FeedBack

The big, annual primary program for the ward has come and gone. I am breathing a sigh of relief that it seems to have gone well.

For a twist this year, I solicited feedback from the congregation. They were asked to write their comments on a form included in their program. My intention was to read the appreciative comments as part of primary sharing time. The following portions of feedback notes were not included on Sunday -- but were so enjoyable I'll share them here:

"I thought it was great too, but I would have enjoyed it more if you would have had refreshments and ironed my shirt!" -- D. Henry

"Wow! The 9th ward primary has, like, the hottest 1st councilor ever!" -- Anonymous?

"Make the lady with blonde hair move - I couldn't see Emma" -- Anonymous (aka my mom)

And my favorite message, written in it's entirety:

"The program so far is pretty good but I can't help noticing that there has not been enough Damon D. (he is so funny and spiritual). I am hoping by the end he will have spoken -- written @ 1:50pm

D&C Section 4 was good / Called to Serve even better! -- still no Damon. . . . concerned

The YW performance - WOW! -- A+

Sunbeams were flat on their song. It sounded as if they just spoke it -- C-

Ethan Vincent - Nepotism -- Damon could have sang that

Maybe next year there will be more Damon"

Signed, Pres Henry

Is Your Dad A Terrorist?

Been wondering how to get a girl when you're in Junior High?

Simple!

Use any of these effective pick up lines. They are being used, even as we speak, in Junior High. They're enough to flatter your mothers as well.

• Do you work at McDonald’s? Cuz I’m Lovin’ It
• Can I have your picture so I can tell Santa exactly what I want for Christmas?
• If you were a Pokemon, I’d choose you
• Are you tired? Cuz you’ve been running through my mind all day long
• I have my library card, so can I check you out?

And my Personal Favorite

Is your dad a terrorist?

Cuz you’re the bomb

Favorite Things Swap

So, in an effort to reach out and make new friends, I signed up over at Because Wendi Said So! for her Favorite Things Swap.

I have shipped my gift off - and probably in true Wendy fashion, it's been lost/misplaced/waylaid.

However, my gift came to me without any hiccups. (Just doesn't seem fair . . . ) Anyway, Heather over at Adcock Circus sent me a really wonderful swap gift.

The gift was warmly received -- as Emma kissed the USPS box.

Inside, a festival of color -- which was broken into immediately after this photo.

The mother-lode. My swap partner is a much classier lady than I am. Heather belongs to the Junior League in her area and included a really great recipe book, cookie cutters and beautiful napkins. She tells me that "anything tastes great when you have a fun napkin". (That will be helpful for the Little Caesar's pizza party I've planned for 100 kids later today)

There is also a rose spa package in here from her favorite local spa in North Carolina , a candle and adorable magnets (as a note, she collects bees and pineapples -- we don't have a lot of pineapples in Utah, but Utah is The BEE capital! )

Thanks so much for the gift Heather - I hope yours shows up soon, otherwise I'll resend on Monday. And thanks, Wendi, for a great idea!

Foto Flashback

Emma knelt for prayers last night with Jeff and I by her side.

How dear, how precious!

She thanked Heavenly Father for the important parts of her day.

* soccer * family * Harts * the coffee store *

~~~~ The Coffee Store??!?! ~~~~

Jeff shoots a look over Emma's head to me.

A look that says, "you've got some 'splaining' to do Lucy"

~~~~ The COPY Store ~~~~

I explain later.

Change of Underwear

So, Marivic over at Grumpy Angel mentioned something about changing your blog as often as you change your underwear.

I FREAKED when she brought this up. Heaven forbid you all think I don't change my underwear everyday because my blog has been the same for the past 6 months. I got so hot and bothered thinking about all of you, thinking about me and my underwear . . . that I changed my blog (and my underwear).

The struggle to change this blog looks like the struggle Emma has trying to put her own underwear on.

First a leg gets caught, then you put them on inside out, then you throw them across the room and cry. Next, you try again and put them on backwards. Finally, you twist and tweak enough they they are on right. But is this really the pair you want to be wearing?

Marivic has a self-confessed, granny panties blog right now. My blog reminds me of something from Victoria's Secret. There may be more changes on the way.

Chicken Way Out

We all say that we want to know if our child is misbehaving. We ask our friends to please let us know if our kid does something naughty. But it really is hard to call a friend and tell them their kid is going off the deep end. So, because I'm feeling chicken-hearted I'm just going to write the mother a letter, here on my blog. Maybe she'll see it, maybe it'll help. (doubt it)

Dear Somewhat-Distant-Friend and Parent-of-Naughty-8th-Grader:

I thought you'd like to know that your child has been rather naughty lately. My son, and a few of his friends, have brought home a continual string of stories regarding your child. I know that if it were my son, I'd want to know. So, I am writing you this letter, hoping you'll see it and intuitively guess it's your child I'm writing about.

