Lando Said

"I wonder how the baby comes outta your tummy because your mouth is too small."

Test for your candidate

http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460
It appears to match you to 'your candidate' by both stance and importance. Kinda cool.

Hodge Podge

The weather has been beautiful, and Ammon has pretty much single handidly been getting us outside to enjoy it. We've had fun playing Frisbee, throwing the football around, playing in the leaves, and, yesterday, they were burying each other up to the neck in the sand.
I've been feeling better, I still get sick if I eat the wrong thing, but mostly, if I don't eat too much and get outside some I do pretty good. Some smells still get to me, but my entire house doesn't smell so much. I have been feeling less negative about being pregnant again too. It's just with Landon still peeing on the couch now and then, etc. I just am not sure what we were thinking? Obviously we weren't. Anyway, I saw a cute tiny pair of boots at the store the other day and was able to think of them as so cute and not be worried over the little lifetime added to our family, and looking through baby magazines sometimes helped -sometimes added to my negativity. But really things are looking up.
The boys all left late last night for California. It is kinda quiet around here with Adria at school. She wants to have a sleep over tonight, but what am I going to do next week? I used to quilt or piece, knit or crochet, read, scrapbook, exercise, bake, or clean, but nothing draws me anymore (the thought of some things even makes me physically sick sometimes), I think I will try some of this anyway, it may be one of those 'once I get started I'm hooked' things, it's just getting started.
There is always shopping for maternity clothes. I read about a knit band that fits around your current pants so you can wear them unbuttoned until you grow into actual maternity clothes, do you know where you find those? Not with the maternity clothes at Target anyway. Maybe I'll check online.

It's Official!

We're due May 15, 2007

The Quiz

I finally took the quiz (I've been ill for about two weeks straight - blah)! Here I am:

Take the Quiz here!

Preschool

http://www.first-school.ws/theme/shapes.htm
Today I was looking for something to do with Landon and came across this website. I really like it. You can get as involved as you like, or not. For example we were looking for activities with shapes and one had a Xylophone to make with rectangles (glueing is always fun); you could listen to a xylophone, see a picture of a real one, learn the letter X, and learn your colors. We were thinking of doing circles tomorrow by making a centipede, and the letter C, and colors and numbers and a link to see a real one and learn more about it. Pretty cool I thought.

I'll take Smellie's tag

I felt tagged when I read her blog, but avoided it - all the while feeling guilty. So here it goes (I'm in the mood to do it today!):

Jobs I've held:

1. Inventory at Standard Office Supply
2. Carousel Ice Cream Parlor (scooped ice cream, cleaned out freezers and refrigerators and a 'trailer', worked at the register, and lastly, but short lived, as a waitress).
3. Best Products (stocking, checking for items that seemed to be missing,janitor)
4. T.J Max (short lived)
5. Counting competitors customers for Future Shop (on the side, cash paid)
6. Day Care (unofficially in my home)
7. Mother

Movies I can watch over and over:

I have a harder time with this these days, but I used to watch:
1.The Man from Snowy River
2. Lord of the rings
3.Lady Hawk
4.Shrek
5. Yesterday I watched While You Were Sleeping (and really enjoyed it)
6.I was wanting to watch Labrynth there for a while
I'm sure there are a lot more, what I want to watch changes a lot with my mood, and subliminal messages I'm sure.

Places I have lived:

1.Sandy UT
2.Provo UT
3.Price UT (a summer - or was that shortened to weeks? I can't remeber)
4. Missoula MT (twice with a year in between I think)
5. Orem UT (as above ")
6.Helena MT
7. Layton UT
8. Syracuse UT

Shows I enjoy:

I don't watch t.v. at all really, but I still really like Sienfield (I think I want the 'boxed set' :) ), and I've watched Myth Busters with the kids a few times, I kinda like that, and I have liked Funniest Home Videos, but never remember to watch it.

Places I have been for vacation:

1. Yellowstone
2. Glacier National Park
4. California (Many different places here- but not Disney Land!)
5. Calgary Canada (High School Band trip)
6. Chicago, Elgin, and Indian - mostly work, but some play
7. Idaho
8. Most of those Southern UT places except Lake Powell, and many Northern UT places too.

