Trailer trash to Up-uh-class ;-)

Here is the outside, plus some of the treasures inside.

Some pics of inside

Kitchen (Pink must go)

Living room w/fireplace and broken ceiling fan.

Front of home window, with Tree up! The Front door is immediately to the left of the pic on the wall with the big window.

Our new home

Breathing calmly again...

Okay, things are better. I got a new mindset, and I'm going to be OK.

Anyways, I swear I'm going to get out taht camera today! Let's hope it still works after the move!

Elizabeth

Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!

It would appear that I am buried in an ever-growing mound of things to do 1. to our house, 2. for our house, or 3. to finish the move process.

I am exhausted, and I don't know the RS here yet.

I am very grateful for our new home, and now I'm trying to understand how to balance regular life demands and a ton of very heavy, temporary new-house demands. I hope to take and post some pics soon....

Out of Paradise; Into Suburbia

Well, I never thought I'd be so eager to live in a greater metropolitan area! Leaving our little rural chicken farm wasn't really that hard.

You learn something new everyday.

Our computer will be down for who knows how long.

We close in the morning... Wish us luck!

We'll be back when we can get cable internet. Merry Christmas!

WE GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We got our house! We can close Friday Morning!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is an interesting blessing. Our "free", corporate-sponsored housing ends Thursday night at midnight. So, Friday is the first day we would have been "homeless" in a local hotel if we couldn't take possession of our new house. (Translation: One of the most painful and heavy stresses of my entire married life [7.6 years] has been our temporary periods of homelessness. The dread with which I anticipated our upcoming homelessness- and right at Christmastime of all things- was almost unbearable. I feel this is a tender mercy straight from God to deliver us from such things this time.)

WE GOT IT! We Got it! We got it! I can't believe it! I am so stinkin excited! Pictures to come ASAP.

Little Jim Gets Bigger

(Check out the 8 inch drool strand here, whoa!)

By popular demand, here is our son.

From a Mormon Detective in LA

http://mormon-view.blogspot.com/2008/11/proposition-8-passes.html

Drawing in Church

Here are two illustrations Grace drew yesterday in church. (To show what the topic being addressed was.)

The first one is someone who is unhappy and receives a few blessings, and then he gets happier, and then obtains many blessings (from the bottom of the drawing up.)

The last one is Grace pulling Jimmy along to follow President Monson and keep the commandments. (First she said President Hinckley, and then, when I told Daddy, she said, "No, Mom. It's President Monson.")

Chronicles of Home Buying, part one

Well, we've done it! Found a modest property that seemingly would meet our needs, and is in our price range. This home sold within 3 years ago for 156% of what we're paying. So, hopefully the appraisal will show at least a small amount of immediate equity. (Who am I kidding? Hopefully the appraisal will show TONS of immediate equity!)

We are signing the bank's counteroffer today.

Next, we must inspect the property, secure financing, do 105 things the lender requires (1. get a survey, 2. get an appraisal, 3. pay hidden lawyer fees, etc.) and more! This is a busy and exciting time.

We are visiting a ward in the area we've been looking, but it turns out we were visiting the wrong one, anyway.

We have found one good babysitter! We've also visited the beautiful St. Louis temple. WOW.

An Amazing, Energizing Documentary

Being Mormon, I've long believed that our Father in Heaven created the universe and all life. I believed evolution was an unsound idea, and recently I've come to believe that creationist "scientists" were a kooky lot. (Hey, turns out I'm still right.)

What I was wrong about was my understanding of "Intelligent Design". Though that term has been applied to many things and even people, it's most correct meaning is "the idea that intelligent design might possibly be the most likely cause" for a given scientific phenomenon. For example, intelligent design might be the cause of some aspect of molecular biology.

You may know this (I didn't), but molecular biology research is at a relative stand-still. Much of the evidence points to some intelligent influence of cellular development, but mentioning this leads to pretty dire consequences if you are a scientist.

All this and more is delved into in an amazing, energizing documentary by Ben Stein "Expelled." We just watched it tonight on Netflix Instant. You must watch this movie.

"Expelled, No Intelligence Allowed" mainly asks the question, why are scientists (in the United States in particular) being silenced or discredited for asking questions outside of Darwinian theory? Ben Stein argues for freedom of scientific debate in this thought provoking movie. He interviews dozens of scientists, and other well-credentialed professors, of varying opinions and backgrounds. (Oh, and there is a really cool 3-D section where you can see the inner workings of a living cell simulated!!! -E)

As you might imagine, this documentary has attracted some opposition. One of the websites that I came upon claimed that since the roots of intelligent design are in creationism, it is an inherently religious idea. But by that logic, all of science is a religious idea, as all of science has it's old roots in creationism.

