Time With the Little Shavers

There is no better time spent than with the little shavers, Cam and Eli. We decided yesterday that there should be a "Toy Story 3" movie. Buzz Lightyear has come alive for these little guys and we'd love to see the saga of Buzz and Woody continue.

I'm hoping get a picture with the Buzz Lightyear at Disneyland when Jess and I go there next week. The REAL Buzz Lightyear, as Cam would say!

WELL, AIN'T THAT JUST DANDY

Jessica's team competed in the PNW (Pacific North West) dance competition today at Capital High School. A lot of blood, sweat and tears (lots of tears) went into preparation for it. The competition is getting pretty stiff, which makes for a great and intense time for all.

Here are the results:

Large Dance: 1st Place
Small Dance: 1st Place
Military: 1st Place
Kick: 1st Place
Novelty: 1st Place

Next weekend is the State Competition. The week after that is Nationals at Disneyland. It may look like all Straweberries and Cream at the view from the top.

Not So.

Have you ever done anything with a big red target on your back?

The team, showing off 5 well-deserved 1st place trophies.

Marissa, Jessica, Spencer, Kylee, Tori

Parents getting goofy

Waiting for results

Military routine calls for angry, intense facials.

Thank you to Kimber Markus, Tori's mom and choreographer of the military routine. She has a killer camera and took these great pics today.

Contratulations Sweet Liberty! You brought tears to my eyes today. I love seeing hard work and dedication pay off. In spite of everything, you made it happen.

There is power in that.

Stretching the Rubberband

Today is one of those days.

I wish I could gather all of my children around me and have their company for one full day.

I miss them.

I like the adults they have grown into.

They are my favorite people to spend time with.

And I include my daughters-in-law in this mix.

Cam and Eli came for a few hours this afternoon and while Eli slept the afternoon away, Cameron and I played. We colored. We played cars. We played Buzz Lightyear and then just had to turn on Toy Story 2 for full interaction. He let me entertain him with my silly songs and hula dance. He laughs at me. He thinks I am funny. Is that what makes grandchildren so special? They like US? Whatever it is - I cherish it.

When the boys left this afternoon, I was left with this yearning to have my little boys back here with my little girl and play with them or take them to practice (those were the BEST times, in the car with a captive audience), or fix them dinner, or help them with their homework.

But, alas - I have done my job and they are fine, independent citizens living great lives and giving back.

What I wish is that there were a way to slacken the stretched rubberband of time out so that the super concentrated time when they are all at home with a ba-zillion things going on (and you feel like the rubber band is going to break) could be meted out, less concentrated, lasting longer.

As it is, it gets stretched to the limit and when it does begins to slaken, without even realizing it, the rubberband becomes totally pliable. It's changed before you know it.

And it happens so quickly.

"Pliable: flexible, easily bent or molded, adjusting readily, adaptable, suceptible to being led or directed."

Since there is no going back in time, it is my time to be pliable.

This could be fun. Maybe I'll join a Yoga class...

Celebrating the "Girl Bird"

Scott is the one with the wig; Jessica is on the right at about 9 months old.

She likes wearing things on her head.

My baby is 17 today.

My, how time flies.

Just yesterday we went downstairs to Richard's room at 6:00 in the morning to tell him we were going to the hospital and he would have to get his brothers off to school. His reaction was like one of the sitcom fathers you would see running in circles and trying to decide what to do first; it was priceless. And then, that afternoon after she was born, he stood outside and announced to ward members and neighbors who drove by, "My baby sister was born today at 4:17. She weighed 6#8 and is 19 1/2 inches long."

That same little gem stomped up the stairs when she was 3 years old, turned around and announced to her dad, "You're so Wude!!" And then proceeded to go to her room and slam the door.

The boys looked at Gordon wide eyed because there is one thing you never do and that is slam the door.

That was the moment we knew that we were on a different journey now, not one of trucks, dirt, sports and action, but one of teacups, tu-tus and..... moods. Life would never be the same.