Favorite Foods:

I like so many it is hard to pick favorites, but these are things I can think of at this moment that I may often choose:
1. Stuffed mushrooms at Olive Garden
2. Homemade cookies
3. Desserts
4.Trying new foods that look good
5.Southwest taco things from either Applebees or Chili's- I can't remember which.
6. Wendy's Chocolate Shakes

Websites I visit:

1. blogs (mostly family, a few others now and then)
2. news
3. whatever I am interested in links I can find (at that moment, and may never revisit despite setting as a favorite)

No nicknames - not too my face anyway. Who knows what others may have thought up. I think I overheard someone referring to me as 'earwax person' before. My immediate family may know why I thought they were probably talking about me....


Tag to:

1.Dal
2.Megan
3. Tye
unless you really abhore the idea, then please don't do it.

Them Kids!

So yesterday (or so) I played hide and seek with Landon. I dragged my feet at first, I admit, but we were both bored. It was so much fun! He just doesn't get it entirely, so he would tell me, "I'm going to hide here." Before I ever started counting. Then when he counts he goes really fast (and it just hit me, I think he was counting correctly to 10. I don't think he could do that on pupose?), then he yells, "Mom! Mom! Moooom!", until I answer or knock on something so he can find me. Then we would just laugh and laugh. Aaaah. What a cutie.

Tanner is standing on the bench in the kitchen and says, "to the republic of witches stand." I laugh and he says, "what, I don't know what it means really. Witches stand, what does that mean?"

Ha, ha, ha!

Oh, and Bryce is the master procrastinator, distract Mom-er, and/or just wait until she forgets-er. Wait -maybe that is all of them except Landon - not old enough yet maybe.

By the way, have any of you read Eclipse yet? The third in the Twilight series? Pretty good, but boy, I cried buckets, and it leaves you hanging with the tears in the end! That next book better get here quick.

I Backed the Trailer in!

Yep. Stephen out of town, the truck at the shop until this morning, the trailer tire flat, and the threat of a ticket if it wasn't moved.

I called (!) to see if the truck was done, picked it up (all while Ammon used the air compresser to pump up the trailer tire as a temporary measure), Adria and Ammon backed me into the hitch, and Ammon and Tanner helped me back into the driveway. No stress. It isn't straight, but works, and I figure with some practice it could be straighter. Admittedly Stephen asked about whether I jack-knifed the truck, and I may have, but there was no damage to his bumper which he said was why that shouldn't be done, so I learned something knew.

Anyway, I am feeling kind of empowered at the moment.

Book recommendation :

Stick through it, you'll see what I mean.

Celebrate!

So it's been a long time since I've posted, eh. For some reason it hadn't crossed my mind for a while. I was escaping reality in books and only doing what was completely necessary for a little while, and enjoyed it immensely. I have two more books from the library, but the weather is so nice all I want to do is anything but the norm (don't worry I recently cleaned bathrooms and I did the dishes every day - not that once a day is enough to keep up on them). Anyway, the last couple of days I've been feeling sleepy and once again extremely introverted, but not really. I'm turning to food and shopping a lot (who me, crazy I know - not really extreme shopping mind you, but little piddly stuff that adds up and you wonder where it all went kind of shopping). I really need some more will power to exercise. I keep turning myself down.
Anyway, the title of this post refers to what I planned to post because I thought I had nothing to say, and there is reason to celebrate!

Happy Birthday!

Bryant

Braden

Dal

Mark

&

Happy Anniversary!

Smelly and Ryan

&

Good weather with children playing a lot outside (no t.v. week next week with the school, which means a little back up in the parent corner when trying to redirect).

I want to go play, I just don't know what, so long as it is going and doing something in some part outdoors (even just driving with the windows down, I'm sometimes not too picky). Hope all of your days match the sunny weather!

Another good thing

So Adria told me this was a great book, and she usually has good taste, but the title threw me a bit, so it took me a while to get around to reading it. Excellent, though. Enjoyable and uplifting.
Here is a quote from the beginning that I like:

At first Miss Heliotrope's love for Maria had been somewhat forced. She had made and mended her clothes with grim determination and with a rather distressing lack of imagination, and however naughty she was had applied the cane only very sparingly, being more concerned with winning the child;s affection than with the welfare of her immortal soul. But gradually all that had changed. Her tenderness, when Maria was in any way afflicted, had become eager; the child's clothes had been a work of art' and she herself had been whipped for her peccadilloes within an inch of her life, Miss Heliotrope caring now not tow hoots whether Maria like her or not, if only she could make of the child a fine and noble woman.
This is true love and Maria had known it' and even when her behind had been so sore that she could scarcely sit upon it, her affection for Miss Heliotrope had been no whit abated. And now that she was no longer a child but a young lady in her teens, it was the best thing in her life.