Watch the movie, check out his website, sign the petition for academic freedom of inquiry here: http://www.academicfreedompetition.com/ (If you want a free Netflix trial through us, just email me.)

French Canadia

I (Elizabeth) just had the satisfying experience of meeting 3 of my neighbors. They are a trio of wives from French Canada. They each have 2 very little kids (all under 3, I think.) And, each of them is here because of their husband's job moving them here. Also, they are in these quarters compliments of their company, Just like me!

They were all together outside playing with kids when we passed by to get the mail. So, I asked if we could come play, too. (There are not many opportunities to play outside here. Very little yard to any apartment.) We had a great time! They all speak French natively, and Grace was learning it as quick as she could. They even invited us to come by tomorrow after lunch! Yea!

How do you say bye in French? Bye! (That is how they say it, anyway!)

Pet Palace

Let me describe the apartments Royal and I find ourselves in without giving away our exact location (for privacy purposes.).

It is a huge, furnished apartment with the exterior sidewalks between buildings in oversized, multi-colored, stone-like ceramic tile.

Our ceilings are almost twice as tall as my husband. Our master bathroom is literally larger than our master bedroom was in Kentucky. The outlet covers in the kitchen and baths are mirrored. The mirrors in both baths are counter height to ceiling. We have only 2 baths, but 3 showers.

The first time we visited the office, we passed a small trash bin anchored 2 feet off the ground with a sign, "Scoopy Poo" and a cute picture (which will be left to your imagination). I do want to show you one of the complimentary green plastic sacks for pet waste disposal. I'll try to scan it in for you to see. Notice the implication of royalty on the pet! I suppose that explains why one might be following it around to pick up her droppings.

More to come on our cool neighbors from French Canadia.

Why $1million Would Ruin My Life

I've just been mulling over the provocative and delightful question of what I might do with a million dollars should I find myself the proud owner of it suddenly.

First, I would tithe on it. For Mormons, that's a steep 10%. (Don't worry, the blessings are equally steep.)

Then, the government would forcefully seize a huge chunk. (Taking taxes.)

Then, I would put the remainder into an investment account, attempting to achieve a fixed, modest interest rate (10%). My goal, of course, would be to be able to retire on the interest (around $60,000/year).

Then, we would save for a nicely sized home with the interest while Royal still worked full time. We would need to afford something out west. I'd shoot for Logan, Utah, if this happened tomorrow.

Then, when we could pay cash for a property our family could grow in, I would persuade Royal to quit his job and move us out to Utah.

Then, I would attend school full or mostly full time while Royal was a full time Daddy. Although, I can see us both doing school, and being stay-at-home parents as well, as long as we didn't overdo with the school load.

Now, that is what I mean about ruining my life! The most important roles in my life, wife and mother, would be in danger of being upstaged. As in, I would be severely tempted to pursue the wonderful worldly success I would so much enjoy, and let Royal take up the slack in the "nurturing the children department".

If I were free from the very heavy job of nurturing three young children full time, I would miss the most important learning experience God has for me here on earth. By "learning experience," I mean the most painful, exhausting, demanding, frustrating, and lengthy period of my entire life. Yes, I can't say at this moment, I would mind missing some of it! I wish with all my heart I could miss some of it!

But, I also believe that at the end of my life, I will wish I hadn't missed any of it. I believe that I may regret missing any of it for the pleasure of an honorable education, or a wonderful career that benefits society, or owning a business that creates jobs for great people who are willing to work, or founding a school for young people who wish to learn real life skills.

I believe life will have its seasons for me. I plan to contribute in many wonderful ways to this great world. I plan to achieve wonderful worldly success.

But, if I were handed the chance to miss out on the most important hard thing I will ever do (mothering full time while my children are babies.), I think it would be too tempting. It may just ruin my life.

Not to mention, Royal might miss out on the fulfillment of at least one of his most important roles: Provider.

Halloween Fun

Tink is ready!!!!

Number 6 holding the sheep ransom.

Bo Peep Finds Her Sheep!

Tinkerbell's Adventures.

A Graceful Fairy to remain unnamed.

I'm FREE!

It hit me at 8pm Friday night, that I would never have to enter that windowless, cinderblock room for 10 hours a day (to kill time) again.

I hadn't really given much thought to the upcoming change in my job because I didn't want to get my hopes up. Perhaps I would botch the negotiations process. Perhaps I would mess up the interview, or they would find something in my background check that made them want to rescind their offer.

My employer knew I was moving on and had literally begged me to resign already! I never felt comfortable doing that without a signed contract with my new employer. Weeks passed, as did the interview, the negotiations, and the background check, but still no signed contract. By the time I put in my two weeks notice it was a wearily relinquished notice with no true finality. There were still so many unknowns.

But two weeks after, when the last crew for the day came out of the simulator, that glorious realization hit me--one way or another, I was free!

