Saturday, September 29, 2012
she's the standing sort
And she's pretty pleased with herself.
...especially if it means Jonah will read her a book.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
confession
I can't remember what time Caroline was born. I don't even know if I have it written down somewhere. Grandparents, do you know? How about her birth length?
(Before you start in with "Oh, no one loves the second baby," I should point out that I would have forgotten Jonah's birth time if it wasn't written on the front of a cd of pictures Byron made for us. Let's just say I was a bit preoccupied at their births.)
(Before you start in with "Oh, no one loves the second baby," I should point out that I would have forgotten Jonah's birth time if it wasn't written on the front of a cd of pictures Byron made for us. Let's just say I was a bit preoccupied at their births.)
Monday, September 24, 2012
seven years of wedded bliss
Seven years ago this morning, I was sitting in my basement eating wedding ring pancakes (Thanks, Aunt Roberta!). Becca and Kari were patiently curling and pinning my hair. Meanwhile, an hour away, Josh was eating blueberry muffins and scrambled eggs (Thanks, Stacey!). The first time I saw him on our wedding day he was him sprinting away from the temple. Our friends, Jimmy and Kristy, were speeding towards Mesa after leaving Las Vegas just a few hours before the wedding. They made it, but I still don't really know how.
This morning, we're celebrating with blood-shot eyes as Jonah throws a temper tantrum and Caroline blows snot bubbles. He's eating toast and I'm eating stale muffins. We're all kinds of romantic.
Seeing as I recently read a really great article about marital advice,I was going to come up with 7 things that work for us. And then Jonah came and drank all of my milk (when did he start drinking my drinks and why does it annoy me so much?) and ran away crying. The romantic memories and unsolicited advice will have to wait.
There's no one I'd rather ignore a grumpy four-year-old with. Happy Anniversary, Josh.
Seeing as I recently read a really great article about marital advice,I was going to come up with 7 things that work for us. And then Jonah came and drank all of my milk (when did he start drinking my drinks and why does it annoy me so much?) and ran away crying. The romantic memories and unsolicited advice will have to wait.
There's no one I'd rather ignore a grumpy four-year-old with. Happy Anniversary, Josh.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
guess who
Guess which of these children is on a sleep strike?
Need a clue? It's the one that would rather stand up all night and laugh.
We're pretty proud of her skill and pretty ready for her to figure out how to sit back down. In a little under 2 weeks, this baby will have been out longer than she was in. We're glad to have her.
Need a clue? It's the one that would rather stand up all night and laugh.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Oedipus and my thoughts on nude art
Kayla posted a link to this blog post on her blog.
First, let me say, "amen!" Second, before I tell you what I think (because this is my blog, after all) here is a story:
In my 12th grade English class, we read the story of Oedipus. We started with a summary of the plot before moving on to the actual play. So I remember sitting in the computer lab thinking, Wow, this is a really sad story. I mean, the guy did everything he could not to hurt anyone and ended up doing exactly what he'd tried to hard to avoid. I expressed something similar to my teacher and she was elated that someone noticed the tragedy. Most of the boys in class were still hung up on the fact that he married his mom. It's a shame, really, because if they could have gotten over the initial giggles, they could have appreciated the perfectly awfulness of the story.
Cut to the article on nude art.
There is a lot of nude art that some people (myself include sometimes) can't appreciate because they have a case of the giggles, or of the angers, or whatever. I think the lesson is teaching ourselves and our children how to look past the initial reaction to respect the perfection of the human body (or the point of the painting, etc) and how to separate that from feelings of sexual attraction. In fact, it's probably a lot easier to do if the first exposure to a nude body is not at 17.
Now not everyone is going to have the desire or need to display nude art in their homes. Similarly, there may be pieces of art that are done in a way that makes people uncomfortable. Still, the point of the article was that we as Mormons are often so quick to cover up any part of the body that might offend when that might have the opposite effect of what we're trying (in good faith) to do. It's similar to the way breastfeeding has become so sexualized.*
The church itself specifically tells parents (as a precursor to properly teaching children about sexuality) to teach their children to respect bodily functions because of how awesome they are instead of teaching them to be embarrassed by them.
So all that to say, I'll have to put my money where my mouth is and take the kids to an art museum. There are certain things that come with the territory of having a parent who studied in the Humanities, after all.
Though I won't be buying "The Miraculous Lactation of Saint Bernard" for the wall any time soon.
