everyone gets fat

We were driving in the car the other day and Simeon asks me, "Mom, do feet grow? Because my feet are bigger than when I was 3." I told him yes, that as we grow our body grows. Our elbows, noses, ears, cheeks, arms, tummies, legs.... He then says, "So, everybody gets fat?" I told him they don't get fat, but their body parts grow with them, so they fit together. "Mom, you're fat. But just a little bit." Well......thanks son! If that's not enough to get me working out, I don't know what is!

I AM FROM...

Genesis has been creating/writing an autobiography all year long for her Honors Language Arts class.  One of the things she was supposed to include is an "I Am From" poem about herself.  This is that poem...

I am from a serious childhood.  I was embarassed easily.

I am from playing barber shop with my sister, her with finger-sissors, me with real scissors.

I am from a real barber shop, my sister's hair needed fixing.

I am from being ashamed - I cut my sister's hair!

I am from my parents' laughter, learning to laugh at bad situations.

I am from Washington, a town called Enumclaw.

I am from "the little green booger house", my very first home.

I am from Texas, near a lake in Gun Barrel City.

I am from swimming in that lake, until a brain-eating bacteria killed a boy (we never went there again).

I am from a crispy fall morning, the smell of smoke in the air.

I am from Washington, a cool, green home.

I am from Texas, a warm, dry home.

I am from basketball, Saturdays and Wednesdays.

I am from a proud father, forcing me to play.

I am from a wonderful day, ice cream after a game.

I am from writing, creating stories from simple words.

I am from singing, raising my voice to the sky.

I am from dancing, no matter how ridiculous I look

I am from reading, going on adventures while relaxing on the couch.

I am from good friends, who act silly with me,

I am from dorky parents, who tease me all the time.

I am from a sweet little brother, who cares about me.

I am from little sisters, who I can share secrets with.

I am from kind grandparents, who spoil me rotten.

I am from friends and family, who matter.

I am from yummy, homemade dinners, like meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

I am from crepes, that only my dad can make.

I am from a family  of pigs - we eat a ton.

I am from a family of sugar-lovers, but we're trying to be healthier.

I am from good food.

I am from big yards and gravel roads, no kids my age around.

I am from grandma's beautiful, healthy garden, gorgeous in the spring.

I am from my mother's garden, drying , dead, withered.

I am from a trampoline, jumping, doing tricks.

I am from big yards, with trees and places to run.

I am from about fifty cousins, aging from early twenties to a few months.

I am from an alpacha, born on the day of one of our family reunions.

I am from a lightning storm in Oregon, I was done swinning for a while.

I am from pictures with my cousin, my sister ruined it.

I am from decorating the frame with little foam shapes.

I am from my mom's family, a very large and loving family.

I am from my dad's family, smaller, but no less loving.

I am from memories, experiences and people I love.

We are so proud of her!!  Maybe I'm biased, but I think it's really good!

Did you know that Simeon's new favorite thing to say is, "that's lame"?

Did you know that I was in charge of the decorations for our Stake Relief Society Women's Conference and it was one of the most stressful things I have ever done?

Did you know that Matt is a ward missionary and he loves it?

Did you know that Brooklyn wants to learn how to play tennis?

Did you know that Genesis is on the volleyball team for school and she is having fun?

Did you know that Glory is feeling lonely because Brooklyn and Genesis are getting too old to play the things they used to and Simeon is too young?

explosion and gratitude

I don't know if you know or have heard about Susan Powell. Her parents are in my parents ward. It's a heartbreaking story. Yesterday as we were getting in the car to go to church, we heard a giant BOOM! Scared Genesis to death. It rattled the windows. At the end of church, we found out that Josh Powell (the husband of Susan) was the cause of the explosion we heard. Apparently he lived in Graham. Who knew??!! He killed himself and his two kids. So sad!! (read the story) I am humbled. It makes me think how pitifully easy my trials are comparatively. It makes me grateful for my wonderful, loving husband and the gospel. What comfort it is to know that we can be with our families again....that families are forever. That Heavenly Father loves us and will bring us peace in times of heartache and trial, when we need it. My heart goes out to the Powells. May God grant them strength and peace!