Primarily I am noticing a swearing trend at school. I understand the 8th graders penchant for trying out new vocabulary, but the standard use of the F-Bomb is over the top. In addition to the F-Bomb your child has created an ingenious hand shake. My own son thinks the initial start of the shake is creative and cool, but the ending flipping of the bird is perhaps inappropriate.

Finally, I know that as a parent I would want to make sure I knew if my 13 year old child had a Facebook account. Also, I'd want to know that my child was smart enough to know how to cheat the Jr. High's system of flex time. Basically your child is the equivalent of a street seller with goods stocked up in his overcoat pockets.

I'm sure the rest of what I'm hearing is just rumor and perhaps what I've heard already is just rumor. Maybe the unfathomable thought that your kid is struggling and that my child could be the next to struggle keeps me from telling you directly. Perhaps it's also that maybe you already know, and that like the rest of us - you'd have no way to control what a 13 year old is doing 24 hours a day. And that by telling you, maybe I'd be breaking your already crumbling heart.

Wishing I knew what to do,

Wendy


P.S. Any suggestions?

My Greatest Fear

The following is an essay that Ethan wrote for school last week.

My Greatest Fear

My fear is pretty weird, so don’t laugh at me. I’m afraid of romance movies! I know I’m crazy. Romance movies are super scary for several reasons.

The first reason I fear romance movies is because I hate the long, gross, dramatic kissing scene! I mean, it is so gross. There’s always some reason they do it. Sometimes they have no reason at all.

Romance movies have no action. I mean, they have none! Action is the whole reason I watch movies. I think only adults watch romance movies.

Romance movies should be called chick flicks because only girls watch them. I won’t ever watch a chick flick, ever.

I have heard of stranger fears than romance movies. I have other fears, but this is my biggest.
--------------------------------------------

I guess from now on I'll be checking under Emma's bed for monsters and Ethan's bed for romance movies.

Marriage Relations, Part II - The Application

Well! How did we all do with the test? Did you get the right number of passes? Did you see the kid in the gorilla suit?

Jeff passed this on to me after he took the 'test' and did NOT see the gorilla. I, however, did see the monkey.

Does this make me superior in our marriage relationship? YES No. What it does mean is the following:

1. If Jeff is relaxing, watching t.v. and the kids are running around wild and half naked -- I now believe him when he says he didn't notice.

2. When I ask Jeff to do the dishes and he does them while stepping over a piece of garbage on the floor -- I now realize that he can only tune into one task at a time and doesn't see the garbage.

3. If you are the type of person who see's gorillas and are married to someone who doesn't, you can probably expect a few arguments.

Come on, tell me if you saw the gorilla? Did your spouse?

Marriage Relations, Part I - The Test

I am not putting myself out there as a leader in marriage relationships. But Jeff and I have accepted a fundamental part of who we are. It helps us define our relationship.

I want to share this concept with you in a two-part blog. This first part is the test. Please take the test (include your spouse if at all possible) and we'll discuss more tomorrow. Have Fun!

The Knack

We have a certain level of "Geekiness" here at our house. Jeff does bring in more than his fair share of it. I'm not without my own level of geekiness too. However, Jeff may have inspired the following:



Did I mention we're hosting the HAM radio club at our house next Sunday?

(Disclaimer: It was Jeff, himself, who pointed out this little gem of a clip. He's not without a knowledge of what he's like -- and gosh darn it! I love him for all of it)

How I Spent My Weekend

My 100 Word Essay on How I Spent My Weekend

Saturday was the Heritage Festival. The Arts Commission sponsored a community art project. We are making a viking ship from wood pieces that have community member's names translated into viking Runes on it. (There's also one with the word "Sex" translated on to it ~ NOT my doing!) The Arts Commission also sponsored a Quick Draw Auction with 7 highly talented artists. I managed to work myself into two of the art pieces. One was drawn as a representation of the Heritage Festival and sold for $45 (Sorry no picture of that particular art piece that features me in my ball cap). The other art piece I paid Anthony Holden $10 to create.

Finally, I spent the lovely day constantly checking on my BYU Brothers as they stomped UCLA 59-0!

(100 words does NOT include writing within paranthesis)

The Parable of the Bike

I know there's a parable about a bike out there. I think it has to do with forgiveness, atonement, pure love. I have a different parable about a bike. It goes something like this:
------------------------------------

A kind and loving father bought a bike for his daughter.

