Time Out

I spent last weekend with female family members at Time Out For Women! Lucky! Last year my great friend, Brandi, invited me to go and we had such a good time that I wanted to take my whole family and go again this year. What this means is that I have been waiting for this for a whole year! I was so excited when it finally arrived. Can I tell you how easy it is to get packed and ready and go somewhere by myself? I kissed my kids goodbye and left them (even my infant son) in the very capable hands of their father and was off. This is a picture of my mom, sisters and I leaving my parents house for our girls-only weekend.

The first night of the event featured Chieko Okasaki and Hilary Weeks. Not a Hilary Weeks fan? Well, just invest in one of her CD's and you will be. She is fantastic. I fell in love at last year's Time Out and was so happy to see her again this year. This picture is of my adorable sisters and I.

Our whole clan laughed together and cried together. Pictured are two of my aunts with their daughters and daughters-in-law.

Saturday we got to hear from Mary Ellen Edmunds, Emily Watts, Jill Manning (wondering how to make sure your family is safe online? Check out her stuff at www.deseretbook.com/jill) and Emily Freeman. It was refreshing, uplifting, inspiring, encouraging...all the things a Time Out is supposed to be. Here's a group shot of us on our way out.

A few things I learned at Time Out: Being in a room with 3000 other Latter-Day Saint women makes you realize that no matter what you are going through, other women understand you. Women come in all different shapes and sizes, so I guess I'm ok. Olive Garden has whole wheat linguine (this, by the way, is fantastic news.) Being hooked to a breast pump for a good portion of time is not a lot of fun, and makes you feel somewhat bovine. Hotel pools sometimes close, destroying your plans to do water aerobics with your sisters. Music can evoke powerful emotions. Being alone in a car for several hours gives you a lot of time to think...which is a very good thing.

And where will I be a year from now? At Time Out For Women!

What Have I Done?

It happened. I finally caved to social pressure. And now I am filled with regret. I should have stuck to my guns. Marched to the beat of my own drum, but no, I didn't, and now my actions are irreversible. See, I am fully aware that Isaac's long locks were funny looking and crazy. That's the part I loved! Not everyone was in love, however. I frequently got comments like, "Wow! Look at that hair! When are you going to cut it?" So, cut it I did....

Now I hardly recognize my own child! He looks completely different! He looks older and chubbier. Even his eyes appear to be a different color since he is now a blonde. I cried big tears but it didn't help. Isaac's hair is gone forever.

Happy Haunting!

Our Happy Halloween began with the arrival of a spooky package in the mail filled with frights from Grandma. There was even a new toy for Isaac inside!

The package was complete with sugar cookie mix, frosting, sprinkles (the hit) and cookie cutters. We got right to work making our Halloween treats.

Next on the agenda was the local craft fair. Both Daisy and Levi's dance classes were invited to perform. Levi did a stellar job at his "Ghostbusters" routine. Even though it was his very first performance he was not scared at all.

Daisy's class performed a stunning number to "Purple People Eater" (What? Her horn didn't give it away?)

Before we knew it, it was time for Grandma's annual Halloween Party, and this year was better than ever complete with games and even a spook alley. Isaac won the best costume award as our little puppy (ok, there was no best costume award, but he was so cute!)

The older kids had a bit of costume schizophrenia throughout the Halloween holiday, but for Grandma's party, Levi settled on the purple dinosaur and Daisy was the ghost.

This is a shot of all the costumed cousins at the festivities, featuring the oldest grandchild holding the youngest.

There were two cool things about carving pumpkins this year: Grandpa and Grandma joined us and we grew all the pumpkins in our very own garden! Daisy carved hers all by herself and Levi was totally grossed out by the guts.

We met dad for dinner one night while he was studying late with some friends for midterms and ended up eating at Pirate Island almost by accident. If you are as unfortunate as we were until we happened upon this eating establishment, count yourself lucky that you now know of the coolest place to take your kids to eat! No more Chucky Cheese! Pirate Island was a dream come true complete with real pirates (I swear our waiter was Jack Sparrow himself) and great food. Highly recommended by the Dansie family. Located behind University Mall.

The next costuming took place for the carnival at Daisy's school, which we would have missed out on had it not been for Grandma calling and saving the day. It was the most well organized school carnival I have ever been to! The kids had a blast and it was super inexpensive. We're sold on the school carnival from here on out.

Our final Halloween event was the glorious trick-or-treating. Since my poor kids have a mom that is ANTI trunk-or-treat (don't get me started) they had to get their candy the old fashioned way...which they loved. Levi was totally in character as the coolest cowboy in the west. Daisy was delighted when he surrendered the ghost so she could be Casper again. All our festivities made for a super duper happy Halloween. Hope the same for you!