*I nurse covered in public out of a desire for everyone to be comfortable. That is the point of manners, after all. I assert my right to nurse uncovered should the situation dictate (I forgot a blanket again? Oh well.) and definitely in my own home. While you can debate the professionalism of bringing a baby to work all you want, the sooner people get over nursing as a sexual thing, the better.
First, let me say, "amen!" Second, before I tell you what I think (because this is my blog, after all) here is a story:
In my 12th grade English class, we read the story of Oedipus. We started with a summary of the plot before moving on to the actual play. So I remember sitting in the computer lab thinking, Wow, this is a really sad story. I mean, the guy did everything he could not to hurt anyone and ended up doing exactly what he'd tried to hard to avoid. I expressed something similar to my teacher and she was elated that someone noticed the tragedy. Most of the boys in class were still hung up on the fact that he married his mom. It's a shame, really, because if they could have gotten over the initial giggles, they could have appreciated the perfectly awfulness of the story.
Cut to the article on nude art.
There is a lot of nude art that some people (myself include sometimes) can't appreciate because they have a case of the giggles, or of the angers, or whatever. I think the lesson is teaching ourselves and our children how to look past the initial reaction to respect the perfection of the human body (or the point of the painting, etc) and how to separate that from feelings of sexual attraction. In fact, it's probably a lot easier to do if the first exposure to a nude body is not at 17.
Now not everyone is going to have the desire or need to display nude art in their homes. Similarly, there may be pieces of art that are done in a way that makes people uncomfortable. Still, the point of the article was that we as Mormons are often so quick to cover up any part of the body that might offend when that might have the opposite effect of what we're trying (in good faith) to do. It's similar to the way breastfeeding has become so sexualized.*
The church itself specifically tells parents (as a precursor to properly teaching children about sexuality) to teach their children to respect bodily functions because of how awesome they are instead of teaching them to be embarrassed by them.
So all that to say, I'll have to put my money where my mouth is and take the kids to an art museum. There are certain things that come with the territory of having a parent who studied in the Humanities, after all.
Though I won't be buying "The Miraculous Lactation of Saint Bernard" for the wall any time soon.
*I nurse covered in public out of a desire for everyone to be comfortable. That is the point of manners, after all. I assert my right to nurse uncovered should the situation dictate (I forgot a blanket again? Oh well.) and definitely in my own home. While you can debate the professionalism of bringing a baby to work all you want, the sooner people get over nursing as a sexual thing, the better.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
mustache family
I'm taking the day off. I'm tired and sore and have a back I'm nursing back to health. I've given up on anything but keeping the kids alive today. So far, it's not as restful as I'd hoped. Children underfoot is not as calm as children busy doing other things. Either way, I'm feeling a bit guilty about being the lame mom. Then I found these pictures! We do fun things sometimes! (...never mind that the idea was all Josh's.)
(Faces/bodies around the mirror mustaches courtesy of Jonah.)
Monday, September 17, 2012
overheard, again
Jonah to Caroline (trying to convince her to play in his cardboard box castle): Come on in! I promise it will be really safe. There aren't any dragons in there. And no cockroaches. And no alligators. And no ants. There aren't any neam (the way he says "mean") things in there at all. I promise.
And then later, whispered in her ear:
Once upon a time there was a boy named Jonah who was looking for some food in the forest and he finally went too far. The End.
And then later, whispered in her ear:
Once upon a time there was a boy named Jonah who was looking for some food in the forest and he finally went too far. The End.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
more beach pictures (and an old favorite)
Here are a few more favorites from the beach trip:
Caroline keeps pretty close tabs on Jonah.
Jonah likes her too. Here is a picture he drew of the two of them at the beach. I think Caroline is the one on the right.
Also, I started to build a huge sand castle but found the architecture to be too challenging. Thus the sand turtle was born.
After allowing Josh to ooo and aaah over my turtle-sculpting skills, I reminded him that we made a snow turtle once when snowmen proved too tricky for our Arizona selves. (This is Josh and Erin working on the turtle in 2006):
Caroline keeps pretty close tabs on Jonah.
Jonah likes her too. Here is a picture he drew of the two of them at the beach. I think Caroline is the one on the right.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
we have a tooth!
BYOC (bring your own candidate?)
It's time to register to vote in Alabama. We aren't registered in Arizona this year, so off we go to register here. So here's my question: where's my political party?
