The Picture Perfect American Housewife…

I am not.

June Cleaver – eat your heart out.  This is the way, I – a modern American housewife – do things.  I refuse to vacuum in heels and pearls. (and now that I think about it, I am highly suspect that you ever did either…)  And I’m going to now spill the beans…prepare to blush Ms. Cleaver – times have changed.

(Warning – this post is filled with sarcasm – Ammon’s been out of town all week, and Mommy needs a serious break…)

1. Sometimes instead of emptying the entire dishwasher before loading it again I’ll leave the silverware in there and just re-wash them.  I don’t know why we even have a silverware drawer anyway.  When it comes to looking for a fork or spoon in our house, instead of going to the silverware drawer the family always asks “Is the dishwasher Clean?” first.

2. I have been known, on occasion, to let my kids have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or even sometimes *gasp* cereal for dinner.  I even *let* them make it themselves.  They think its teaching them a valuable life skill (like how to survive on cheerios and peanut butter thru college) – in reality, mom did about 80 batches of laundry today, and cleaned up who knows what from under the beds and table and making dinner is the last thing I want to do.

3.  I admit it, I do use television from time to time as an escape clause.  Sometimes, mommy just needs a little break and if Dora can help me get that, then I’m okay with that.

4.  I wash the towels last on laundry day on purpose.  If that batch sits in the dryer for a week until the next laundry day – then nobody has to go to work or school wrinkled.  It’s diabolical I know.

5. I do have a candy stash, and I do know how to use it.  Either for a moment to myself or for bribery – that stash has saved me many days.

6. I have mopped the kitchen floor with two washrags under my feet – ice skating style.  We all do it.  (and if you didn’t before, you are thinking about doing it now…)

7.  I have hidden the batteries out of loud and obnoxious toys and told my children the toy broke.  Technically this is not lying.  It won’t work without the batteries.  Won’t work=broken, so there.

8.  When I clean out the fridge, instead of trying to wash some of those containers that hold mystery science experiments – I will just throw them away.  I discovered disposable GladWare about three years ago, and on days like this, it has become my new best friend.

9.  When unexpected company arrives – I have, on occasion – filled my oven, dryer and dishwasher with various things lying on the floor in the rooms in which my guest might visit.  The house looks clean, and nobody is the wiser – besides – what’s the chance that an unexpected guest might open a closet?  Pretty high --- but what are the chances they are going to open up the oven?

10. Finally, the real truth behind pizza night…much like number two above, however the clean up after pizza night is much, much less.  Pizza night cleanup involves picking up the box and throwing it away.  Cleaning up after kids making their own pb&j sandwiches?  Let’s just say it’s significantly more work.

The Widow

So today we are installing our stove from the other house - sale fell through so I went and got it -

Anyway…

We were banging on the counters and making a lot of noise and ruckus and suddenly this dead spider falls from under the cabinet onto the floor.

It's about the size of a silver dollar and black, and Ammon goes over and looks at it - it's a Black Widow!

So I say - at least it's dead right?

No worries.

We leave it there while we finish working on the stupid stove (which takes us about two more hours – honestly installing a stove should not be this hard)

Ammon goes into the family room to rest and watch some football (DA BEARS! – okay they weren’t on, but mention football, and this phrase is an automatic…but I digress…) and I go get a broom to clean it up.
IT HAS MOVED from it's spot on the floor.

I look down at the dumb thing

It's NOT dead.

It's VERY MUCH alive.

And it's looking at me like I'm lunch!

I yell at  to Ammon

IT’S NOT DEAD!!!

he says 'what’s not dead?"

THE SPIDER!
So he comes in, and of course I'm on top of the counter top
freaking out because I have no shoes on
and he comes in barefoot (we are really abiding by this “no shoes in the house” rule) and walks over to it -

and TOUCHES it!

The freakin' most deadliest spider in the world, and he's playing patty cake!

So he gets his shoes on and then a broom and sweeps it up - (of course it’s totally still alive right)
and goes and instead of putting it outside and killing it - (like a normal person)  he flushed it down the toilet!

STILL ALIVE!
Now, while I'm sure that flushing it killed it...and he did flush twice…I WILL NOT use that toilet any time soon!