Apologies for the Long Wait

We reformatted our blog temporarily to let us print it all out with a minimum of ink. So there were 600 posts all lined up, which made the blog really hard to access for a while--Sorry!

All is well, and we'll be updating regularly again.

I Am Proud

Okay, My sis in law posted about many things she is "proud of", most of which were statements of admirable gratitude. But her last statement was just too provocative, and I couldn't resist responding in a terrible way.... (Haven't gotten that "not easily provoked" virtue part yet.)

She said, "We are all proud of things...I think that what you are proud of is what determines whether you are stuck up or big headed"

I am on a mission to prove that I am stuck up AND big headed. (Hey, the truth should hurt, but in this case it just makes me laugh.)

I am proud that one human being whom all should regard as extremely intelligent said she has blog envy of THIS! HA, hahahaha! (Maybe you should sit down for this post.)

I am proud that I have used up almost all the free food I inherited from the Hendrick Family's freezer when they moved a few months ago.

I am proud that If you pointed out 10 large items in my home, the chance that we bought one of them new is extremely small. [Tightwad born and bred, baby!-R}

I am proud that So many cool people want to stay my friends. (Don't understand it, but I like it!)

I am proud that Royal has a degree from an extremely prestigious Private Art school that is RIDICULOUSLY expensive, and I take full credit for that achievement. (Please, don't go to SCAD! It isn't worth the money!)

I am proud that we are out of debt, including school loans, and I take almost full credit for that, too. (Royal earned it, and I lived on next to nothing to pay off debt.)(I have to admit, though, that God gave Royal the good job, and Royal was willing to not spend any money either. So, it wasn't all me.)

I am proud that I am comfortable in my skin. I don't always admire my skin, especially the saggy stuff in the middle. But, I am comfortable here.

I am proud that I finally led a fitness challenge with some friends this year. Been wanting to do that for years!

I am proud that I love being married. After 7 years of working hard to serve each other, and putting our marriage first, before school stress, before children, before everything except God, we have not only made it through, but it is better than ever. I love Royal much better than ever before. He is a more wonderful person than the one I married (who was already really cool.)

I am proud that I consider my marriage a higher priority than meeting my children's every demand. The "Royal and me" is always as important as the children (and sometimes more so). I don't know any other couple with children at home I can definitely say that about.

I'm proud that the kitchen is no longer the worst enemy in my life.


What I'm ashamed of:

I'm ashamed that our used couch is disgusting. We used to have a nice set from Donny and Laura. They were too short for Royal to lay down, so we gave them to another family. This one is going out to the dump tomorrow. (Royal is the best! He is letting me get a different one.)

I'm ashamed that I cannot get my house clean.

I'm ashamed that I am not a very compassionate mother.

I'm ashamed that I care what others think. (Sometimes.)

Tightwad Tuesday

-Okay, I'm blatantly stealing this Tightwad-Tuesday idea from my good friend Heidi G. I am positive she won't mind since I'm not making money on it, but I just don't want you to get the wrong idea (like it was original.) -

Way to get random free frozen food:

Help people out who are moving away! If you are just hanging around near the end of the move, you are almost guaranteed to be offered all the junk in their fridge and freezer, and maybe even open stuff in the cupboard.

This has happened to me on over 6 separate occasions. And, the funny thing is, most everyone has a jar of molasses in their cupboard. It's totally full, except a few tablespoons taken out once long ago for an experimental recipe. I inherited all of these.

When we left Savannah, I had 4 such bottles in my cupboard that even I had failed to use up!

Legally Defining Marriage

"Proposition 8, on which Californians will vote on 4 November, defines marriage in California as between a man and a woman. "
-http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-readies-members-on-proposition-8

Let us do all we can to uphold the definition of marriage.

Let us hope that when our children are grown, they can enjoy the blessings of proper marriage as much as we have.

When you are not in a hurry...

Okay, so here's what I learned:

1. Time goes MUCH slower. As in, I really felt the whole day. And, after each day, I felt as though I had lived through another (lovely) week.

2. All my problems did not go away. On the contrary, most of the demands on my time persisted. I did notice that I felt less stressed out while meeting the constant demands (mostly from small children.)

3. I was able to put distant worries out of my head at will. For example, I was able to completely avoid worrying about where we will be living next month. Then, Thursday night, I started thinking about the unknowns of our upcoming move, and the stress descended. Friday morning, I had a fit of near-hysteria. Poor Royal and I had to sort that all out. (I'm very happy to report that we now have a moving date!!!! Oct 27!!! AND Royal has made arrangements so we won't be homeless after that date.)

Book recommendation: Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie.

I am not in a Hurry!

It is a lovely, rainy day here in Paradise, KY.