And it hasn't.

Happy Birthday, Jessica. We love you.

Blogging Dearth

I love the word "dearth". It means "without, void of, scantiness, absence of" and it fits my blog of late. I have been "without" and "void of" great blog ideas.

It is that time of the year between winter ending and spring beginning, where you are teetering on the edge, expectantly waiting. Waiting for the weather to warm, waiting for green things to sprout, waiting, waiting, waiting.....(not to mention waiting for Mr. Scott to come home; we are under four months now!) More blogging about that later in the week.

To fill the void, all I can say is, thank goodness for good T.V. right now. American Idol starts with the top 12 this week and is always so good. 24 is heating up, and Dancing with the Stars starts this week! This one may actually be the one to break the T.V.'s back. The poor DVR seems to run non-stop and even though it can record two shows at once, it has it's limits.

AND....I have a new favorite show that I have come to love watching the re-runs: House. I LOVE that show; he is so quirky and interesting and entertaining.

I actually hope Spring doesn't come too early this year (DID I SAY THAT ?) because then I might feel guilty about watching my shows and feel like I should be outside.....doing activities or something. The minute my shows end, Spring can officially begin.

Family Dinner Fun

Sunday was our monthly family dinner and we celebrated Jo, Laura, James and Jessica's birthdays. On the menu was steak and chicken, some of my delicious "yummy potatoes", mixed veggies, jello "with berries in it" (a special treat) a great green salad that Suzanne brought and whole wheat rolls (I slaved all afternoon defrosting and raising the Rhoades rolls - exhausting). Dessert was the family birthday cake, simply named "Carmel Cake". I like it because it's easy and delicious - a great combination.

It is just fun, fun, fun to have everyone (well almost) here. Of course we miss Scott (we are four months away, but who's counting?) and Ben and Laura. I asked Laura if she could feel the love yesterday when we sang to her. It looks like the beginning of July is when they will be moving back.

This summer everyone will be here. Wowie. I can hardly wait. Spring AND the prospect of the whole fam together.

Wowie.

Rose Bushes, Pesky Squirrels, Red Pepper and Evidence of Cats

Today is one of my favorite days of the year; actually, last Saturday and today. It is when I trim back my roses for the Spring. I wait for just the right day in February when it is warm and sunny enough to get outside and work.

It signals that spring is just around the corner.....And that means sunshine, fresh dirt and new plants. I can't wait!

I transplanted a beautiful pink rosebush to the front this year and put the somewhat struggling pink one from the front in back. This is the A-1 spot for roses to grow in the yard. It must be the heat that comes off the bricks (they face west) and the extra attention they get being right by the front door.
Last Fall when "we" (that's the royal we) raked the leaves, there were a couple of spots where the leaves had started to rot into the ground. Every time I go out to get the mail, I notice that the spots are getting bigger and bigger. Last Sunday the home teachers were here and I made a little discovery. (I WAS paying attention....). The whole time, there was this squirrel pulling up the grass from the spots and running to his little nest somewhere. I got out my broom and attempted to chase him off with it, but he was way gone before I even made it out the door. I considered my pellet gun, but I need to practice hitting something first. Besides, Gordon says it's not a good idea to open the door and start shooting. What to do, What to do.........
While the home teachers were here, we got talking about cats and how they love to make dirt piles right by your front door and leave their "evidence" behind. I have that problem there, and also in my front rose garden. He mentioned that if you put red pepper flakes down, the cats will lick their paws and the pepper flakes will burn. It takes a couple of weeks, but they figure it out (they're smart ones, cats are) and stop coming to that spot.

I figured, hey - if it's good enough for cats, it should work on squirrels too, right? So today, after I finished the backyard trimming, I put down red pepper flakes in both places the cats frequent and on the bare spots in the yard. My new past time is going to be sitting in the living room and watching the squirrels get theirs. I am fine with the little creatures, as long as they don't eat my lawn.