I’ve seen horror movies, I know what could happen,  it could come right back up!

After all, it did play dead for two hours so who knows if it isn't laying in wait in there...

Fudgecicles

I’m sitting here eating a fudgecicle.  Okay, well I’m not eating it this moment, I was eating it and it got me thinking.

Most people think of fudgecicles as fantastic chocolate popcicles that you enjoyed as a child on a hot summer day.  Fudgecicles (and orangecicles for that matter) mean that to me, and so much more.

You see, my grandmother had a milk man.  A bone-fide brings milk-and-eggs-to-the-door-every-Tuesday milkman.  He worked for Cream-o-Weber in Orem, and every Tuesday like clockwork he came to her door and delivered her order.  During the summer he always delivered special treats for one of the two ginormous freezers that she kept outside on her porch.  Inside one of these two freezers (the one on the left, closer to the door) there was a shelf for us grandkids.  On that shelf - - - fudgecicles.  There were other things too, mind you – orangecicles, push-pops, choco-diles, strawberry crunch bars, chocolate crunch bars, ice cream sandwiches…you name it, she ordered it, and it was there for us kids to take (and we didn’t even have to ask).

Fudgecicles to me mean:

Hot summer days playing in the orchard.

Irrigation flooding and getting wet.

The giant walnut tree and picking up shells while Grandpa pulled the meat out of the nut.

Cousins, my sister and I walking to the school to play on the slides and swings.

Climbing the cherry tree, eating all the cherries, and then trying to explain to grandma why we were all sick (and not at all wanting dinner).

The mint patches behind the shed.

Drawing on the chalkboard, or painting on it with water and a paintbrush then watching our artwork dry and fade.

The button jar.

Grandpa “playing” solitaire at that old Formica kitchen table – and listening to the clickity clack of the cards on the top.

Home made fiddle-faddle.

Searching for “treasures” in Grandpa’s yard – which was oh-so-full of treasures.

Late night “parties” in the fifth wheel – eating the pink and blue candies and playing poker – thinking all the while we were getting away with something.

Grandma and Grandpa’s leather chairs.

That strange velvet painting over the couch.

Green and blue Christmas lights.

Windchimes

The doorbell that played 22 songs, but always seemed to be set on “Be it ever so humble….”

Aqua Velva.

The Willow Tree (strange how that one became a fond memory…)

Head Kerchiefs and driving pillows.

Fudgecicles to me, mean Grandma and Grandpa Hegarty, happiness and family.

How To Make “Taco Salad”

This is a family recipe, and by our family standards it’s the ONLY thing that passes for Taco Salad around here.  Here’s how I make it.  (seriously, this is really how it’s done…)

Ingredients:
 
1 lb ground beef
1 cut up onion (I use purple)
2 Medium tomatoes (your favorite kind)
1 can of red kidney beans
1 bag of “salad” (you know, the cut up lettuce with one or two pieces of shredded carrot in it)
1 bag of shredded cheese (yes, I said “bag” – no I don’t know how big.  Depends on how much you like cheese I guess)
1 avocado
1 bag Cool Ranch Doritos
Ranch Dressing
Catalina Dressing

Brown the ground beef in the pan.  Make sure to remove the soaker pad from under the meat, this salad has it’s own sources of fiber, you don’t need any additional.

If you don’t like raw onions, throw them in with the meat and cook them – if you do like raw onions, then skip this step.

While cooking the beef, open the can of kidney beans and rinse and drain them.  While doing this, explain to the kids that not all kidney beans are for Chili.  Yes, it’s okay to use them in other recipes. Really.

Dump the beans into a salad bowl.  Make sure it’s big enough to hold all the ingredients listed above.

Drain the beef and rinse it.  Use cold water.  Add the beef to the kidney beans in the salad bowl.  Explain to the kids that you are still not making chili.  Yes, I do know that is what it looks like.

Add the onions to the beef.  Explain to Jesse he can pick them out if he wants to.  Thank Elizabeth for telling you she’ll eat them because they are purple, and purple is her favorite color.

Go outside to see the “pyramid” the kids created in the back yard in the mud.

Come back inside.  Open the bag of lettuce and rinse it.  Add this to the bowl of beef and beans.