I got to spend the morning with a friend. We even went shopping!

And, now it is nap time.

Royal is working on accepting a job offer today.

The future is looking good, but today looks good, too.

I got glasses recently. I can see Sienna's eyelashes. They are so lovely! I can see the avacado leftovers on Jimmy's eyelids. You know, there are always hidden, dried up leftovers on that kid somewhere.


Here are some good pics to show you....

Bo Peep's Sheep (or Lamb)

Yes, I realize these may be used someday as blackmail material. Heather lent me this costume with great hesitancy. When I got it, I realized why: it is pretty darn girly. Yes, completely adorable, but very girly. It's just halloween!

I'll be Bo Peep, if I can still fit into the dress on the 31st. (I've had trouble getting in my exercises...) I got a dusty pink square dancing dress for a costume, and Mom Parker helped me Doll it up. It's sooooo great! Yes, I will get a picture for you. But I don't know when.

Don't Just Do Something, Sit There!

I'm in a hurry to get things done.

Everything.

I'm in a hurry to get my life over with. I'm in a hurry to accomplish my goals. I'm in a hurry to set more or better goals. I'm a hurry to celebrate for the goals I've already accomplished. I'm in a hurry to get my kids grown and out of my hair.

I'm in a hurry to pick a hobby.

I'm in a hurry to pick up my house.

I'm in a hurry to pick up the phone.

I'm in a hurry to pick a house to buy.

I'm in a hurry to move to St. Louis.

I'm driving myself nuts trying to figure out how to get everything that is really important done, and done the right way. (Did you follow that?) I've been acting as though if I just hurry hard enough, everything will get done and be wonderful.... someday. Whoa! Am I exhausted!!!!!!!!!

I think if I could change this one hurrying element in my attitude, it could effect a big change in my experience called life.

I'm going to try it.

I'm going to not be in a hurry for one week...

Fruits of our Labors (and the Earth)

Moon and Stars Watermelon. It's an heirloom plant, which means the seeds haven't been crossbred. The seeds are HUGE! They are about an 1/8" thick! The fruit is very large and very sweet, though. Here you can see all three children. Jimmy only got his through my milk, though.

Grumpy Mommy Day

Hi, Friends.

We are preparing to move. Everything is going well, but we don't have an exact date yet. I'm feeling excited, terrified, and impatient to get on with it.

We had a wonderful vacation to Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, in that order.

Little Jim got his first tooth!!!

Allergy season has struck (mostly Elizabeth) with full force.

My Mom got her mission call! I'll publish it with her permission in a few days.

I accomplished one of my 101 goals! I made someone a birthday cake! The Beehive teacher. I made her a pineapple Cream cake (thank you Grama Fancher for the recipe from Mr. Food.).

101 Goals for 1001 Days

I did a cool exercise found on the website the simple dollar (http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/05/04/101-goals-in-1001-days/), where I wrote 101 goals for the next 1001 days. (that's just under 3 years)

If you know me really well, you might know I'm a goal freak! I love goals, and usually feel best when pursuing one. I almost can't function without basic goals to guide my day.

But, the list is TMI (too much info) for this blog. So, I've posted it at my alter ego's blog. Please feel free to view it there.

www.meetthemrs.blogspot.com

I've organized the list into categories for my convenience.

Mantras to Live By and How to Keep Your Cheese from Molding

I learned some true principles while I was delivering pizzas:
You can't completely ignore your own needs while meeting the needs of others.(Also applies in parenting. You're going to be cranky if you're hungry or sleepy, and if you're cranky the kids will suffer.)


The primary goals of a business should be to serve customers' needs and make money, in that order.


Quality oriented businesses are cheaper to run and more successful.


An inexperienced new employee can see underlying flaws in a business that management is blind to.


Now for the cheese part (hints from Darleen Zaehringer):
Separate your bananas when you get home from the store. They will ripen faster if left connected at the stem.


Store open chunks of cheese in aluminum foil. It will stay fresh longer and will not mold.


Bell Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Peppers with four bumps are firmer and better for cooking.


Weed control your plants with overlapping sheets of wet newspaper. Cover with mulch. Some weeds will get through some gardening plastic, but they will not get through wet newspaper.


Reheat pizza in a non-stick skillet on med-low heat until warm. The crust will stay crispy.


Add garlic immediately to a recipe for a light garlic taste and at the end of the recipe for a stronger garlic flavor.

Grace has Root Beer

I gave the girls some root beer for a snack this afternoon. While we don't drink soda very often, we had some left over from driving snacks.

After sampling it straight from the can, Grace said to me, "Root beer is the spiciest thing in my life. I bet it has a lot of onions in it."

Birthday Fun

My birthday surprise was to take the family on an overnight campout!

We borrowed some woods and a tent from some good friends.

