  Jack was such a miracle.  He had us all waiting on the edge of our seats for his arrival.  He gave me my first race to see if what he just bit into was toxic.  His teeth marks were in my deodorant.  I knew it was him that bit it because I smelled his breath.  Don't worry ... not toxic.  He loves "Auntie Kisses."  And by love I mean, it's an exciting chase!

Elizabeth - I was living in Roy when Elizabeth was born.  I think it was a Tuesday.  Tiffani had been in labor, pretty much forever, and so I was trying to patiently wait for the news of her arrival.  Jeremy was over hanging my Christmas lights when we found out she had come.  The next afternoon, Jimmy and I drove to the University Hospital on our lunch break to meet her.  I was in love with her.  I've been so lucky to have been able to cart her around and live so close to her.  Her hugs are the greatest.  I really loved watching Cody and Tiffani become such great parents.  They love her so, so much.

I have a load of aunts.  I'm grateful for each of them and appreciate their different personalities.  Since I was very young, they have played a very important role in my memories.  They have all made me feel special to them in a variety of ways.  I feel so lucky to have been blessed with so many aunts who care about me.

When I was smaller than I remember, up until now, my youngest aunt, Aunt Valerie, taught me this little bitty:  "Whose girl are you, Joey?"  "I'm Valerie's girl!"  When I say it now it still holds the same meaning.  I tried to go on a pity-binge for a while and say that she had replaced me with Lynsie or her little grandbaby, Hadley.  But I've learned that the truth really is that you can have more than one "girl."  And I still rank as the founding member, holding the greatest seniority in a very exclusive club.  When I was little, she would come steal me away for this or that and I even got to be her flower girl!

My aunts on my dad's side are crafty.  I'm always impressed by the things they can create.  In one cousin sleepover in Tremonton, my aunt made all the girls matching outfits.  That was awesome.  My other aunt makes beautiful cross-stitches and cute ornaments at Christmas.  I always see the cute things they come up with at Grandma's house.  

I love my mother's sisters and sister-in-laws especially for how they treat my mom.  She loves them so much.  I like to watch my mom on the phone with any of them.  She paces around the house, sometimes she talks quietly, and then there's an outburst of loud laughing.  They make her happy.  I love to be apart of the group when they are all together because they all are happy together even when things are tough.  I feel like I'm in an important crowd when I'm with them.

There was a special time (1983-2000), when I had one aunt at my daily disposal.  I really liked to play at her house because all of those cousins were there, but I liked to go even when I knew it was only her.  She was probably sad to see a kid coming when her's were all away.  I liked to help her wash her car in the driveway or sit at the counter and watch her old TV show re-run or anxiously wait for the m&m cookies to come out of the oven.  I really liked when she made me a peanut butter sandwich because it had butter, peanut butter, and her homemade jam.  I liked to ride with her in the car.  I could watch her, from my house, weeding her flowers, mowing the grass, washing the windows, watering the hanging basket outside the front door.  I loved when our family would walk over because their family was sitting on the porch.  I loved to see their family walking over to visit at our house.  She would walk around the grass while the rest of them cut across.  At the end, I was amazed at how she greeted her last guests and mimed behind their backs to tell me to offer them something to eat or drink, and even a napkin.  I loved how she, of all people, helped me prepare to lose her.  I know that sometimes people who leave us are idolized without faults.  But I dare say, I don't know anyone else with her graciousness, integrity, patience, and love.  It's probably from her dad, Grandpa Stone.  I like when I see her daughters twiddle their thumbs, roll their eyes, or keep their neat homes.  They all have her in them, too.

I think Heavenly Father must have thought up the idea of aunts.  They're too special to have been an accident.

Love Month - Leap Year

I didn't come up with anything really creative today for us to do to celebrate Leap Year but I thought about it all day at work.  I decided that since Abbi loves the kitchen, I would let her make us an afternoon snack.  She chose pink milk and vanilla pudding.

Noah wasn't quite sure how to take what was going on.  Abbi made him two cups of pink milk, so he was a pretty happy camper.  That is until Abbi and I had our backs turned and he started to make himself a third cup of pink milk.  There was Yoohoo powder all of the counter.  While I removed him from the equation for a minute, Abbi "cleaned up" the mess.  She wiped all the powder off of the counter into her hand and put it back in the yoohoo container.  Yup.  She solved that dilemma.

After she stirred and refrigerated the pudding, Abbi decided to add green food coloring because tomorrow is March.  To my astonishment, she didn't want any sprinkles!  I dished up our pudding while she made herself another cup of pink milk.  I was gobbling my green goop when Abbi muttered, "I don't like this."  She didn't dare taste it.  Once she did, she agreed she would eat maybe half of her pudding.

She totally enjoyed herself, which was the point, I guess.  In better news, she got on a kick being in charge of the kitchen" and cleaned up a few other things too.  I like Leap Day.

p.s. After the kids go to bed, I'm going to celebrate Leap Day by watching one of my favorite movies, Leap Year.  So cute!

and LOVE MONTH 2012 came to pass ....

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I've thought long and hard about how to make Leap Day a memorable one for the kids. I'm only going to see them for an hour and a half before they go for their weekly visit so it's gotta be something to fit in a short amount of time. In "leap days" Abbi and I will be the same age tomorrow, so I'm trying to use that for inspiration ... I'll post the details after our short Leap Day interlude this evening .....