Explain to the kids that you know that there is no lettuce in Chili.

Open the bag of cheese and pour desired amount into the bowl.  Begin chopping the tomato while the husband pours the rest of the cheese into the bowl while you aren’t looking.

Put chopped up tomato into the bowl.  Discover that there isn’t enough room in the bowl and switch to a larger bowl that will surely hold the entire salad.

Cut up the avocado and toss with a little lemon juice to keep it from browning.  Tell the baby that lemon juice isn’t for drinking.  After arguing with her for five minutes give her a tiny bit to taste.  Realize that this was a bad idea – she actually likes lemon juice, and it didn’t teach her the lesson intended.

Toss the salad to combine all the ingredients in the bowl.

Crush the entire bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.  Be sure to open the bag before commencing crushing, if you forgot this step – take a few minutes to clean up all the doritios that spread themselves all over the floor.  Also, it is important to crush the entire bag.  This is important for leftovers.  I’ve found if you don’t crush the entire bag – kids and husbands tend to steal chips through out the night (after dinner) leaving you with none for your leftover salad tomorrow.

To Serve:
 
Give each person about a fist sized portion of the salad mixture.  Top with a handful of the crushed Doritos.  Top with equal parts Catalina (also known as Russian French dressing – but in our house, only Catalina will do) and Ranch dressing.

Explain to Jesse he can’t just have chips, he has to have salad too.

Watch Elizabeth eat the “purple” onions and then decide she doesn’t really like “purple” foods.

Give a prize to whatever family member finds the one piece of shredded carrot from the salad mix.

Enjoy!

This IS the Way That A Mommy Does things…

First – you are totally NOT allowed to make fun of the singing.

Second – enjoy (or not, just don’t tell me if you don’t – I have feelings too you know…)

The Way A Mommy Does Things

Wake up, make breakfast and then pack the lunches
Wake kids and find both their tooth and hair brushes.
Check twice to make sure their clothing is clean.
This is the way that a mommy does things.

Find socks and shoes and put lunches in backpacks
Find a permission slip due back last Monday.
Hurry and sign it and then off to school.
This is the way that a mommy does things.

Go home, do laundry then cheerios are swept up.
Emails and phone calls are done without makeup.
The baby starts crying, there's one more screaming.
This is the way that a mommy does things.

Missing Busses.  Dodging traffic.  Arriving ten minutes late.
It's amazing at this rate they learn anything!
I know mom did not  do things this way.

Pick up the kiddos and help them with homework
No baby ooooh put that down, please don't eat that!
Football and tball and dance and swimming -
This is the way that a mommy does things.

Get home take showers and then read a story
Oh by the way mom the bake sale is tomorrow
Please mommy can't I have just one more drink?
This is the way that a mommy does things.

The cookies are finished the muffins are cooling.
Check in on kiddos who are sweetly sleeping.
Kisses on foreheads and tucked tightly in.
This is the way that a mommy does things.

It may be work.  It might be hard.  But that's all okay.
Being a mommy is one of those things
That I would NEVER change!

Where Were You?

It was a gorgeous, bright Tuesday morning.

It was uncharacteristically warm for a Tuesday in September.  I remember this because we were actually awake and getting ready for school and work quite early.  We’d gotten up around six.  I had to be to work by eight.  Annie had to go to pre-school at eight thirty, and Ammon had class at around nine.

We always listen to the same morning crew.  Chunga and Mister in the morning on 107.5 theEnd.  I was taking my time getting ready.  Ammon was in the shower.  I was listening to the DJ’s banter back and forth about meaningless chatter.  Annie was still sleeping.

I wasn’t really paying attention to what the DJ’s were talking about.  They tease each other and joke all the time.  They were famous for playing practical jokes on one another.  I hear Chunga say “No way Mister, you are pulling my leg”. Followed by Mister - “Seriously, a plane just crashed into the World Trade Center Towers”.

6:51 AM – Mountain Standard Time.

At this time nobody knew it was a jetliner.  Most assumed it was a single engine Cessna or something similar.  The DJ’s still bickered about whether or not this really happened.

I go tell Ammon in the shower - “A Plane just hit the World Trade Center in New York.”  “No Way…” “Yes, they think it was a small commuter plane.”