Fun, fun, fun!!!!

And, ouch about sleeping on the ground.

And, itch about the poison ivy...

The Last Egg

We have given away our feathered stewardship. And I have collected our last egg. It fulfilled the purpose of its creation in a zucchini bread. Yummy!

Dear Abby ( I don't have your email...)

Dear Abby,

My best friend in first grade was named Abby. She had an older brother named Caleb. She looked nothing like you, though. She was thick-boned, with short, thick dark brown hair. Not pretty at all, but my friend anyway.

About your question on Homeschooling. I'm not sure what you'd like to know.

I am only homeschooling temporarily. I know we will be moving within 5 weeks, and I don't want Grace to be in a totally new environment for only 5 weeks. After we move, I plan to enroll Grace in whatever public school we fall into.

Now, I was homeschooled from Grade 7 to graduation (at age 15).

What questions did you have? I am surely not a good resource for you, but I will tell you what I can.

Your cousin in law,
Elizabeth

My Weakness for Books

Well, I got my first spending money the first of June (which I wrote about a little back in May). And then the first of July, and then the 1st of August.

And, what have I done with it? Mostly I bought Books I have wanted, or books that looked good, or books on topics I need to learn right now. I'm making it a goal right now to post a list of all the amazing books I've bought since May. (Here it comes...)

I am now the proud owner of 2 books by W. Edwards Deming! (One was free!) (He was a quality expert who taught the Japanese about Quality after WWII. I love his business philosophies.)

I am learning Bonnie Prudden's Myotherapy, and I have 2 more of her books to read when I finish that one!

I've read 2 more of Jorge Cruise's recent books: 3 hour Diet and 12 Second Sequence.

I've read Miserly Moms and own Frugal Families by Jonni McCoy.

I've read the More with Less Cookbook compiled by Dorothy Janzen Longacre, and some of The Amazing Legume by Alice Jenner.

I've received a reading program I'm using in our homeschool called Reading Reflex: Phono Graphix program for intuitive reading.

I've received and reread the Sidetracked Home Executives.

I just got my latest from paperbackswap, but I'm saving it to open on my Birthday. Its called: "Brand You 50" by Tom Peters. It is a wonderful how-to book, although with some expletive language.

Finally, I've joined a website where I can share what I think about the books I read. Its called Goodreads.com, and any of you who would like to connect with me there, just email me! It is really fun to see what my friends are reading.

Betchdoubles

"Honey, would you like some raisins?" said Mom to Sienna.

"Oh, yes! Those are my favorite betchdouble in the whole world! Those are my favorite betchdouble."

My Birthday Present-s- to Myself

Yes, it is good to be me! I married an incredibly great guy who adores me.

And, I'm having another birthday soon.

What else is there?

So, I'm taking a weekend off! That's right! Royal is letting me go for a whole weekend to visit my Mom without the kids, except I'll probably take Jimmy anyway.

So, pray for him, Folks! That he can have a good time. I know he will be okay, but I don't know if he will enjoy this opportunity to meet the unending needs of my darling daughters for 72 hours!

And, after I get back, I'm taking the family for a surprise one-night getaway. That is my other birthday present. I'll try to let you all know what it was if I have time when we get back. Hint: It is something I've been wanting to do since finishing the book 3 Steps to a Stronger Family by the Eyres.

Free, Like Me

"Mom, wanna know what my favorite candy in da whole world is?"

(Mom waits silently.)

"Yellow bubblegum, Mom. Yellow bubblegum is my favorite in da whole world."

"Honey, you've never had yellow bubblegum."

"But, I'm free now, Mom! I'm free. I'm still free. Are you free like me, Mom?"

"No, honey. I'm twenty five."

"Oh. Well, I'm free."

Zucchini Out the Wazoo

Last week we had so much stuff to do, we let the garden go to weeds. And the Zucchini inflated to caveman-club size. We had so much it completely filled our kitchen sink. And I picked four more pretty large squashes yesterday. I'm thinking we'll go with only two zucchini plants next year. Five is a bit much.

Anyone need some zucchini?

The Number 4

This week we learned about numbers in our Meservy Family Homeschool.

We became number detectives, looking for hidden numbers all around us. We found a one represented by the lone lawnmower sitting in the barbershop's yard. Grace found a two represented by 2 ripe yellow squash. Our hidden three was represented by the three of us (Sienna, Grace, and myself) until Grace pointed out that we actually represented four people- I was holding Jimmy! We found five weed flowers (quite pretty, too.) and six pumpkin leaves.
We estimated that there were thousands and thousands of leaves on our giant oak tree. And, thousands and thousands of grass blades were found in our yard.

I just asked Grace, "What number do all the toys on your floor represent?"

"A hundred."

;-) Fun in homeschool, but chaos around the house. Hey, you can't have everything.

