Almost six months

Watching football is serious business:

As is eating grass:

As is being generally cheerful and adored:

Caroline, on being sick

Caroline woke up (early!) Wednesday with a cough and a runny nose. In an effort to keep the rest of the house quiet so the other two could sleep (and in an effort to stay in bed myself just a little bit longer), I pulled Caroline in bed with me to watch BBC animal documentaries in bed until the sun came up. With that preface, here are some things Caroline has to say about being sick:

"When I wake up and come to your bed at night, we watch shows!"

(Bringing me the Vick's vapor rub): "This is my medicine! I put it on my chest and it makes me sick!"

(Praying): "Help me to feel sick. Amen."

the girl who loved names

There was once an almost-three-year-old girl who loved names. When reading "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" she would ask her mommy, "What is the bear's name? What is the frog's name? What are all the children's names?" She liked to name the toy cars and dinosaurs she played with. She liked to write names when she drew pictures. But what this little girl loved most of all was to look through picture albums and name her family members. The idea that moms and dads and grandmas have other names made her laugh, and she loved to talk about it.

So one night, I took a video.

and while we're on the subject of football

The SEC West has entirely too many red and white teams. Seriously, guys.

University of Alabama:

University of Arkansas:

Mississippi State:

Texas A&M:

Ole Miss (whose colors are actually blue and red, but they often wear more red and white than anything else):

All that leaves in the division is LSU (purple and gold) and Auburn (orange and blue). For some reason, both LSU and Auburn are the Tigers, so what originality points they gain in colors they lose in mascot choice. I love the conference, but we do need a little more variation, no?

I feel like I've read that before...

So it's not a very big secret that Josh and I came home from Alabama with a love for college football. Often during the week, we will read articles about the previous Saturday or previewing what to expect from the coming games. There has been a lot of talk this season about Georgia's running back Todd Gurley, one of the best running backs in the country. He was suspended and then tore his ACL last week. There is really no debating that he has been an amazing running back. What does seem up for debate, however, is how many "best running backs in the country" are on the football field right now. It's gotten to the point that when we read the words "best running back in the country," we have a little chuckle. Here's a quick sampling (including one variation to "most dangerous"):

"Mississippi State's Josh Robinson overcame a lot on his way to becoming one of the best running backs in the SEC."

"We lose, in my opinion, one of the best running backs in the nation (David Cobb) and Donnell Kirkwood and Rodrick Williams stepped up."

"Tevin Coleman is one of the best running backs in the country.  He dropped 228 yards and three touchdowns on the Buckeyes like it was nothing."

“Duke is one of the best running backs in the country,” London said.

"Saturday's matchup of two of the best running backs in the country did not disappoint, as Melvin Gordon and the No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers beat Ameer Abdullah and the No. 16 Nebraska Cornhuskers 59-24."

“Anthony is one of the best running backs in the country, without a doubt, at any level,” Lake Erie head coach Mark McNellie said."

"He has the best running backs in the country to hand off to (T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake), arguably the most talented wideout (Amari Cooper), an obvious breakout candidate at tight end (O.J. Howard) and a solid offensive line that returns three starters." 

"Few UNC freshman have arrived with the fanfare of Hood, who was a five-star prospect ranked among the best running backs in the country."

“He’s transformed himself into one of the most dangerous running backs in the country.”

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/03/5147885/unc-freshman-elijah-hood-recaptures.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article4057691.html#storylink=cpy

Dear Dad,

Do you remember when I went to college and bought plastic hangers at Target? You seemed dismayed that I didn't consider wire hangers good enough. Although I do prefer plastic hangers, it really wasn't the material. I just wanted them all to match. On the other hand, I'm not sure that would have seemed less frivolous to you, considering the mouse incident. Remember when in my second semester of college my mouse broke? You offered me one of the old mouses (mice?) around the house, but I declined. I was planning on buying a new mouse that matched my computer and printer (which were both the same color, if you recall). I remember you saying (mostly in jest...I think), "I hope your fancy new mouse breaks."

Well, I think you'd be pleased with how I've matured over the years. I still like my hangers to match, but I eat leftovers these days...sometimes. I may still have to hold my breath to choke them down, but throwing away perfectly good food is no longer as easy to do as it was 10 of 15 years ago. I even eat the edges of Caroline's sandwiches occasionally (though usually only when she's had Nutella toast). The ultimate crown of my maturity? I ate oatmeal this morning by choice. Oh how I hate oatmeal. But it's cheap and healthy and the kids like it, so I begrudgingly pulled out the oats and a pot of water. I use oats mostly for baking, though, and I buy them from the bulk bins more often than not. So I didn't have a recipe for regular oats. The only container with an oatmeal recipe on it belongs to Josh's quick oats. (Gross, right? Well if he's the one who cooks and eats it, he gets to decide what kind we should have around the house.) Then I remembered Mom's old note in our oats at home: "regular oats following the quick oats recipe." So I made oatmeal your way this morning. It didn't make it taste much better, but I did think you might not have minded sitting at the table with us and eating some too. There was homemade bread and apple butter. I think you would have liked that part, too.

fire sticks

Caroline: I want to do the green fire sticks.
Me: Fire sticks?
Caroline: Yes, on my birthday cake!

just like brother

What happens when Jonah makes a neat Lego design and I ask him to pose for a picture?

Little sister insists that she needs her picture taken too. But what if she's still eating lunch? That is no problem at all. "Take my picture with my pizza, mommy!"

reminiscing

When people find out that I married a boy from my hometown, they often say, "How nice for the holidays!" Yes and no. Birthdays, Christmas, spring breaks...these things are times when it is wonderful to have so much family in the same state. The three days that are tricky are Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Thanksgiving.