Ammon gets out of the shower, and gets dressed. We wake Annie and get her eating some cereal.  And head downstairs to flip on the TV.

7:02 AM – Mountain Standard Time.

It’s the only thing on the news.  This gigantic steel tower standing next to it’s perfect twin – billowing huge plumes of smoke.  Theres no way with that amount of smoke and damage that it was a Cessna.

Oh. My. Did. That. Just. Happen.

7:03 AM – Mountain Standard Time.

The second plane hits.

This is no joke.  This is not an isolated accident.

We sit glued to the television for another twenty minutes.  We watch the second plane hit over-and-over-and-over again.  It’s terrifying.  It’s horrible.  And yet, we can’t pull away from it.  We sit there wishing that somehow, on this next replay, it won’t happen again.

But it does.

I pull away.  I head to work.  I have to go to work.

Ammon says he’ll take Annie to school on his way to class.  I hug them both tightly and leave for work.

7:30 AM Mountain Standard Time.

There is nothing else on the radio.  Everything is moving in slow motion.  Everyone on their way to work is in the same sense of disbelief and utter shock that I am.  I can see it on their faces.

7:45 AM Mountain Standard Time

I get to work, and not surprisingly – everyone is glued to their computers – all on CNN or FOX or HLN – or whatever news site they can get to load.  Internet traffic is completely bogged down.  The internet frequently crashes due to server overload – and it’s like we’ve been cut off from the world. We have no television at work and we all need to stay tuned as this unfolds.  We have clients in NY.  One in the Twin Towers.  We start frantically making calls. All Circuits are Busy.

Ammon calls.

7:52 AM Mountain Standard Time

The Pentagon has been hit.

He and Annie stay home that day.  He can’t bring himself to go to school.  He spends the rest of the day glued to the coverage.

Rumors start swirling about other planes headed to the White House, but don’t worry the President is Safe – Sears Tower, Prudential building.  Anything can be a target.  All the planes are grounded.

Nobody is going anywhere.

Dad.

Where’s my Dad?

I call Mom.

Dad’s okay.  He’s in Sierra Vista, Arizona – it’s a training something or other.  I don’t really hear everything.  Just that Dad is okay.  Brothers are okay.  Everyone is accounted for.  Dad is stuck in Arizona though because all flights have been grounded.  They are looking for alternate ways home.
Mom asks me to call my sisters and let them know Dad is fine.  Brothers are fine.  Okay, I can do that.

I call Amy, she’s heard.  She’s grateful for the news.  Janene also has heard.  She’s also grateful for the news.  I call Heather.  She’s a paramedic and works nights.  She hasn’t heard yet.  I have to tell my sister this horrible, horrible news.  She gets up and flips on the TV.

8:10 AM Mountain Standard Time

A plane crashes in Pennsylvania.  This flight will later be known as the flight of heroes.  This is the one where the passengers fought back, and saved who knows how many countless lives by paying with their own.

Let’s Roll.

8:30 AM Mountain Standard Time

The Towers fall.  Straight down.  The whirl of dust and paper and debris fills the streets of Manhattan.  People walking out of the destruction look as though they have taken a roll in a coal pile – like we used to do as kids at Grandma and Grandpa Hegarty’s house.  This however, does not seem as though it’s going to be as fond of a memory.

The days following this day were a blur.  I remember leaving work early that day.  We shut down, nobody could do anything to concentrate.  I remember the skies being eerily quiet.  And it was also so bright and clear.  It was almost surreal just how bright and clear and sunny everything was in those following days.

The Flags.  There were so many flags.

The scouts from our Ward and many other Wards across the state of Utah (and I’d imagine elsewhere) put flags on tall white flag poles in everyone’s front yards.  Flags are draped across buildings.  The bank tower in Salt Lake City has a flag that covers the entire front of the building.  Businesses put them up in their windows.  Ribbons are tied around trees and line streets.  It really is a beautiful thing to see.  Almost like a Norman Rockwell Painting.

For the first time in many years, our entire country united together and supported one another.  I don’t remember hearing of any crimes committed by our fellow American neighbors on the news.  I don’t recall any name calling, back biting or politics as usual.  For those first few days – America was in mourning.  Nothing seemed quite as important as loving our families, supporting our friends and enjoying time with our neighbors.