"Center"

This is from 3 weeks ago.

Sometimes I feel calm.

But, most of the time, I can't figure out how to slow myself down enough to think about one subject at a time.

This week is one of those off-center times. I desire to complain a lot and sleep.

Our upcoming move (still no interview, but we feel certain Royal will get the job) is exhilarating, but also adding quite a bit of stress to life.

I haven't posted much lately because I don't have much free time.

I am homeschooling Grace (very fun so far, but does take time!), tending a garden, packing my home, planning a major vacation, and mothering 3 kids full time. Royal finally quit throwing pizzas yesterday. It's my fault, too. I just asked him to stop until we are settled somewhere else.

We just got a very cool new Young Women's president. I'm still teaching the Mia Maids.

I hope I can calm down soon.

Flat Head

I'm sitting here at 10:45 PM, holding a piece of ice for Jim to suck on while Daddy runs to the gas station for orajel. (Shannon, thank you so much for those cool baby-food netted thingies! I have wanted one for years.)

It all started this afternoon when I put a sock on his Right hand.

Our lovely son sucks his 2 middle fingers on his right hand. This has seemingly caused a seriously lopsided head shape.

Now, I don't want him to have to have the helmet. So, we've tried a padded wedge (thank you, Laura!). He wriggled himself into the bottom, and turned his head to the right.

So, we tried a bag of rice in a sock. (heavier wedge.) He wiggled off it in a few minutes.

So, now, Mommy feels determined to take away those beloved right handed fingers. And, at 5:30 this evening, the first sock went on the hand.

He did very well, only crying for 20 minutes before substituting with left hand. Until tonight!

He has been crying for 45 minutes. He never cries, so this is upsetting his Daddy royally. (wink, wink)

Daddy tried troubleshooting first: Does he need to burp? Does he have gas? Does he need a diaper change? Does he cry even with the light on? Does he cry when in the swing? (what a good Daddy!!!) Finally, R agreed to wear earplugs if I would comfort Jim.

Now Jim was crying with left fingers in mouth! So I put some pressure on his gums, and he stopped crying. Remove pressure, and he cried immediately. So, now, he is quietly sucking on ice, and waiting for orajel. First piece of ice just finished melting. What a good boy!

Birthday Fun

Sienna hosted a very fun Tea Party. We had a tea shaped chocolate cake, and blue koolaid! Plus Peanut butter and Orange marmalade sandwiches. We played don't eat pete!

Grace, Royal, Sienna, and I all helped make the coolest cake ever!

Winds of Change are Blowing

Royal has officially put in his application for a job in Missouri. The job is one that would suit his personality better, pay better, have better medical benefits, and be from a better company. We expect to move soon.

Suddenly I find myself packing! It is good.

While we love where we live so much that we would retire here, I expect to love the new area as much. Also, we will probably be closer to a temple.

Our garden is producing tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, and has unripened red cabbage, watermelons, cantaloupes, and butternut squash.

I am teaching the Mia Maids (14-15 yrs old) on Sundays. I enjoy myself and I get at least one week off per month.

I got 3 hours completely to myself today! It was wonderful. I got my car fixed, got a new prepaid cell phone for Missouri, and saw a friend. I feel normal again. It is a hard job, being a full-time mom. It improves with a little vacation, though.

8 Weeks are up!

My 8 Week Challenge is technically over! Yea! I did it!

What I mean I did looks like this:

I started the habit of eating a good breakfast (with at least some protein and some produce.)

I did 2 workouts a week of extremely slow weight lifting.

I lost about 9 pounds (forgot to take my weight this morning.)

I nursed a baby (15 pounds now!)

I also try to eat a full meal (450 plus calories) every 3 hours. (4/day or so plus 1 snack)


Now, what did I do perfectly? Well, I did actually get 16 full workouts in, although they were not all on the scheduled day. That's it!

Now, onto more improvements in personal eating habits. I will continue my 20 minute workouts on Monday and Thursday. I'm also really trying to do a little (5 minutes) of trampoline "jogging" or walking per day. I've done it 4 times over the past 8 weeks! Baby steps, right?

I'm curious who will be laughing at me about this post.

I have realized an astonishing (perhaps to myself only) fact about myself: I don't take criticism or correction well unless I have requested it.

Now, I realize, rather abashedly, that many of you might be smiling and rolling your eyes about now, since this fact may have been more obvious to you than to myself.

Nevertheless, I am surprised. And sad. And hoping I remember this long enough to seek out and get a thorough change of heart on the matter.