Better Late than Never

Happy Birthday Kevin and Grayson!

You know, I had a friend telling me the other day that she hates March. Every March something bad happens. I believe one March her husband lost his job and this March her son was diagnosed with diabetes. Man that stinks. I like March. It gives you the first hope of spring, and it is full of birthdays and anniversaries, I hope her Marches change!

Blast from the past

It's funny because the theme for Young Women's camp in out stake this year is Keepers of the Light and last year or so - time seems to be confused in my mind - this came to my mind. I understand there is CD called this also, I'm going to have to get it and see....

Keepers of the light.
Each one unique, we give to others who seek,
something no one else can give.
With joy we can live, what peace we can give,
To share any way we can,
As keepers of the light.
We may never know the affect we
have had on others looking for the light,
But it matters not for we follow the Lord
As keepers of the Light.

Talking of Books

So how many of you have already read this one? I know it is an author you know. Anyway, I really enjoyed it! It took me less than a day (with many interruptions to boot). Quick, good read. I want to read it again already! I may just have to start collecting her books.
Have you heard of any of a series called "Little Fur"? Adria has checked out a couple from school but I didn't get the chance to read them. I started the first one, but she had to return it before I got very far. Started out good though, not to mention the wonderful fuzzy cover.

Another Change

So when I changed the backgroung I thought I could just change it back. Nope. Can't figure that out.
I tried to change the colors but there was a 'page error'. Maybe I am just doing that wrong too. Anyway, it is going to be pea green for a while yet I guess...

Oh, and hooray for a new camera! I just might have to try the picture button again!

To Chang My Mind

I just wrote a whining post about money and medical bills and by the time I was through I mostly saw how I am an idiot and can't manage much. So to change my mind, I decided to list some more things I am thankful for.

I am thankful our house payment actually went down this year by almost forty dollars.
For my children being so healthy and smart.
For my wonderful childhood and extended families.
For the dear people who shared goodies and love for my birthday.
For a working dishwasher, heater, refrigerator, stove, and computer.
For those medical people who are patient with receiving payments from us. We do do our best.
For my mind being more clear.
For the scriptures.
For Landon's company throughout the day.
For good teachers at the elementary, and at church.
For sunshine, rain, and snowy.
For yummy food, and healthy food, we really have a bounty.
For exercise.
For hope and forgiveness.
For another day to keep trying.
For Mother's example.
For money not being what life is all about.
For looking forward to spending time with family (Manti pageant coming up for example, woot!)
For the hope that I can grow and change even though I still seem such a child in some things.
For the chastisement I felt from others that helps me see what I need to do better on.
For so many enjoyable things to do while I wait to 'meet my children at the crossroads'.
For being able to put things aside more readily (not perfectly) to attend to my children.
For living so close to family.
For living in Utah.
For being able to stay home so much.
For being able to get out so much.
For being free of stuff (can you believe what a burden it is to love things?).
For a basement that we can expand to fit everyone when we are able.
For being able to see my children grow and change, and even lead me.

Books and junk

I've put some of the books that were recommended on hold. I can't wait to open one up. For now Ammon has lent me his books Magyk and Flyte. Pretty good. I would like to get a hold of the second book to Leven Thumps again, but it might have to wait now I have all these others coming in. I'll do Enna Burning next. Oh, and I never knew there were sequels to The Giver! Great book I'll have to look them up too.....
Ah, not enough time in a day.

I'm in love with yoga all over again. My new favorite relax pose is the crocodile pose. My sides are a bit sore from twisting today. Somehow yoga both relaxes and energizes.

I sure am thankful for Landon today. It was great fun chasing him around and doing jumping jacks with him, and racing up and down the stairs. Lots of fun that is funny. Whatever will I do when he's in school? The last few days I've actually been cleaning in the mornings like I used to (Monday kind of stinks), and have been basically done by 11:00 am. Wonder if there is such a shift somewhere as 12:00-3:00? Maybe school is still on the horizon. Still have 2 1/2 years to go though. I might break down and put Landon in preschool next year to stave off boredom. We'll see.