In the weeks and months following things returned to business as usual.  People talked about banning all the coverage as it was too painful to see.  Politicians started trying to place blame.  War was declared.

But -

Music was written.  People came together to celebrate life.  The famous Field of Flags in Utah was born.  Monuments erected.  Survivors found in the rubble of the towers a week after the incident.  So many miracles.  So many wonderful things to hold on to.

We found out we were expecting a baby.  Our own little miracle.

The country started to heal.  But nobody can ever forget.

I’ll never forget where I was.  I’ll never forget what I felt that day and in the days following.  We have to always remember.

LUNCHABLES!!!!

Yet another day starts with yet another Jesse story…(Janice knows what that means).

We woke up this morning relatively early (and ON TIME for once LOL), and had everyone fed and ready for school by 7 AM.  This is actually fantastic, considering we need to be out of the house by 7 in order for the kids to make the first bus to the school.

Since Daddy is out of town, I had purchased a special treat for the kids’ lunches yesterday – they actually got Lunchables in their boxes (along with some extra snacks because we all know that a Lunchable is no where near an actual lunch).  Anyway, Jesse apparently expected the same today, and when he opened up his lunch box to survey his haul for the day he suddenly became very upset. 
“Moooooommmmm…I want Lunchables!”

“No Jesse – that was a super special treat for yesterday.”

“Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!”

No big fit, no fussing, just “awwwwww..”, okay, I can deal with this – off we go - everyone in the truck, everyone happy.  Good deal.  Going to school.

Arrive at school 7:10 AM, on time – again.  Perfect.  C’mon everyone, out of the truck.

“BUT I WANT LUNCHABLES!!!!”

What?

Jesse, c’mon let’s get out of the truck, you need to go to school.

“I don’t want to go to school, I want LUNCHABLES!”

Please tell me we aren’t really doing this.

“We aren’t having Lunchables today Jesse.  You can have one when you get home but not right now, I don’t even have one with me.  C’mon buddy, let’s go.”

“No.  LUNCHABLES”.

Crap

Okay the girls get up and run to their bus staging area.  I inform Jesse that he needs to get out of the car – we have to go to school.

7:17.

LUNCHABLES!!!!

urrrrrg.

“Jesse, we need to go to school.  Do you want to go to school, or do you want to go home and go back to bed?”

“Lunchables.  Lunchables. Lunchables.”

Yea, I get it, you want Lunchables.  It ain’t happening.

7:25

I take the truck over to the other entrance of the school.  This is where the kindergarten entrance is.  Mr. Travis (he’s an aide) sees me.

“What’s up?”

“Jesse won’t get out of the car.”  Yea, that makes me sound like an experienced mother of five doesn’t it?

“Mind if I try?”

Go for it – he’ll listen to anyone other than me.  He tries.  Jesse loves this guy.  He won’t even talk to him.  Mr. Travis even tries to convince Elizabeth she can go to school in Jesse’s place.  Not a chance.

“Lunchables”

Oh boy.  Yes, my son won’t go to school because I didn’t pack his lunch of choice. (Again, I’m going  for Mother of the year here.)


I tell Jesse that we are going home.  I’m hot, (it’s already 88 degrees this morning), and I’m tired.  I’m not doing this anymore.

7:37

I walk in the building to let Miss Beasley and Miss Theresa know that Jesse will not be coming to school today.  Miss Beasley sees me…

“Jesse refuses to get out of the car.”

“Let me try”  yea, sure, go for it.  Why not.

“Jesse – if you come in you can pass out the spiderman stickers, and be my super big classroom helper…”

“Lunchables.”

Yep, that worked.

Okay, I’m going home.  Forget this.  School starts in five minutes anyway, and I’m not going to disturb the rest of the classroom with this odd behavior.  Home we go.

In the car.  7:58

“Jesse, we are almost home.  I need you to know this – you will not watch TV, play on the computer, play games, or do anything fun.  You are coming home and going to your room.  This is your last chance.  You can go home, and have no fun at all – or go to school and have fun.”

“Watching TV isn’t fun mom, you can let me do that”.