Where is the political party for someone who doesn't want to hear any more fear or hate mongering? And don't bother trying to tell me that this or that party is innocent of it, either, because I have seen both sides pull cheap tricks.
Where is the political party for someone who would like to see the over spending addressed not by taxing the rich more OR by cutting social programs. What about a straight across the board 10% cut? I know my office at a public university could have cut 10% and Josh's office at a federal bureau could have cut 10%, so why not every government office and program? If it happened on a local level, each office could decide if it'd be in personnel cuts or spending cuts or increased revenues. That might be idealistic, but it's more practical than either idea I've heard so far in this campaign.
Where is the political party for a woman who is pro-life but also anti-regulating reproductive rights?
Where is the party for someone who is fiscally and usually socially conservative but who is also very passionately pro-immigrant? Why does one have to preclude the other?
Where is the party for someone who recognizes the worries about the waste in current social programs but who is grateful they take care of loved ones who need it? What about a person who thinks that small business is the heart of our economy and should be supported with less regulation but who hopes every job she and her husband will ever hold provide decent health insurance?
Show me a candidate or party that is willing to be reasonable and I might find myself enthusiastic about politics in a way that I haven't been since I was 8. (When I excitedly voted in the kids voting booth while my mom voted for real. I voted for every female candidate on the ballot. I also cried when Bill Clinton won because I knew nothing other than my parents were Republican. I also cried...a lot...when the Suns lost in the NBA finals. I guess Jonah got his sensitive side from me.)
Where is the political party for someone who doesn't want to hear any more fear or hate mongering? And don't bother trying to tell me that this or that party is innocent of it, either, because I have seen both sides pull cheap tricks.
Where is the political party for someone who would like to see the over spending addressed not by taxing the rich more OR by cutting social programs. What about a straight across the board 10% cut? I know my office at a public university could have cut 10% and Josh's office at a federal bureau could have cut 10%, so why not every government office and program? If it happened on a local level, each office could decide if it'd be in personnel cuts or spending cuts or increased revenues. That might be idealistic, but it's more practical than either idea I've heard so far in this campaign.
Where is the political party for a woman who is pro-life but also anti-regulating reproductive rights?
Where is the party for someone who is fiscally and usually socially conservative but who is also very passionately pro-immigrant? Why does one have to preclude the other?
Where is the party for someone who recognizes the worries about the waste in current social programs but who is grateful they take care of loved ones who need it? What about a person who thinks that small business is the heart of our economy and should be supported with less regulation but who hopes every job she and her husband will ever hold provide decent health insurance?
Show me a candidate or party that is willing to be reasonable and I might find myself enthusiastic about politics in a way that I haven't been since I was 8. (When I excitedly voted in the kids voting booth while my mom voted for real. I voted for every female candidate on the ballot. I also cried when Bill Clinton won because I knew nothing other than my parents were Republican. I also cried...a lot...when the Suns lost in the NBA finals. I guess Jonah got his sensitive side from me.)
Thursday, September 6, 2012
why it's a miracle I'm friends with Anna-Lisa at all
Here is something about me: I've never really cared for the beach.
Don't get me wrong: I don't dislike it, I just never think of it as a preferred vacation destination. First, there's the sand. It gets everywhere. Maybe if I lived in a beach town I'd know how to deal with it but I don't and don't. Then there's the fact that I really hate being cold. So cold water surging at me? No thank you. I'm not a great swimmer, so most ocean sports are unappealing (currents are just too much for my weak swimming skills). I've never been one for sun tanning, so that's out. I'd prefer reading indoors to out in the too-bright-too-see-the-page sun.
Before you label me the grump of the world and my coast-born friends abandon me: (Have you ever noticed that people who grow up by the beach need it? It's like it speaks to their souls.) I do like to walk along the beach. I like the way the sand feels on my feet and the whole phenomenon of the water sucking the sand out from under my toes is pretty awesome.
All of this is a long introduction to say that I have found the beach for me. Or maybe I am finally ready for the beach? Josh has a conference in Orange Beach this week so we tagged along. The Gulf Coast is as lovely as promised: white sands, warm water*, and gentle waves (at least where we are). This still would not be my vacation spot of choice alone but with kids? This has been perfect. We've gone down to the beach multiple times a day and both kids do great for an hour or two. Then we go back up to the room for a nap and whichever meal is next before heading back to the beach. I sit or lay in the sand (Yes, I still despise the feel of it stuck in all sorts of places post-beach.) while Jonah digs holes and writes words and Caroline eats dirt.