Here's the thing about Thanksgiving: it's my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving, to me, should be spent cooking, eating, napping, and playing games. Then, maybe another slice of pie and some more games.* Have you ever tried to do that at more than one location? It doesn't work well. That said, when we agree to just go to one family's Thanksgiving or the other, I feel like I want to just run over and say hi to the other family too. How can we be in town and not just say hello? And thus, Thanksgiving becomes more running around than playing games. Is it worth it to be close to family? Absolutely. Do I sometimes long for Thanksgivings past? Definitely. As I sit here considering what to do this coming Thanksgiving, I'm thinking of four favorite Thanksgivings.

Thanksgiving 2003: If you'd asked at the time, this would not have made my list. I'd flown home from college in September when Quintin came home from Romania and was planning to fly home again for Christmas. A trip home for Thanksgiving just wasn't in the budget. So when my wonderful roommate invited me home to spend it with her family, I was happy to accept. Did I know then, when I'd barely been speaking to her for a month (I had this weird panic about getting to know my roommate, so I said hello and goodbye and not much else from August-October. Did I mention it's a miracle I made friends in college?) that we would become great friends? That her family's open-armed acceptance of me would change my life for the better? I also read East of Eden that vacation. A whole Steinbeck in one weekend! Oh, what I wouldn't give for a Thanksgiving (or weekend) like that every few years.

Thanksgiving 2005 (I think?): It was either 2005 or 2006. Josh and I were newly married, and we, along with Quintin, stayed in Provo for the holiday. The food was fairly disgusting (I will never use pre-made pie crust again. Ugh.) except for the turkey, which was amazing. We'd spent weeks leading up to the holiday watching Food Network specials and compiling recipes. Then we spent the long weekend laying around the apartment and playing games. I don't wish my children away, but I don't foresee three solid days of games in pajamas any time in the next decade.

Thanksgiving 2010: What's 500 miles compared to 2500? Off we went to Ohio for Thanksgiving. We even talked Quintin in to flying out and making the drive with us. Other than the I-need-out-of-this-car-and-where-the-heck-are-we panic of getting lost for an hour at the end there, it was a fabulous trip. Jonah was small enough that we could play games while he napped and slept long nights. Are you noticing a theme here? Plus, I have never had a pecan pie as delicious before or since.

Thanksgiving 2012: I loved our little Alabama life. I definitely wanted to be home with family, but not for a one-day holiday (as explained above). This Thanksgiving was spent with the missionaries, Kaitlyn, and Kaitlyn's dad. We had the following pies: haupia, pecan, banana cream, chocolate cheesecake, and peanut butter. Who needs fruit pies anyway? After the meal, while I wasn't free to read a whole book or play video games all weekend, the kids did run around the backyard while we played croquet. It was wonderful.

As we contemplated what to do this year, we looked at each other and said, "Let's go see Kaitlyn!" Alas, she'll be spending Thanksgiving with her sister in Arkansas, but it was oh, so tempting.

What prompted all this? Perhaps unexpectedly, not the fact that Thanksgiving fast approaches. What prompted the reminiscing was this picture:

I miss you, friend.

*We can still be friends if you are a Black Friday (or earlier) shopper. I know some wonderful people who make it part of their Thanksgiving traditions. I definitely do not. Shopping and crowds are two of my least favorite things, much less at the same time.

hard working man

Jonah was scolding Caroline for something today. 

Me: Don't worry about that, Jonah. That's my job. 

Jonah: What else is your job?

Me: Feeding you. 

Jonah: That's not your only job. 

Me: No, I have to make sure you turn out to be a good person. 

Jonah: And making my fingers bleed from working so hard. You do that too. 

speaking of perspective

What about my friend whose baby just came home from a three-week hospital stint? The one whose days old baby is still in the hospital and refusing formula? The one whose babies both have the same disease and who knows she will watch them slowly get worse until she buries them?

What about the friend who couldn't have a baby, then lost one in her third trimester, and then lost another the same way...and then finally brought home a beautiful baby boy?

I guess we treasure the blessings we have when we have them. No one has them all; that is for sure.

Dear Dad,

I saw a picture of Aunt Sarah a few days ago that made me cry. I guess I never really thought you looked very much alike, but seeing a picture of her standing there...she had some of your body language or your nose or something. I was surprised at how strong my reaction was.

I had a good milestone today, though! Today was the first time I have thought of you (alone) and laughed. Talking about you, especially with family, often brings up the greatest stories. It has not been uncommon to laugh and smile then. But when I remember something I want to say or something like the Aunt Sarah picture happens, I have not been ready to laugh.

Well this afternoon, I made brownies in lieu of a birthday cake. I don't really like cake that much anyway. As I saved a good 1/4 cup of batter, I could hear you saying, "You'd get an extra 3 brownies out of that pan if you cleaned the bowl out" like you always did when I made them as a kid. I'm not that great at scraping bowls. With brownies, though, it's intentional. I sat down after dinner and ate my brownie batter and thought of you.

white tanks hike

I have dreams of being a hiking family: of hiking the Grand Canyon or Arches or just Picacho Peak as a family. I figure something like that doesn't happen by accident, so it's time to start training the kids to carry their own water and not whine the whole way, etc.

Josh was supportive of my plan (hatched and presented at 5:45 this morning) to go for a hike instead of sleeping in, and off we went!

It was cool, slightly breezy, and perfect. I love the desert in the morning. 

And for the record, I got dressed first. Why everyone else decided to wear red is a mystery to me.