Seriously?  This kid is going to be a politician.

“Nope Jesse.  No TV.”

“Mommmmmmy….I want to go to school.”

I don’t know that I call this a victory or not, but I also didn’t know that my truck could make UTurns that quickly (or precisely).

We got to school, and I took Jesse into the classroom.  Miss Beasley had all the kids sitting on the floor for circle time...

“Look everyone – Jesse’s Here!  We are so glad to see you!  Everyone take a picture of Jesse”….
Ok, this is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.  Twenty kids turn around and fashion their hands like cameras…and I hear them all say “Click click click….”  Followed by “You are Lookin’ Goooood!”
Cute kids.  Almost made me forget my last hour.

8:14

Back in the truck, on the way home – Jesse is at school, and all is right with the world.
“Mommy, when we get home can I have a Lunchables??”

What A Glamorous Life!

Typically in the mornings – since I work from home – I will take a little time to make myself somewhat presentable to the outside world.  It isn’t that I have to – I’m not headed into an office or anything – it’s that I feel as though it makes me a little more productive in my day to get up and get dressed for work.

There are days, however, where I will get up in the morning and instead of preparing myself for a work day, I clean.  I clean the house, do the laundry, mop – you know, the dirty work that seems to fall on every stay at home professional’s shoulders (whether we like it or not).

I was in cleaning the bathroom when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror….I’m going to share this photo with you – but be warned, it isn’t pretty.




The hair was at one point in a pony tail BEHIND my head, and all of it was neatly tucked in.  Really, I swear, this photo was not doctored in any way – this is really what I saw in the mirror.

It occurred to me.  Working from home may not be glamorous – not that many people think it is… but what boss in their right mind would let me show up for work dressed like this?

I love my job.

Because she’s a princess!

As a mom I’m constantly learning new things from my children.  Amazing things.  For instance, did you know that a little boy with four sisters can scream almost as loudly, if not louder than the four of them combined?  Or, that one little egg full of silly putty can cover an entire carpeted area in a 10x15 foot room?  I have honestly learned so much from my little angels – patience, understanding, sense of humor…

I marvel at the way their minds work, and how they are constantly in awe of the world around them.  They are inspiring and wonderful, and from time to time something one of them will say will humble me and make me so very grateful that I am blessed to have them in my life.  Elizabeth said something today that did just that.

For those that don’t know, Elizabeth had a terrible injury on our last day of our trip to Utah.  Her hand was caught in a folding chair that snapped closed, and gory details aside – it’s been bandaged and wrapped up now for a few weeks.  Because the injury was caused by her siblings rough housing with her, Daddy made a proclamation that Elizabeth was now a princess – and no matter what she wanted, the other children had to obey her.  Of course she enjoys being a princess, and I don’t really see this ending anytime soon.

Last night, as we were changing her bandages and putting on the “magic princess lotion” (polysporin), Ammon was trying to distract her with conversation.  He asked her, “Lizzie, how does your finger feel?”  She said “Um” (because every statement she makes starts with “um” lately) “It still hurts, but it’s getting better.”   So Ammon says - “I know, the doctor gave mommy the magic princess lotion and it’s working isn’t it?”  Her reply?
“um, the princess lotion helps, but Jesus is making it better”.
Ok… I know we’ve taught her about healing the blind man, and how Jesus loves children, but this was a random time to bring it up – and completely un-prompted.

“Jesus is making it better Lizzie?”

“Um, yes.   I went to his house and he said he’d make it better”.

While we were in Utah we went to the Daybreak Temple open House – could this be what she meant?  We’ve taught her that the Temple is Heavenly Father and Jesus’ house.
“You mean the Temple Lizzie?”

  “Um, no.  He took me to his house when I was sleeping.  He let me come because I’m a princess.”

“And he said he’d make it all better?”

“Um, yes.”

“Can I go to His house too Lizzie?”

“Um, yes – my whole family can.  We are all His princesses.  Except Daddy and Jesse.  They can still come, but they are boys not Princesses."

“So boys can go to Jesus’ house too?”

“Um, yes.”

“That’s pretty cool Lizzie”

“Um, yep.”