It's a great day, all right. And tomorrow it's March!

James Bird

Today is James' birthday. He is 24 years old. This is a picture of him in "Commando", his car he got for $5.00.

Here are some reasons he lights up our lives:

1) He has the most infectious laugh. It lights up a room. And when he laughs at what you say, he makes you feel like the funniest person in the world.
2) He is fun to talk to; whether it is about current events, a funny experience or whatever - it is always fun to get James' perspective on things.
3) He works hard and studies hard. In the summers, he works in sales for a pest control company. He earns enough that he can concentrate on his studies the rest of the year. He will completete his Bachelors degree next December. And, in spite of teasing people in High School for not being "balanced" enough if they were academically orniented, he is very academically oriented now.
4) He is intense and competitive. He is someone you would want on your team.
5) James is compassionate. He loves his family and friends and cares deeply. For all of his intensity and competitiveness, I guess you could say he's just a big softie.

We love you, James! Happy Birthday

Basic Math

Warning: this is a "vent" story, so if you are not up to it, read no further.

I am a coupon shopper and a bargain shopper; I do it for sport and I love the rush I get when I get something for next to nothing. One of my favorite things to do is use the "Fred Meyer" coupons that come on Sunday at a store closer by, that shall not be named (they "graciously" take them). But I am starting to reconsider and just go to FM. There are some incredible deals in there; for instance:

100 capsules of store brand ibuprofen was buy one get one free. At TSTSNBN, they were on sale for $3.99 and happened to have an extra 100 capsule attached. So I ended up with four 100 capsule ibuprofen for $3.99.

I mentioned that TWSNBN "graciously" accepts the other store coupons; but you have to go through a check out and not use self check-out (which I love). I am very picky about which checker I go to, because quite frankly, some of them can't do basic Math. This is very tricky stuff:

Two Bryers ice cream at 4.99 and then because of your little card, you get another .99 cents off and I have a coupon for $2.77. Naturally, you would subtract $2.77 from the $4.00 and take $1.33 off times 2 for a total of $2.66 off on that coupon. I have started doing the Math before I even go to the check out to save a scene.

And - I never go to a male checker in any store because they have trouble multi tasking and it takes waaayyy too much time.

So, the other day I was getting ready to check out and carefully picked a checker that had done the math before. The store was fairly busy and there were lots of people in line and by the time it was my turn, the female checker went on a break and there was a male checker.

Needless to say, it was fairly miserable watching him try to do the math (are there rules against calculators at grocery stores?) and making the line of people wait. At last we were at the end and I said I didn't think he got the Bryers coupon. He exasperatingly rolled his eyes and sighed and said, "Yes, I got your Bryers coupon". (Code for: "You stupid, idiot, moneysaving woman!")

He didn't. (I had a code look of my own going on).

Another line at the "customer service" counter and I was finally ready to go, but not before an other agonizing Math scene with a male checker. I had to go buy a diet coke out of the keosk just to manage.

Basically, the only time I go to TSTSNBN is to coupon shop because their prices are so high, but I am considering a boycott altogether.

Maybe they are just uptight about the amount I save when I shop there.

I feel so much better for venting:)

I'm not kidding

I'm not kidding at all - I want to interview YOU.
Is this going to be like pulling teeth?
Just think of the fun questions I can think of to ask you.
The possibilities are endless.
Who doesn't like to talk about themselves? Honestly, now.
I'm not kidding at all - I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Did I mention that it's my birthday?


Here's How:
If you are interested in having me give you a few interview questions for you to answer on your blog, be one of the first five people to follow these instructions and I’ll be in touch.

INSTRUCTIONS1. Leave me a comment in this post saying, “Interview me” (please include your email address as well).2. I will respond by emailing you five questions of my choosing.3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.4. You will include these instructions and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions each. (Okay, if this part is stopping you, you don't have to do it). Just let me interview YOU:)

Interview

My daughter in law, Jo was "interviewed" on her blog, and I enjoyed reading it because the questions were not a standard tag, but unique to her. She offered to interview me so here it goes:

1) You were blessed with four boys and then a daughter. What has been the biggest difference you have noticed in raising a girl?

