Renewable energy

There has been a lot of talk of "renewable energy". We sure love our two sources and wish that we could bottle up some of it and run a car or air conditioner off of it.
( you may want to turn down the volume before watching this)

Wisdom from an 8th grader

It's been a while since I've updated. We had a crazy month of 3 different crazy throat cultures, 3 different crazy infections, and lately an anti viral to help that poor mouth finally heal after a month of eating on one side. Luckily we were back in business and ready to roll--or fly, just in time for a visit to the in-laws for a few weeks. (That will be a future entry)
I actually started this entry and a couple of others, but have had a hard time getting them posted, so here is a bit of catch up entries.
Daddy worked out of town most of the month before we left. It was hard, but luckily he was usually accessible via cell phone when the kids missed him and cried because they wanted to talk to him. Sara likes to call him whenever I tell her "no", when she sees something that is his (shirt, hat, etc) lying around, and at bedtime. One of the days, when I handed the phone to Gary the first words he said were, "Daddy come to our house..." It about broke our hearts, especially knowing we still had a while of that schedule. I couldn't help but think that when my husband was Gary's age is when his father left for good. It must have been hard for my mother-in-law to explain to her little ones... I feel blessed that this is only temporary.



While he was away we had simple dinners and I tried to use some of the extra time to clean out and organize. I found some fun things. One of which was an old journal I kept in 8th grade. Some of the entries surprised me--for instance #1 on my list of 10 things that make me feel of worth --when my friend tells me I have great eyelashes--Hello--I've come a long way since then. But there is an entry about the "perfect boyfriend or husband" I enjoyed reading. I typed it exactly as it read:

"I think the perfect boyfriend (or husband) is...One who is

• sweet
• kind
• generous
• humble
• good with children and babies, (loves kids)
• is LDS and has a testimony
• isn't rude
• will do things for others
• isn't greedy
• laughs a lot
• makes me laugh
• has a good self-esteem
• is enjoyable to be around
• is neat and clean (to a certain extent)
• doesn'thave to have name brands, etc.
• says "I love you" often
• is gentle
• cares about you
• doesn't think he is better than somebody else
• would help me be a better person
• someone who I can get married in the temple to
• is attractive (maybe only in personality)
• likes to be with me
• likes to have fun, go places, etc.
• To summarize I would like to marry someone like my dad..."

I guess it surprised me that I thought about so many things in 10 minute journal assignment, but I also can see that I pretty much got just what I wanted! I am very grateful for my huysband and for the person that he is, and living with my in-laws, speaking a second language, and living a culture not my own again, I appreciate him even more. I forget how hard it is to live outside of your comfort zone, to get 90% of a conversation, to have people understand about 50% of what you do, and to be so far from those who do love and know you. He really is amazing. I love him.

Smile!

So Gary had to get some dental work done and while waiting for the anestesia to set in he chomped down on his lip. He didn't realize it was his lip he was biting on, by the time the numbness wore off it had bled several times. He kept asking me to take it off. I showed him in the mirror it was just his lip, but it was so big by then he wasn't convinced.

He was apprehensive about going to school today, but he went anyway he's a good sport.

Never fully dressed without.....SHOES!

Anyone who has been around Sara much has probably had their shoes taken off, switched with another person in the room, or tried on by Sara. She has a major shoe fettish! Don't ask me where she got it, she just came that way. Since she could scoot around the room on her belly she has collected shoes. When we were staying in Romania, we were constantly pulling slippers, boots or flip-flops out of her mouth.

When we go to McDonald's to play she has more fun playing with the shoes in the Sneaker Keeper that on the playground. She loves Ronald's big red shoes.
Now she has learned to take her shoes on and off by herself--mostly. She still gets furious if she can't quite get it on. We're working on the word & sign for "help please".
She doesn't consider herself dressed unless she has shoes on--in fact, that is all she needs on to feel ready to go out on the town.

Preschool

Gary finally started preschool. He likes it, but I still think the most exciting part for him is riding on the big school bus! It is a good thing he is so excited about it or it would be a lot harder to watch him get on and off.

Childhood Experiments

I have heard something about "muscle memory" with violinist and gymnasts, that they do something so often, that their muscles remember and do it precisely each time. As a mom I have acquired a muscle memory of my own. My hand muscles have how to bury a syringe into a medicine bottle and with amazing accuracy remove 1tsp of liquid without looking. I have been shocked each day this week as I administer the latest meds how accurate I can get it each time.

Another new skill I am working on this week is that of ice smashing. Gary found my bundt cake pan and his eyes got big, his mouth opened wide and then he said, "I got idea!!! Lets make ice, a big huge one! That be great?" I agreed and we filled the pan about 1/3 the way full and put it in the freezer. Ten minutes later he checked and there was an icy crust around the edges. While I was making a sandwich after he got home from preschool he pushed a chair over to the freezer and instead of a Popsicle pulled out the huge ice cube. We put water on it and I handed the ice ring back to him. He wasn't sure what to do with it, then it dropped and shattered all over! "That was cool!" We picked up the pieces and threw them outside shattering them on the cement wall and stairs it was fun. We drew on the hot cement and watched it disappear, and then went back in and filled it 1/2 full. First thing this morning Gary & Sara were pulling out the ice and we played again. Now we have one full to the brim in the freezer.

Later huge seed pods were found at a neighbors and used as swords. Gary likes to cut things, so we cut one in half to see what it was like inside. Even I was surprised at what we found. It is fun being a part of the childhood discoveries and experiments again.

Perspective

Some days when things get tough all we need is a little new perspective

--you know, if you chance to meet a frown...

Here are some cute pictures of Sara...

house shopping like daddy.....

Re-living the first birthday...

Mmmmm Chocolate!...

And making up for it!