I know that they say children are closer to Him because they are still so innocent.  She’s only 3 so she’s definitely still as innocent and pure as the day she was born.   I love how she is able to put things into very simple, basic terms.  Her understanding of the Gospel – at her level, so simple and yet so perfect.  “We are all his princesses” – and yes we are in a sense aren’t we?  I know that we all struggle from time to time with faith, security, etc.  But Lizzie doesn’t.  It’s just natural to her.  Just one more thing my children have taught me – Faith doesn’t have to be difficult.  It just IS.

Things I know...

1. If there are Crayons in the house, there will be drawing on the walls. No matter how well you think those Crayons are hidden.

2. Carpet really does lower the volume level in a household. Tile, wood floors, cement, and vinyl flooring just cause a whole lot of echo.

3. Kids are very resourceful. A chair stacked with books, pillows, and a few other household items is the perfect stepping-stool for the cookie jar.

4. There will always be in every store, every restaurant, every park, and every public place, a mother who is having a difficult day with her children. Show her some sympathy, you have been or will be there someday too.

5. Hugs heal boo boos. Not just kid boo boos, but mommy ones too.

6. No matter how much work I have to do with the house, or my job, I always have time for a game of Cars with Jesse, Blocks with Elizabeth, Snuggling with Alison, Crafts with Annie, or Story Time with Becky.

7. A six- year - old has a lot more to say than one might think. Especially a six - year - old girl, named Becky.


8. I don't like buttered popcorn. Used to, but don't now. Yes, I know why, don't ask.

9. My little boy can sleep anywhere.

10. Don't ever tell a child about an upcoming exciting event too far in advance, unless you are prepared for a minute by minute countdown.

11. Target is Dangerous. Even more so with a Target-issued credit card.

12. I will never go to Wal-mart again. Never. Ok, well not to the one on 35th avenue and Southern anyway.

13. Airport food costs way too much, and tastes way too little.

14. You will always find the thing you are looking for, once you replace it.

15. You will never find the thing you are looking for if you ask your six-year-old to help find it.

16. Laundry multiplies in the hamper, and disappears in the dryer

25 Random Things

This is a facebook note that's going around, but I figured - Since Jill told me I needed to post more, I'd post it here too. Enjoy!

1) I cry at sappy tv shows, movies, songs on the radio and AT&T commercials.
2) I eventually would like to get my nursing degree.
3) Without my contacts I'm legally blind, with my contacts I still can't see at night.

4) I really enjoy watching black and white movies - my favorite at the moment is "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town".
5) My favorite fast food meal is a regular cheeseburger and a soft serve ice cream from McDonalds.
6) I think there is something inherently wrong with Wendy's new "Vanilla" frosty. Frosty's are chocolate. That's it.

7) The only one that truly gets my sense of humor is my dad.
8) I hate computer and video games, but harbor a secret love for race-car games (BurnOut anyone?)
9) I fell in love with my husband the night he gave me our first kiss - on the cheek, for my 17th birthday.
10) My sisters and I don't get together often, but when we do, we get laughing so hard our sides hurt.

11) My mother has an incredible talent for gardening. Me - not so much.
12) I don't like cake.
13) Historical documentaries, true life crime detective shows, and food network are my favorite things to watch.
14) I would love to one day travel to Europe, as long as I can get there without having to fly there.
15) My husband and I really enjoy the show "kitchen nightmares" It reminds us why we don't go out to eat.
16) I'm a really good cook. Don't ask me to barbecue - that's Ammon's job.

17) I just got a new camera and I'm addicted to taking pictures with it. It's too much fun.
18) I love Football. Professional and College - Bears and BYU. (and the Cardinals, of Course - as long as they aren't playing the Bears).
19) Secretly, I'd love to have a ShamWow, Aquaglobes, and Mighty Putty.

20) I'm addicted to JewelryTelevision.com - not to buy, just to browse.
21) When I drive my truck I feel big and tall. That's why I like to drive it. That and it's fun.
22) I love my job. I'm not just saying that either, I really do.
23) My sisters all inspire me in one way or another.
24) I really, really, really dislike rap music. I'm sorry, I just can't do it.
25) there is honestly not one more witty or creative thing I can say. This is odd, I'm rarely at a loss for words.