musings of an old (I mean young) lady

It's good to read and reminisce about life. It goes by too fast. The kids are already grown(practically)and it seems like just yesterday they entered my life. I just finished reading my entire blog and it brought back memories. Good, bad, sad, and inspirational alike. I think it's good to do sometimes. It helps you remember that life is good, how far you've come, and what's important. I was feeling a little overwhelmed today about life. And now, after reading, I feel good. Some things that I was stressed about don't really matter. The things that do matter, that I can't do much about, will work themselves out. They are what they are. And I am who I am. The things that do matter that I'm not so great at doing....well, I will just do my best. The end of the world won't come, because I didn't clean the kitchen or catch up on my laundry. If my visiting teaching doesn't get done this month, then I'll try next month. If I make a mistake as the new Relief Society secretary, then that just means I'm human (and maybe I'll get fired). :0) If Matt has a bad day, I can handle it. If I happen to be really tired and don't get my kids to bed on time, then we will try again the next night. They'll live and so will I. I love my family and my Heavenly Father. I know he loves me and wants me to be happy. I can't be happy if I'm too concerned about the things I'm not doing or can't do that I shut down. And then I'm no good to anybody, including myself. Life is good and I gotta remember that!

Happy New Year!!


Did you know....

• Genesis is the Beehive 2nd counselor.


• Glory has been evaluated by the speech therapist at school and they found that she has some communication delays. We'll meet with the school on Tues. to find out the particulars and get an IEP for her so she can continue to succeed in school.


• Brooklyn is starting to babysit for us now. She has matured enough, I think. So now we have 2 built in babysitters.


• Matt has decided he wants to have more fun in life. He has his motorcycle torn apart and is working on the engine.


• I was tired of my highlighted hair, so I dyed it AGAIN. It is really dark now. The plan is to let it grow out and get back to my original color. I miss the real me.

not the best thanksgiving

As far as Thanksgivings go, this one was not the happiest.  After being sick for a over a week, my house was a wreck and laundry was WAY behind.  Not as bad as it could have been, thanks to my wonderful husband and children, but still bad.   I woke up Thanksgiving morning and was in a pretty good mood.  Unfortunately some things were said and down my mood plummeted.  I took a shower (after being sick.....boy did I need it!) and then realized I was way behind schedule.  So much for doing my hair and makeup! I forgot I needed some things at the store.  CRAP!  I wasn't gonna ask Matt because we weren't on the best of terms at this point.  I delegated some chores to the kids and off to the store I went.  (Kind of a mad house at the store!  Can't people plan ahead?!)  I came home with 30 minutes to go before time to leave for my moms.  CRAP! So much for eating breakfast! And I realize one of the things I needed at the store was forgotten!  DOUBLE CRAP!  Genesis assures me she is ok and doesn't need them.  Matt comes out at this point and says, "Are we still going to your moms?"  Of course we are!!  And thanks for making me feel so much better about my time management skills!  I scrambled around trying to get the broccoli cheese casserole and mashed potatoes (for 19 people) going.  I am totally stressed out at this point and not eating had compounded the problem.  The little kids are running around screaming and being noisy, as kids on school vacation do.  I am going as fast as I can.  Matt is nowhere to be found (he tends to disappear when I am on a rampage.....I'm scary!) and the older kids are walking on eggshells around me, but being very helpful.  My phone rings.  Don't people know I am stressed out at this point and don't have time to answer my phone??!!  I have Genesis see who called.  It was Mom.  Great! Probably trying to find out what is taking so long!!  More stress.  Genesis calls her back and Mom says I can just finish the potatoes at her house.  Easy for her to say.  How do you transport boiling potatoes?  Not to mention half of them weren't even peeled yet. At this point, Glory gets in my way as I am transfering hot potatoes.  I lose it and scream at her to "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!"  My sweet sensitive daughter looks up at me with confusion and a look on her face that tears my heart out and says, " Why did you yell at me?"  (I'm telling you, I will be getting the Mother of the Year award for sure!) I finally finish and we load everybody up. It is now 45 mins. after we were supposed to eat and I still have to finish the potatoes. CRAP!  I can imagine everyone starving and waiting around impatiently for me.  We arrive and I was right.  Everyone waiting, although now that I look back, I don't think with impatience, but at the peak of stress and annyance and starvation everything gets distorted.  Mom apologizes about the miscommunication....I didn't need to make the broccoli.  FANTASTIC!  Isn't Thanksgiving supposed to be about enjoying family and traditions and being thankful??!!  How did I lose that?!  I finally get food in my belly, and man it was good!!!  The best sweet potatoes I've ever tasted! Everything was really good and my mind is finally becoming undistorted.  I realize it doesn't matter that we were a little late.  Why do I stress out so much?!!  It is what it is and nobody's perfect. I enjoyed visiting with family and playing games.  We get home and Matt and I still have words that need to be said.  GREAT. I'm in for an emotional night.  Why is it that guys bring stuff up and make you feel horrible and then go to sleep??!!  He woke up to me crying and asked what was wrong.  Hmmm....what do you think!!??  Then as I am starting to talk to him I hear him sleeping again!  Why did you ask, if you're not going to listen??!!  More crying and it starts over.  Finally, I ask him to choose.  Sleep or conversation, cause I'm really getting angry.  We talk it out, and it ends up being not as big a deal as I was thinking.  Man, that boy needs to learn how to communicate!  The day ended (or I should say morning started, as it was 2am by this point) wonderfully.  Why can't we just skip the fighting and go straight to the making up.  It's way more fun than the fighting. ;0) So, as far as Thanksgivings go......not the happiest, but there's always next year!

