Anyone full?

#27 Grateful for the food I have to eat and the friends and family who share it.

After a great Thanksgiving at Bachelor Brother Jared's in which I forgot the camera, we had AshLee and Alisa and boys over Saturday for a quick trip down from Idaho for one last visit before the big move. I had all the fixin's for chili and cornbread. So I am grateful for my food storage.

#28 A great day with the boys and their curious minds.

Friday, the boys and I trekked to Salt Lake to see the exhibit Body Worlds 3. AMAZING! We saw inside every part possible of the human body. Ben and Stephen were able to join us and we had a marvelous time. Afterwards we met Katie at my new favorite watering hole in Salt Lake called "The Bakery." 250 S 300 E for anyone interested in good atmosphere and good food. A must for any of my favorite watering holes.

#29 I am grateful for cheap but classy Swedish furniture.

I dropped a chunk of change at IKEA after our fun in Salt Lake. We have loved IKEA since our days in Delaware when Kris W. and I would run to Maryland in the afternoon because the IKEA outside of DC was bigger than the one in Philly 20 minutes from our homes and there was a super Target in the same parking lot. Heaven...

I got shelves with doors, TV stands with drawers and benches with all things storage for our new digs in Anchorage. Since it is looking like we will end up with a smaller house than we have here (and I thought everything in Alaska was huge...wait, that's Texas-And AK is like the size of 3 Texases!!!) I spent a fraction of the amount I would in Alaska. And hey, I'm not packing it. We have movers.

Seriously, my trolley looked like this and I had to flirt with teenage boys at the loading dock to load the minivan.

And for the grand and final Thanksgiving post....

#30 I am grateful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, His Church in which I am a proud (but humble) member, and the blessings afforded me by the restored gospel here in this earth.

Merry Christmas this season.

Wait a second....how did that oh so true to life shot end up here!

Waiting for the other shoe to drop

I knew it was coming. The move couldn't have gone this smoothly without a hitch-in-the-get-a-long. I had plowed ahead with movers, doctors, vets, schools, real estate agents, airlines, UPS, Christmas presents, sheet rock contractors, carpet contractors, back to back parties in a torn up house, packed, sorted and pitched. It was hectic but my ducks were in a row.

And then JaDee got word that the process and policies it would take for the company to buy our house had changed. Instead of January 10 being the deadline we are now looking at the middle to end of February.

I know I should be grateful (and herein lies the test) but my plan was set to start in a little over 2 WEEKS. I would land in Alaska, find a pre-lit artificial tree, stock up the Residence Inn with groceries and hit the pavement with my capable Real Estate folks. I would be ready to start taking my boys to their new school in their new neighborhood by the time school resumed in January from the Holidays.

Now that my "assets" are stuck in an unsold house in Utah my other "assets" are left out in the cold. Quite literally. This is Alaska remember!

For those of you who may not know this: I don't do well when my ducks get out of line.

After shooting off a million unanswered questions to my poor husband and a few threats of staying while he goes and has his fun in Alaska (because let's face it this move is 80% for him) I hung up the phone and had 2 thoughts run through my head.

1) I need something chocolate

2) lets go shopping.

Can you tell I have some issues managing my stress.

Instead I bought and sent Grandma her Christmas present online to hopefully soothe my shopaholic side and ate chicken Alfredo from last night. Not chocolate, but it was made with butter and cream so I bet just as fattening. I redeemed it with whole wheat noodles and a huge diet Pepsi.

Then I went to my favorite blog stalking sites and even found a couple more. Thought I would share.

The first is a mildly annoying yet mildly entertaining site called Seriously, So Blessed. A little, OK a lot of poking fun at the newly married Mormon wives here in the Greater Salt Lake Valley. She might be on her way to becoming one of my Plastics in a previous blog.

The second has a great title and subtitle. Good Mommy / Bad Mommy: "Did you force your kid to drink water until she died? No? Then you are a good mommy today." Again interesting and some good writing.

And of course I had to stop by mu favorite c jane. Caught up on all the happenings at Retro House and checked the links to articles in The Daily Herald, Arizona Republic and some London Magazine.