Mrs. Farmer, our landlady, mentioned that our water bill has gone up rather drastically lately. (We share a water meter with her barbershop, so they pay the water bill, and water is included in our rent.) I thought about all the possible reasons for the increase... Some are that Sienna has potty trained, we have an additional baby (we have more laundry, including some cloth diapers), I'm drinking more since I'm nursing, our toilet has been running now and then, and we were hand washing our dishes for a few weeks, which I believe actually used more water than the dishwasher.

Yesterday, she mentioned the matter again, stating that the bill was $15 more than usual and would I please refrain from watering my garden when rain is expected. She also said she found the water left on so long last tuesday, that it ran out of the garden and down the driveway! I felt ashamed and assured her that I have only watered minimally (once a week on average), and I would be more careful to not leave the water on. I have been very careful about not leaving it on all summer, in fact. But, I missed it once, apparently...

This morning I realized that, with my plants beginning to wilt and me never even hearing what the weather will be, that our verbal agreement would not meet my needs at all. I need to come to an arrangement with her that allows me to water my garden as I need to and her and her husband to feel that we are paying a fair amount on the water bill.

Now, for the criticism part.

Today, when I approached her about the matter, she was very appreciative and kind, except for a few details. One, her garden 1/2 a mile away is doing great without any watering. Two, our weeds sure absorb a lot of moisture!

And, this allowed me to gain the useful realization that I am sensitive to criticism. I assured her that, with my squash plants turning brown around the edges, my garden is not okay without watering. And I accepted her criticism of our amount of weeds. But it sure didn't feel good. ;-) I am glad to find out where my pride has been lurking. Now its time to pull that weed.
We shall see how I do.

'Chini in a Bottle

I read about some Japanese farmers growing square watermelon, so I thought I'd give it a go. In the meantime, I thought that I also might try growing zucchini in soda bottles. It works! It's kind of fun (though a pain to get the bottle off).

A More Suitable Place to Live

We live in a lovely, small home in a lovely, small town, 45 minutes from Royal's place of work.

For 6 months, we have been trying to find an extraordinarily inexpensive home to buy that would be more suitable to our family (read more than one bathroom.). We have found 3, and for varied reasons have failed to obtain them for ourselves.

Now, it has come to our attention that a different job, more suited to Royal's personality, might be more important in our lives than a more suitable home. And a more suitable job has appeared.

So, our buying plans are on hold. The new job would be in the St. Louis area, and it would require a family relocation. We will resume our search for a home here if the job doesn't work out. I hope we know within a week or two.

Talk a Little

This is the two of us, me without any makeup. (oh, well.) The "new" hooded towels I just fashioned from some old towels, and some old handtowels.

Once, when I was a teenager, I didn't have many friends. This was doubtless due to my lack of social skills and lack of gentleness in personality. But, I still blame it on the exclusive friendship circles of the other young women in my church congregation (for that was the entirety of my social life- being homeschooled.)

I remember how it felt when one would say, "Guess what Cali said about you..." And I would say, "Thanks, but I really don't want to know."

Today I got a similar feeling, although the circumstances were very different.

A few weeks ago, I was in Church working with some women I not only admire, but really look up to.

I came into the room, and I got this distanced feeling. Her manner seemed more formal and uninviting than usual. I hope I'm wrong, but I think something was said that wasn't as complimentary as what I'd like her to hear about me. Either that or I did something offensive I'm not aware of. That is a possibility, but one I'm not inclined to postulate at this moment.

Today, I was told by my friend, Jolene, that she told Judith (A girl I'd like to be friends with) some of my desires that I had hoped to share personally. She also informed me that these desires weren't something Judith was interested in accomodating. I'm surprised how sad I feel inside about it. It is a little silly, but still, I'm sad. I know I should have acted sooner, but couldn't Jolene have waited until I had time to talk to Judith myself? Doesn't this put an unnecessary distance between me and Judith, now?

And certainly between me and Jolene.

I'm resolved (and I hope I've convinced you, as well) to stop talking to my friends about my other friends. Now, you all, hold me to this! What should I do when I'm on the phone with someone, and they start to talk unkindly about someone else? I hope I have the guts to say, "I love you, and I love that other lady, so I'm not really comfortable talking about this right now."

I love you, Jolene! I love you, all you wonderful family! Even though we may not always be in warmest agreement. I still love you, and I hope you won't listen to anyone else tell you about me or what I want. Just ask me! I'll try to be sweet and honest.

A cute quote from Sienna

After being tucked in,
"Mommy, I need you to toon off the sunlight!"

(In references to pulling down the room-darkening window blinds .)

Current Photos

Grumpy Mommy on a Kick

Okay. Royal went off to play with a buddy in St. Louis for the weekend.


AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHhhhhhhh.

Glad I got that out of my system.

In theory, it sounds good, Royal going off to have a good time with a long-time buddy. I was happy for him- on one condition! That he get me some help while he was gone, such as some babysitting. He agreed. He has been gone ALOT lately- working 2 jobs, and this past week he did 13 hours overtime at his Day job. I had had enough before he left.