This may be an odd post

This has been an interesting week. Just the other night I woke up feeling like many memories had just washed over me. My entire body jumpy with joy and tickled almost as I lay remembering and trying to relax. Funny how I felt I was being returned to me. In bits and pieces. Things I had forgotten that I hadn't realized I had forgotten. Like doing funny arm motions in front of the big living room window with friends (Debbie?) and Megan. The feeling it was to visit the Palmers in the summer, how Dixon Middle School felt to me, sleeping over at Emily and Debbie's houses and the different feeling and smells there. I can't remember Debbie's face for some reason though, and feel like I need to. A vague thought of darkness locked in their outdoor cellar and a darkness standing outside my basement bedroom door that didn't come in - that time. How different people feel different to me, but also similar. Families especially having somethings similar throughout them. Most clearly our extended families.
I feel like I keep coming in and out of focus, but I am hanging on to focused with all my might.
Wanting peace, not itchy unsatisfaction.
Seeing one inside another.
Seeing myself in others, feeling others in me.
Knowing myself better, not wanting to lose me again.
Trying to figure out which 'voice' to follow, but also knowing which 'voice' to follow, or hoping I'm right.
Not strong enough yet, but not giving in.
Hanging on for dear life, but not to this life.

Habit free for two months now! I have been feeling a pull to do it lately, but it has been denied. Keep on truckin' eh?

Thank you to all of you.

By the way, I thought this book looked promising, I haven't read it yet, but it might be good.
Recommended reading, Parent University, Davis School District: "Unconditional Parenting
Most advice for parents begins with the question 'How can we get kids to do what they're told?' - and then proceeds to offer various techniques for controlling them. In his landmark book Unconditional Parenting, Alfie Kohn begins instead by asking 'What are our long-term goals for our children?' It follows that we need to work with them rather than doing things to them, in order to reach those goals.

Kohn argues that punishments (including time-outs) and rewards (including positive reinforcement) may sometimes produce temporary compliance, but they do nothing to help kids grow into responsible, caring, ethical, happy people. Moreover, he suggests that permissiveness is less worrisome than a fear of permissiveness that leads us to over-control our children. Kohn concludes with ten important guidelines to help viewers reconnect to their own best instincts as parents."

HAPPY VALENTINES EVERYONE!

Hope it was enjoyable.

Landon and I made sugar cookies and painted cards for the family, and when everyone got home we got to hear about the fun they had at school. Stephen and I went to Cafe Rio for an early dinner - I am still stuffed. I have yet to figure out the kids dinner. Better get crackin'.

Looking for Roses Amidst Thorns?

It doesn't matter that I can't get the picture button to work anymore! I may have lost my camera in Chicago. The last time I remember having it was in the car on the way from Elgin, Stephen went through the rental car before he turned it in today, so all I can think is that it fell out of my purse. I hadn't looked for it again because the batteries were dead (huh? I checked them before we left) and thought I had repacked it in the bottom of my travel bag.
Really, really, big bummer.
But, hey, I don't have to worry about downloading anything for a while!

Happy Birthdays!!!

Landon, Elisa, Ammon!

(in that order)

Roses aren't green,

Violets aren't too,

From all that you've seen,

Hope this birthday ranks two!

(well one doesn't rhyme with too)

Yep, got it in one. I still can't get pictures to work.

For Now...

...I have discovered I like:

1. mints (especially Jr. mints)- I want to try the chocolate mints I've seen in along the checkout lines, haven't yet though.
2. vanilla mint splash Trident
3. Blistex lip infusion (vanilla or cherry)
4. Hoof ready to grow polish (for weak nails-works great)
5. belgian chocolates (I think they were truffles)
6. Southern Candy Makers Dark Chocolate Mississippi Mud (second only to the aforementioned)- Stephen brought some back from New Orleans with him.
7. Bath&Body works lotions - right now I'm loving plumeria and pink grapefruit 'flavors'.
8. being interested in things (for example looking up what exactly a benign tubular adenoma with focal sclerosing adenosis is)- thus the Internet too.
9. good frozen foods (we liked the last Banquet chicken crock pot classic we tried, and stir fry mixes, for example).
10. baking bread (I've got to keep trying with the rolls, however, my last batch was too big so it took longer to cook, and they looked funny)

What the?

So someone once said we were going one place, but after I arranged for babysitting it was another. Fine, it was work related right? Well then we're going Thursday, so I say that should work with the people I asked, and the next breath it's he won't go, then, until the next Monday? Wha-? What kind of games are we playing here?

Hooray Another Birthday!

Well, dagnabbit. My image button isn't working today. So no picture. Here is a poem that was kind of cool. Not too birthday like I'm afraid. Birth, death, it all goes hand in hand right?

Happy Birthday Mindy!