I think the differences were so glaring because we had raised four boys together and had developed a pattern for teaching, discipline, work, etc; that boys responded to. Along came Jessica and all of that was out the window for the simple reason that girls are much more emotional. We had to develop new ways to teach, discipline and all those things that she would respond to. The really only difficult part of it was that we were still raising the boys and sometimes they didn’t think things were fair. But with a boy, there is a disagreement, you work it out, pat them on the head and off they go with a smile. The same thing can be a week long process with a girl.
All this being said, I have loved raising my sons, and I am so glad the Lord gave me the chance to raise my daughter. Having things even out a little bit has been a treat for me! Jessica and I tease Gordon now about the "girl power" in the household and how long it has been in coming.

2) I know you enjoy a variety of tv shows. If you were given only one more hour of television, which show would you choose to watch?

I would have to say, “24” because each episode is like a mini-movie and I like to think I could be a special agent with all the gadgets and do all the really dangerous things that the babes who work with Jack Bauer do. But I do love to read, though. Mostly anything Clive Cussler writes.

3) I know we share a love for skiing and in recent years a lack of opportunities to do it. What do you look forward to most when you get the chance to hit the slopes?

Well, that has been on my mind since Bogus is having the 199 pass special until this Sunday. It’s good for the rest of this year and all of next. I have been mulling it over. The biggest consideration is my knee. I would love to get back up there with regularity. Jess would like to do it too. I love spring skiing when the sun is beating down on you and the snow is soft. I have a harder time with the cold than I used to, so I have to take frequent Hot Chocolate breaks! My favorite part of skiing with my kids while they were growing up is the ability to have them all to myself on a chairlift (captive audience:) and talk about life, plans for the future and nature.

4) As a mother you have a gift for believing in your children's success 100%. What has helped you to be so supportive?

It’s just so easy to look into your children’s eyes and watch them and see what they are/would be good at in their lives. As they grow, children can sometimes doubt what they can do , thanks to the negative influences in the world and negative people. In my opinion, they need their mom to re-enforce things for them. Sometimes you know that they can do something but they don’t know it yet. Of course, they say, “You have to say that, you’re my mom”, but I think when they get older they realize it’s true.

5) Your youngest son will return from a two year mission this summer. What excites you most about his return?

To have the whole family together again! For the last 9 years, one of them has been gone, with a couple of exceptions in between. I am so excited for there not to be a hole in a family picture at a wedding, or at Christmas dinner.

And then there’s his sense of humor.
Watching movies with him.
Quoting "The Grinch" together
Water skiing.
Horseback riding.
But probably the most exciting thing of his return is seeing the young man he has grown into in our absence.

If you are interested in having me give you a few interview questions for you to answer on your blog, be one of the first five people to follow these instructions and I’ll be in touch.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Leave me a comment in this post saying, “Interview me” (please include your email address as well).
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions of my choosing.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include these instructions and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions each.

They love their mommy

While Jo was out having some birthday fun, the boys and I got McDonald's happy meals and brought them home to eat while we made cupcakes for their mom's birthday. Of course, they had to have cheese puffs too - that's what grandma's do, right? We popped popcorn and watched American Idol too. Eli's a big fan; Cameron is not; thank goodness for the popcorn!

After Many Years Of Waiting.....

I got my first daughter in law. And boy is she a doosie! In every great sense of the word. She set the bar high for the rest of the bird daughters to come.

Here are some things I love about her:

She is compassionate

She is kind

She loves animals

She eats healthy

She loves a good, challenging book

She works hard at her job (dental hygeninst 1 day a week)

She works hard at home
She is crafty and industrious

She is the best mommy. I am continually amazed.