The babysitter wasn't able to come. I had 2 babysitters fall through, actually. (big frown.)

Royal gets back tonight. And, I'm going off to be alone for a month. I think I'll go to Wyoming. I hear there is a lot of space there.

Oh, wait, just kidding. I guess that was just in my fantasy. Actually, I am just going to cry and scream. I'll try not to scream at my girls anymore, though. Poor things. Good thing they like movies.

Why It Is OK that We are Not Good Enough

Here's an excerpt of a letter I sent to my missionary brother last year, inspired by our little garden. (5' by 5')

Hatching Adventures Part 5

Yesterday was hatching day. 5 beautiful, fluffy, tiny, miniature chicks emerged from our 10 bantum eggs. They were colored as a chipmunk. Black stripe down center, and mousey brown otherwise. Now there is only one. 4 dead. One living.

What is our role in the care of our animals? We do not wield the powers of life or healing. What is it to us when our animals die? Killed off by one of nature's numberless opportunities for death! Especially to an infant animal. What am I supposed to make of it?

We have now lost 6 grown birds, and 8 chicks. It is stressful and exhausting to me. I used to think (before I ever had animals) that I was supposed to keep them alive! But, now I find I don't have the power to do that! Just providing the necesseties of life is not enough. You have to anticipate many needs, and even then Chance seems to like to eat chicken!

I think that the death of my animals must not be a matter of moral right or wrong. My ignorance (not for lack of research, either!) has caused some deaths, one was accidentally dropped at a young age, some were killed by a dog, some were killed by other chickens, and some died of disease, one even died by drowning! While some of these causes are preventable, none of them is morally right or wrong!

I think that it is possible to sin, so to speak, against an animal by treating it wrongfully with malice or ill intent. But, I think it is not inhumane to raise animals for our own use- whether that be a work horse, a laying hen, a milk cow, or a beef steer- when we do what we can reasonably do to take care of them. Even killing a bird or horse to prevent its further suffering doesn't seem a matter of morality. How am I to know when a bird is past the possibility of recovering? Only experience seems to teach these things. Experience is spelled: Mistakes made with real live animals.

So, I'm tired. I believe our last newborn chick will die. It isn't because we didn't love it, feed it or water it. It is just going to die because I can't stop it from dying without putting it in my living room! And even then I can't stop if from dying! 3 of our lost chicks died while in my living room!

This morning we tried to save our last 2 newborn chicks from the larger chickens. One still died.

I can live with it, but I'm not used to it yet.

Our Room-mate, Edwin Parker

Royal and I err on the cautious side when it comes to personal information. We never give out our information (address, phone, SSN, etc) to the cashier, to sign up for coupons, etc. We never use our last name on this public blog- even the title is an acronym!

So, when I had the chance to put my name in the phone book, or pay $2 for privacy, I opted to list our number under the fictitious roommate Edwin Parker. His name shows up on caller ID when we call you, and telemarketers have his name sold to them by our phone company.

Today I got the first call for Edwin. Later, I had a chance to chat with Royal online for about 5 minutes. Part of our conversation follows.

ME: Hey, babe, how are you?I just registered us with donotcall.gov . I just got our first call for Edwin Parker.

I think next phone number we use, our fictitious roommate should have a celebrity name like, Tom Cruise. Or, Steve Jobs. Then, when they ask for them, we can at least laugh...

Royal: hey!

ME: How about Mashed Potato for a roommate
in the phone book

Royal: How about Ima Dummy?

ME: Great! I love it!
How bout: Iona Porsche
How about Iwana sellyousomething

Royal: Wiami aL Loser

ME: Willya Marryme

Royal: Stahp Colling

Royal: Ah this is fun
Gotta go and throw pizzas, though

Stink Eye

This is what Grampa Dan calls "Stink-eye"


And, here is Junior already picking it up:

Baby Love

I never felt this way about my babies before, but I think I'm in love! I just adore Jimmy. I still don't adore him as much as I adore his Dad, but I just adore him. I love holding him, touching him, kissing his soft, fat little cheeks, rubbing his fat little legs, smelling his greasy, balding head. I just love watching him. And the girls have got it, too! Whenever Little Jim is awake, they come running in, and with high-pitched voices and squeals of delight, they begin malling the poor dear. He is just the best sport about it, too! He loves all the attention. He smiles for them and stares with rapt attention for all their show.

Hatching Adventures part 4

Well, we got our little surviving brood out into the coop!!!!! And, a week later, they are all three still alive!!!
And, we are allowing our Banty hen to sit on a batch of mini eggs. But, this time, if she doesn't mother them, I'm afraid Mother Nature will have to. No more chicks in my living room!!!!