It took us two years to get down here, but I can see why it is the vacation spot of choice for every Alabama family we know.
*The water is not "warm as a bath" as promised. Clearly the author of that analogy has no idea how hot I like my baths. This is more like "cool like a toddler's bath water a few hours later when you realize you forgot to drain the tub", but definitely not "why in the world am I getting in this water" cold.
Don't get me wrong: I don't dislike it, I just never think of it as a preferred vacation destination. First, there's the sand. It gets everywhere. Maybe if I lived in a beach town I'd know how to deal with it but I don't and don't. Then there's the fact that I really hate being cold. So cold water surging at me? No thank you. I'm not a great swimmer, so most ocean sports are unappealing (currents are just too much for my weak swimming skills). I've never been one for sun tanning, so that's out. I'd prefer reading indoors to out in the too-bright-too-see-the-page sun.
Before you label me the grump of the world and my coast-born friends abandon me: (Have you ever noticed that people who grow up by the beach need it? It's like it speaks to their souls.) I do like to walk along the beach. I like the way the sand feels on my feet and the whole phenomenon of the water sucking the sand out from under my toes is pretty awesome.
All of this is a long introduction to say that I have found the beach for me. Or maybe I am finally ready for the beach? Josh has a conference in Orange Beach this week so we tagged along. The Gulf Coast is as lovely as promised: white sands, warm water*, and gentle waves (at least where we are). This still would not be my vacation spot of choice alone but with kids? This has been perfect. We've gone down to the beach multiple times a day and both kids do great for an hour or two. Then we go back up to the room for a nap and whichever meal is next before heading back to the beach. I sit or lay in the sand (Yes, I still despise the feel of it stuck in all sorts of places post-beach.) while Jonah digs holes and writes words and Caroline eats dirt.
It took us two years to get down here, but I can see why it is the vacation spot of choice for every Alabama family we know.
 |
| Jonah showing off his name. Yes, there are two a's...still not bad for a four-year old. |
Sunday, September 2, 2012
overheard at church
A conversation between an 8-year old (Boy 1) and an 11-year old (Boy 2). As background, we had just left a meeting where a man told a story of finding a nice pair of Sunday shoes for $4 (all the money he had at the time.)
Boy 1: My mom still owes me four dollars from washing her car.
Me: Maybe she should buy you a pair of shoes.
Boy 1: (curls up nose and continues talking to Boy 2.)
Boy 2: I've been mowing the lawn for two and a half years and haven't been paid. My dad owes me like $80.
Boy 2: Why are all parents always so stingy with money?
Me: Maybe because there's never enough.
Boy 1: Oh, there's enough. I have a ton of it at home.
I just giggled to myself and walked away.
Boy 1: My mom still owes me four dollars from washing her car.
Me: Maybe she should buy you a pair of shoes.
Boy 1: (curls up nose and continues talking to Boy 2.)
Boy 2: I've been mowing the lawn for two and a half years and haven't been paid. My dad owes me like $80.
Boy 2: Why are all parents always so stingy with money?
Me: Maybe because there's never enough.
Boy 1: Oh, there's enough. I have a ton of it at home.
I just giggled to myself and walked away.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
gah!!
I made some ice cream sandwiches to take to the ward party today. I cooked, shopped, and cleaned for at least 3 hours because I couldn't make up my mind and ended up making 3 kinds: snickerdoodle, chocolate chip, and double chocolate cookies with either mint or vanilla ice cream.
I wish had read this recipe earlier! I ignored it because I wasn't planning on making this type of cookie. But as the recipe points out, the sandwiches continue to soften and lose shape for a bit even after they're put in the freezer. Could that be why my pans of ice cream sandwiches are now filled with a thin layer of ice cream and the cookies themselves practically empty?! I guess I need to take them anyway or we'll have 6 dozen cookies to eat (not that I'd mind too much)...
I wish had read this recipe earlier! I ignored it because I wasn't planning on making this type of cookie. But as the recipe points out, the sandwiches continue to soften and lose shape for a bit even after they're put in the freezer. Could that be why my pans of ice cream sandwiches are now filled with a thin layer of ice cream and the cookies themselves practically empty?! I guess I need to take them anyway or we'll have 6 dozen cookies to eat (not that I'd mind too much)...
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