The daughter was thrilled with the kindness and generosity of her father.

She wanted to ride the beautiful new bike all the time.

But daddy wasn't there to help her learn how to push the pedals, how to buckle the helmet on.

The daughter was so upset and so desperate to ride the new bike she asked her mother to help.

Mother said if I have to ok.

Mother buckled on the helmet, mother showed (repeatedly) how to move the pedals, mother ran up and down the sidewalk, mother started to shout how to move the pedals, mother put the helmet on and off a million times, mother was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Mother is not talking to father and doesn't want to see the bike for a long time.

Daughter is still gosh darn excited about the bike and is pretty cute on it

Flag Pride

Josh got up at 6am this morning to make sure flags were put up in the area. I was so proud of him getting up and doing this. Flying the flag today is what I needed ~ to feel that pride, to quiet the lasting fears since 2001.

I have friends who have made beautiful expressions regarding Patriot Day, please check them out:

• Life on Celestial Circle
• Happy Meals and Happy Hour
• AirMan Mom

ABC Order

I just received my ABC Distributing catalog in the mail ~ and I'm ready to place an order. But I thought maybe all you might want to go in on my order to help cut the cost of shipping. Here's what I'm ordering ~ just leave me a message letting me know if you want to add to it.

(Sorry no photos of what I'm ordering ABC doesn't like their copyrighted items lifted from their webpage . . . . . just click through to see what I'm getting)

1. I realize that there's not a whole lot of need for everyone to get this -- but I am getting one for Kim's grave site. It should fit her own Dr. Pepper soda, or if she's feeling neighborly she'll let the guy buried next to her leave his soda there. I think the glow in the dark feature will be nice in the cemetary. And as I've mentioned before -- Kim's sense of humor would love this! Memorial Bench
2. I have several people on my gift list for this next item. I know after checking them all out, you'll probably want several to give away too. I see someone mocking my Stay At Home-ness receiving the Motivation Mug
3. Hooray! Jeff will now let me get a dog ~ as long as I buy this first. Then again, maybe I'll get them for my kids. Remote Control
4. More Three Legged Underwear
5. Lastly, for my work station and for Jeff at work there's this great office supply item. Don't miss the paper clip storage feature on this Butt Station

Can't wait to get this order placed! I'm thinking of adding more to my order so I can get my Christmas shopping done early this year.

Pensieve

I love to read ~ give me a good book and I can go 24/7 just reading. Instead of telling you my all time favorite book or author. I want to tell you my all time favorite thing from a book. It's the one thing I wish were real, the thing I wish I owned:

A Pensieve, from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

A Pensieve is a stone bowl that can contain memories and thoughts. When your mind gets too full, you can put your thoughts in the Pensieve. A Pensieve can also hold the thoughts and memories of others. And the best part of a Pensieve is that when you choose to look at the memories, they are shown to you in third-person point of view ~ an omniscient point of view.

I frequently revisit, in my limited and 'ocupado' mind, things from the past. I wonder if the words I said to a friend were misspoken, I spend time trying to recall words and faces of friends and family, I think of my struggles and wonder if I saw the situation correctly.

I want to throw all these memories and thoughts into a Pensieve -- I want to see them all from a bigger perspective and understand them. I want to see them from an omniscient point of view.

But since I've checked EBay a million times for a Pensieve - I guess I have to just rely on my own memory keeping ability. Which we all know - is pathetic. (I would go run errands now, if only I remember what I did with my car keys.)

Out of Place

I've been feeling a little Out of Place lately. I'm having trouble creating a little niche for myself. I guess this is my problem:

You Belong in 1972

Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Where's a time machine when I need one?

Let's Have A Rally

Apparently I'm a sucker for a rally.

I was flipping channels last night and I stopped at the Republican National Rally Convention. I only meant to tarry a moment, but Sarah Palin had just begun speaking, the crowd was cheering and clapping and at some points chanting . . . and I was SUCKED IN!

I've never been to a rallying event, where people are all keyed up and excited. The closest thing I've seen like that is a Sunday where the high council is NOT speaking in church. Really, the majority of my gatherings are low-key affairs, that frankly are on the brink of boring me to death.

But watching this televised rally just got me going! I actually clapped - and laughed, and I might have chanted (more likely it was me repeatedly telling the kids to go to bed). I know for sure that somewhere in the euphoria of the evening I agreed to purchase $40 worth of items from Ethan's latest book order.

How do I get a ticket to the next rally?

Ocupado

Hang the "Ocupado" sign from my head - because there just isn't enough operating room inside my brain!