Stuck In An Elevator

I am in the process of exiting the restroom at the mall with my three children. Isaac is in the stroller and the restroom has double doors which requires some maneuvering. Levi is bouncing off the walls, tired of waiting. He runs ahead, then comes back. I scold him saying, "Stay right here!" Off he goes again. Daisy holds the door so the stroller containing Isaac and I can finally be set free from the bathroom. As we proceed down the hall I hear Levi scream, "MOM!" I round the corner just in time to see the elevator door close with my three-year-old inside. I find myself in panic mode. I am searching my mind frantically to know what to do. Levi is gone. I can't take the stroller on the escalator to go down and meet him. Will he be kidnapped? Will they call security? Will they call DCFS...'mother of three charged with neglect after three-year-old boy is found abandoned on department store elevator.' I can hear him screaming. His voice is faint and distant, but I can hear him. I conclude that I have to meet him at the bottom. I crouch down to look Daisy directly in the eye as I talk to her. I instruct her to sit on the chair with her hand on the stroller and to not let go or move no matter what. As I start off toward the escalator, Levi's screams become louder and I realize he is on his way back up the elevator. I turn around and the doors begin to open. He sees me and squeezes through. I pick him up as he reaches me. He wraps his arms around me and sobs, "mommy, mommy, mommy." He is trembling and holding me so tight that I am surprised at his strength. I am so thankful to be holding him in my arms, thankful enough that I decide not to injure him on the spot for causing me so much grief. On the drive home as I contemplate the evening's events it occurs to me that some of my emotions must have been similar to the Father of us all. He has given us the agency and ability to choose. As we make poor decisions He has to watch as we suffer the consequences. How He must rejoice when we come back to Him again. And yes, Levi and I have a long talk about listening when we get home.

Fall About You

Haven't seen one of these in a while....

1. Favorite season: summer

2. Favorite physical feature: yikes! do wrists count?

3. Chore you most detest: cleaning out closets/drawers. My kids grow out of their clothes too fast!

4. Color your hair regularly? no

5. Top item on your wish list: piano

6. Favorite way to 'scent' your house: plug-ins

7. What are you eating for dinner tonight? don't know yet...

8. Are your toenails painted? no

9. One thing you splurge on even if $ is tight: going to the movie!

10. Post the most recent photo of you

11. Tag 8 friends: Brandi, Jana, Christel, Lindsay, Rachel, Chelsea, Laci, Emily

Wallet Woes

If you recognize the big black rectangle in the photo it is a sign that you really know me. I got this wallet in the 8th grade. It has two zipper compartments. One is the wallet part, which has more than enough room for my coupons, checkbook, club cards, money, business cards, etc. The other compartment is one of those old school planners. You know, the kind where you write down your appointments on the dated calendar pages. Yeah, I almost have to special order the refills since nobody uses these dinosaurs anymore...except me. That's the section where my kids' photos live and where I have paper to write down everything I need to in a day, like how I want my meat cut at the deli counter, or a note to leave on the windshield of the lady I visit teach. This wallet is a monster. It doesn't fit in a purse. It is a purse. I love it. Here's the really bad news. My wallet died. The zipper finally broke to a point beyond repair.

Since a person cannot be without a wallet I went to the dreaded Wal-Mart and bought the biggest wallet I could find. It's an ugly sucker. And it's too small. It's a wrestling match to get my coupons out at the grocery store. I am accumulating coins because it is too complicated to fish them out and use them. I don't have any room for note paper! I'm soliciting advice. What do you carry all of your essentials in? How do you fit everything? Help!

Sisters in Zion

So, in case you didn't already know, I basically have the coolest family ever. Last weekend my sisters and mom came to visit. My youngest sister is getting married so Friday night her fiance came over and we were up till 1:00 in the morning talking and laughing in the midst of which I endured a hair styling session from Daisy. I don't think I've been up that late doing nothing since the old college days! Saturday morning we were off to do wedding shopping. Then, one of the best parts about going shopping with the girls: lunch! This day we chose Red Robin.


After lunch we dropped the kids off with Jeff, who was on campus studying, and headed to Temple Square for the General Relief Society Meeting. That's right, I scored us tickets and we all got to go together! This is us on our way in. Oh, and if you're wondering if we changed into dresses in the parking lot (you weren't wondering?) yes, we did.

...and on the way out. The meeting was fantastic. The choir was amazing live and each of the speakers was inspiring. Just being there with so many other women was inspiring. And yes, my sister is holding her blister-inflicting shoes.
And a GNO would not be complete (and neither would I) without Cold Stone. It was divine, celestial, heavenly, all the things ice cream on a spiritual night should be. I think ice cream by nature is spiritual...which is why my baby weight has now turned into Cold Stone weight.

I absolutely love spending time with my mom and sisters. I am a better person just by being with them.