Spoken From the Hedgerows
by Jorie Graham


To bring back a time and place.
A feeling. As in "we are all in this
together." Or "the United States and her allies

fought for Freedom." To bring back.
The experience of killing and getting killed.
Get missed. Get hit. Sun—is it with us. Holiday,

are you with us on this beach today.
Hemisphere of one, my soul, paratrooper,
greatness I house in my body, deepset, my

hands on these triggers—who once could outrun
his brother—consumed with fellow-feeling like a madness that does not
must not,
lower its pitch—going to the meeting place,

the spire of the church in Vierville, seen on aerial maps, visible from
eighteen miles out,
if it weren't for fog, and smoke, and groundmist,
the meeting place, the appointed time surging in me,

needing to be pierced—but not me—not me—

only those to the left and right of me—

permit me to let you see me—

Me. Driven half mad but still in biography.
By the shared misery of. Hatred. Training. Trust. Fear.
Listening to the chatter each night of those who survived the day.

There is no other human relationship like it.
At its heart comradeship is an ecstasy.
You will die for an other. You will not consider it a personal

loss. Private Kurt Gabel, 513 Parachute Infantry Regiment—
"The three of us Jake, Joe and I became an entity.
An entity—never to be relinquished, never to be

repeated. An entity is where a man literally insists
on going hungry for another. A man insists on dying for
an other. Protect. Bail out. No regard to

consequence. A mystical concoction." A last piece
of bread. And gladly. You must understand what is meant by
gladly. All armies throughout history have tried

to create this bond among their men. Few succeeded as well
as the paratroop infantry of the U.S. Army,
Rifle Company E, 506th.

Fussell: It can't happen to me. It can happen to me. It is
going to happen to me. Nothing
is going to prevent it.

Webster (to his parents): I am living on borrowed time—
I do not think I shall live through the next jump.
If I don't come back, try not to take it too hard.

I wish I could persuade you to regard death
as casually as we do over here. In the heat of it
you expect it, you are expecting it, you are not surprised

by anything anymore, not surprised when your friend
is machine-gunned in the face. It's not like your life, at home,
where death is so unexpected. (And to mother):

would you prefer for someone else's son to die in the mud?
And there is no way out short of the end of war or the loss
of limb. Any other wound is patched up and you're sent back

to the front. This wound which almost killed him
healed up as well and he went back.
He never volunteered. One cannot volunteer.

If death comes, friend, let it come quick.
And don't play the hero, there is no past or future. Don't play
the hero. Ok. Let's go. Move out. Say goodbye.

(attributed to this sight)

Noted

Today I discovered that sugar pears smell like Grandma Walker (or vice versa - uh, spell check suggested verse?). In fact, I found eating them took me back to how it felt to be around the extended Walker family as a child. Neat.

Wahoooooooooo!

Happy Birthday Jedd!

-I just realized most of your family starts the new year off at a new age too- kinda cool.

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha,!

The other day Adria was talking about a boy in her class that will be getting the priesthood. Ammon then turns and asks me, "Is that the ironic priesthood?"

Happy Belated!

Happy Birthday Natalie and Candace!

Hope it was turtle-ific....uh, o.k., it's a stretch, work with me here.

Welcoming in the New Year with One Week of Success with an Unofficial Resolution

So my resolution wasn't consciously made for this year, but it's been working none the less.
Many of you know my embarrassing habit that I picked up again, oh, a year or so ago. Anyway, I've been trying to quit for a while, and have finally been free of it for a week. It may have been longer, but I haven't really been keeping track, so officially I am sure it has been at least a week!
A big help - Ammon saying smokers use the "I KNOW I can do it" mantra (is that the right word, it sounds right), drinking lots of water, and finding something to do (usually with the help of my family). Oh, and food of course, especially anything labeled as snack or fat food (I will endeavor to avoid creating that habit any more than it already is, however).

Thanks everyone.

Now, for the next week...

**Hey, spell check on the new blogger is way cooler!**

By the way, if anyone comes across a pillowcase - blue with yellow stars - I made that for Ammon, and it matches his soon to be finished quilt - please let me know. It mysteriously disappeared not long after he opened it (a few days late because I had forgotten about it already wrapped, up in my closet). Grrrr. Thanks a ton. heh.

Hooray, Snow!

Sorry about the mostly foggy pictures. I later discovered my lense was very dirty.

Belated

So I'm late again, but this year I'll do better. I'm sure. I, uh, hope.

Happy Birthday Megan!

Hope it was full of laughter and light. Hope today is too.
Love you.

"What is it?", you may ask. Gum. A very, very large wad of gum.