I have so many different, little (okay, some big), naggy things going on in my brain that I have now succumbed to a new level of forgetfulness.

Twice in the past week I have left my car parked somewhere and have returned to find that I left car 'thoughtfully' running for me. Yup, went into Wal-Mart - came back out to find I'd left the keys in the ignition and the car still running. Nope, didn't leave a single adult (or child) in the car while I went shopping. And I did it again the other day in front of my house. I sent Melanie out to get something from my car - and there the van sat with the engine running.

My husband will kill me when he reads this, but it all goes to say that I'm processing too much info in my brain and it's filled to capacity and can't process whether I get out of a running vehicle or not.

School Zone

Lest you think I'm a bad mother I am providing proof that I have sent my kids back-to-school. Josh and Ethan's first day of school was spent at the funeral - so, no pictures. But today was Emma's first day of Pre-School and there were certainly photos being taken!

I'm gonna miss my little shopping buddy this morning! Then again, maybe it'll be a little easier running the errands. All last week I would tell Emma to "hustle" as we would make it in and out of the car. She would continue to stroll casually to and from the car and would even start to whistle. Slow witted mother that I am, I didn't realize until the end of the week that Emma thought I kept telling her to "whistle" and not "hustle". Imagine the stress she's been under this week to learn to whistle!

High School Tag

Yes - for the most part, I tagged myself again. Grumpy Angel did this on her site and I really enjoyed reading her answers since she didn't attend a traditional High School. I, on the other hand, did. This should make clear why I'm only lurking on my 20th reunion group and not planning on attending the reunion next year:

1. Did you date someone from your school?
Yes, and for a very large part of my high school career. It didn't end pretty. I do not want to see him and thus I don't want to go to the reunion -- (This is why I drive VERY safely in Sandy and do not get involved in fires of any kind there either. Fire Dept Chief = ex-boyfriend)

2. What kind of car did you drive?
I drove my parents old blue Chevy Truck - which I shared with two other siblings. Quick note: You can not drive between the gas pumps at 7-11 in a blue Chevy Truck.

3. Were you a party animal?
You have to go to a party to be one of these, right? So, the answer is maybe. I did go to an all-night "Anne of Green Gables" party with my girlfriends. Does that count?

4. Were you considered a flirt?
I'd have to say - not a flirt. Maybe just a bimbo -- anyone who spends their high school career making out in the halls is probably a bimbo. Of course, being a bimbo doesn't really jive with my answers in question #3.

5. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir?
Kinda -- I was a flag twirler. (I heard all those gasps! Please don't log off now -- I'm a good person, really!)

6. Were you a nerd?
Considering my last answer - yes. I 'lettered' in academics too.

7. Were you on any varsity teams?
Surprisingly - yes. I was a nerd, bimbo and a Varsity Basketball starter. I'm thinking I might have multiple personality disorder.

8. Did you get suspended/expelled?
That was third grade

9. Can you still sing the fight song?
Yup! "Jordan High School students are we. Seeking knowledge ever will be. Our lives to improve we shall try. Dear old Jordan High . . . ."

10. Who were your favorite teachers?
Not the lisping Mr. Rasmussen and not the graphic Vietnam Vet History teacher. The others are mostly a blur

11. Where did you sit during lunch?
In the lunchroom with my little group of peeps.

12. What was your school's full name?
Jordan High School

13. School mascot?
Beetdiggers! Man, I have some serious school pride at being a Beetdigger!

14. If you could go back and do it again, would you?
No way!

15. What do you remember most about graduation?
That I had to sit next to Todd Meacham - it was geek sitting next to school God, awkward! Also remember kissing Jeff in front of my parents - surprise mom and dad!

16. Where did you go senior skip day?
Lagoon - Where Jeff and I had our first kiss. And then I backed mom and dad's car (not the truck) into another car. This will come as a surprise to mom and dad should they read this. There was not a mark left on our car though!

17. Were you in any clubs?
I think I was in some academic club - but don't remember doing anything with them. I helped a friend who did stuff with the Key club.

18. Have you gained some weight since then?
Oh momma, have I!

19. Who was your prom date?
See question #1. Plus this lovely dress was made by my mother.




20. Are you planning on going to your 20 year reunion?
Would you?!?!?




Now, if I were to tag a few of you with this "Oh, So Fun~" walk down memory lane - I'd want to see answers from: Leslie @ Life Is Good / Shauna @ Life on Celestial Circle and Lisa Anne @ The Crazy Kooky Clawson's (who was a flag twirler with me!)

Go Diggers!