I am grateful for my experiences that cause me to grow and be better, as painful as it is.

I am grateful for wonderful forgiving children that love me even when I'm an ogre.

I am grateful for a loving husband that helps me to become a better person and find balance in my life. 

I am grateful for a new day to try again.

disco hair, bedtime weapons, new rule, and more ear fun

We were watching something on tv and Simeon said something about the "girl with disco hair".  I cracked up  because he was talking about a girl with an afro!  Man, where does he come up with these things??!! How does he even know what disco is??!!

 Matt gave Sim a cheap leatherman to sleep with.  (Are we good parents or what?!)  Here's why.....I was watching a new show called "Grimm".  If you've never seen it, it has some pretty creepy characters.  I was in my room watching and the kids were supposed to be in bed.  Simeon came in and I paused my show, but not before the scene changed to a very creepy monster guy with his sharp-toothed mouth agape in a roar and his sharp-clawed hands raised to strike.  I was at a loss as to what to do because I didn't want to unpause.....who knew what was to come next?!  It might be worse.  We told him to go to bed, but not before he came over and looked at the screen.  Poor guy!  He immediately turned and went to bed, but he was soon in our room again......scared out of his wits.  Great.  He was asking about bad guys and what to do if they came.  We assured him that no bad guys were gonna come in our house.  (Which probably isn't very comforting because there was a stoned guy that walked into the house once when the kids were home alone----that's a story for another time.)  So, Matt gave him a cheap leatherman to take to bed with him, so he can defend himself when the bad guys come.  Poor little man! 

I cleaned the family room (finally!!) and the kids came home from school and were amazed!!  Here's how the conversation went:

Kids:  Oh!  Wow! It's so clean!  You can actually see the floor!

Me:  I know it's amazing.  It feels good to have a clean area, doesn't it?!  Let's keep it that way, ok?

Brooklyn:  I know!  We should have a new rule that when you get something out, you put it away when you're done.

Me:  That's always been the rule, Brooklyn!

Brooklyn: REALLY??!!!

Ummm...where have you been the past 11 years, Brookie, when I lectured and lectured about picking up after yourself????!!!

I'm glad to know that my life lessons are sinking in.

In other news....Genesis had another eardrum rupture.  That girlie and her stinkin' ears!!  Poor thing, she was in so much pain before it ruptured.  She has begun to hate doctors like her dad.  They both also have a touch of hypochondria.  But we love them!!

here's what we've been up to this summer....

Gen's first year at Girls Camp


Went to Puyallup Fair (Sim's "tatoo" is on his arm)

made headbands to (hopefully) sell

built loftbeds

Glory's baptism (where the kids crashed Matt's car into another parked car....very traumatic, but everybody's ok)

Matt got a motorcycle for free. It's an ongoing project for him, but we've been able to ride it.

My sister and her husband took us to the Seattle Science Center. Simeon fell asleep during the laser show.

Went to the Space Needle for the first time. Forgot my camera when we went up, but we got some great pictures by the weird sculptures outside.

Played with cousins at the Palmer family reunion

Brooklyn played in the ashes from our 4th of July hot dog/marshmallow roast

took advantage of one of the non-rainy summer days and walked to the river to go swimming



Genesis exhausted from the walking!

Genesis practiced her motorboat face....she's gettin' pretty good!!

Phew!! No wonder I was so tired all the time!