She gave me grandsons:)

She loves my son

Why am I writing this today? Because it's her birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JO!

We love you.

We are the champions!

Today was the "Idaho Showcase Invitational" at Mountain View High School. Sweet Liberty performed each one of their dances better than I have seen all year.

The results? We won every division we were in, qualified for State, and took "Best Overall"!

It was a fantastic day.

At the conclusion, "We are the champions" was playing on the sound system and the girls were holding up their trophies and singing the song.

It was one of those moments that makes your eyes tear up, you are so happy to see such hard work pay off.

Not that winning is everything, but it sure feels nice sometimes.

Little Lou has a birthday today

Little Lou is our daughter in law, Laura. She joined our family when Ben married her; they met at the church, their first Sunday home from a semester at BYU, where they both had been. But it took being in good old Boise for them to meet.

Ben came home for Sunday Dinner and casually asked if I knew Laura Ewing. "I know Laura Ewing - you can date her!" I exclaimed. (Like my permission was asked for, or necessary). I had met Laura when I was booster president at Centennial and she was the Student Body President. She left a great impression on me. Little did I know that it would just get better from there.

She has brought sunshine into our lives from the very beginning.

Happy Birthday, Lou! We love you.

High Cholesterol?????

Everyone should have a yearly check up. Or if not yearly, just more often than every 5 years. I went for my yearly checkup and they ended up drawing my blood. I didn't think the were going to since they hadn't told me to fast.

Imagine my surprise when I got a phone call telling me I had a high cholesterol reading.

"I don't have high cholesterol," I argued. "If you remember, you took my blood right after I had "Qdoba" for lunch!. I demand a recount".

So, in another month or so, I will go back to the Doctor, fasting as I should be, for another test. This one will show that I do NOT have high cholesterol.

What do I have? I have a Vitamin D deficiency, which is the pre-cursor to Osteoperosis. So, I am on a twice a week supplement that is this little blue oil-ish looking thing that I thought was 5000 milligrams of Vitamin D. Then, on the other days, I take a mere 1000 mgs. of over the counter. When I went to refill the 5000, I looked closer and discovered that it is actually 50,000 milligrams.

That is a lot.

If I end up turning all blue and oily, will someone please tell me. If I don't, then you'll know it all got absorbed by my bones and that's how deficient I really am.

But, hey - "That's what these tests are for!"

What a difference 13 years makes!

Jessica is entering the competition season of dance, starting with ISI next Saturday, PNW on March 13th, State Competition on March 20th, and Nationals the 26-30th of March.

It is always a fun, whirlwind time.

But sometimes I forget how hard she works for this. Every morning she is up at 5:30 for practice and today (Saturday) has been an all day-er learning the small dance. She is getting her father's cold and we are trying to get her better before next weekend. Right now she is still at dance with a fever and nose that won't quit running.

I don't tell her often enough how glad I am that she is a dancer and how proud I am of her, and thanks for all the fun times associated with dance.

When we first entered the dance world, I thought I was going to die. I had four boys in sports and things were very different. But, the transition has been made from Sports Mom to Dance Mom and I love it.

One More Thought

"Those who fear the thorns cannot pick the roses."

Many Thoughts

I found an old file of thoughts I had collected. Either they are all anonymous or I didn't put the author.

Here are a few:

"The road to success is paved with many parking spaces."

"Those who want to succeed will find a way; those who don't will find an excuse."

"You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there."

Very fine and motivational, indeed.

AZ showed well

I am happy with the showing that the Arizona Cardinals had in the Super Bowl. There was just no keeping with those Pittsburgh Steelers, though. I am glad they made it a game.

The commercials seemed a little sub-par this year. I heard that even up to a day before, there were spots unsold. But the favorite has to be the Clysdale horse breaking his lover out of the circus so they could be together. Why do (they) always have the best commercials? If I mention their name, I will get like ads appearing on the blog and we dont' want THAT!