And I figured out how to change fonts sizes and colors. Now I can really get creative (or annoying)

Olivia and I sporting matching For the Love of Nie shirts...because yes, we (I) are groupies.

Are we done being grateful yet???

#24 Thankful Monday started a short 3 day week.

#25 Thankful they all went to school today.

#26 Thankful for Grandma Smith's pie recipes

#23 Life

An easy way to type a blog...cut and paste from someone else's! I have done all the one's in bold. And grateful for it.

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited to Mt. Rushmore
101. Learned to play a musical instrument

Thankful #22

There would be a picture but I am on the crappy temporary computer that for some reason can't read my back-up photo disks...

Today is my Dad's birthday. So I am thankful for him. Once when I was at BYU I was having a hard time with all the Utah Mormons and how, in Mormon slang, "Molly" they all were. I was homesick for NY, my not-LDS friends who lived in the "real world" and grumpy.

He told me that I was raised where I would grow strong in the church. And that other people were raised where they would be strong. We were very different from one another, but to try and tolerate these differences a little bit more.

That little pep talk has helped me throughout my life to try to understand where people are coming from and realize that everyone is set in the best circumstances for them. That still did not mean that my Visiting teachers could come knocking on my door at Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM when we had 2PM church. (duh! I didn't have to be up until 1:00 What were they thinking coming so early)!

The coolnes of being thankful

I have many a days of gratitude to catch up on. All this moving stuff is getting in the way of my blogging! I miss all the blogs I stalk and all the hopping from one to another. So thankful #18 is I am grateful for my blog?

And in a way I guess I am. I love to write and this is a great outlet. I also find myself "thinking in blog-ese" all day. Meaning I am constantly analyzing events that happen through out the day and thinking of ways I would write about it. Good ways to flex my brain.

#19 I would be an idiot if I wasn't thankful for Vonda, Ranae and Naomi! Vonda came and painted with me as we finished the family room this week. Between the two of us we put in 15 hours of painting on Mon and Tues. Ranae and Naomi each took a turn with Olivia and had a wonderful time; coming home with a backpack, treats and homemade games.

#20 Is a huge shout out to JaDee. He has been my rock in this high stress time of life. Each day gets a little more emotional as I think of leaving our home of 8.5 years. This is where my boys were little and each landmark in the yard or house has a story behind it. Our week was even mroe crazy when on Wed 20 Realtors were scheduled for the tour of the abode and we had an early morning Orthodontist appt and JaDee had the van scheduled for maintenance that day. So we putted from Ortho, the library, home and to Dr. Christensens office the the Nissan (stick shift).

But JaDee kept me together and finished up when I was too overwhelmed. See Em you aren't the only one with completion issues!

#21 Today was awesome! We had a great party for Carter and all of his buddies in the 'hood. We had 12 boys his age for a night of pizza, capture the flag, chess, Wii and ice cream in the newly finished family room. I have never seen a more polite, fair group of boys. They took turns, were fair about the rules, thanked me and thanked me and thanked me. They all told me on the way home that this was the best party ever. More sadness for leaving. How could I ask for better friends for my boys? All have such high morals and values. They all told me how much they are going to miss Carter. We collected e-mail addresses and let me tell you our 3 year return rights to JaDee's job is looking like a plan.

JaDee is off hunting with his brother in Idaho. After our week of shuffling the house for painting, Realtors, and finally carpet we are all feeling a bit of relief that this week is over. JaDee totally deserves to get a way from all of us. The kids and I are going to build a bear for Olivia's birthday money shopping spree.

Oh but I have to tell you how cool I am.
1st I am done with Christmas shopping and wrapping and it is all on its way to Alaska. IT was 200 freakin' dollars for 3 boxes weighing a collective 42 lbs!!!!!!!!! and it will take UPS 10 days to get it there. Thanks to new colleague Diana for being Santa's workshop this year!




But the 2nd most important reason I am so cool is I was at the midnight showing of TWILIGHT Thursday night. I loved it! I was expecting a cheesy often times "i feel embarrassed to be here" movie and I got it. But still loved it. Totally fun movie and Edward is hot but JASPER is hotter. I want a movie about him (and maybe me with him...) Please note that I have always had a thing for vampires. IN fact Salem's Lot by Stephen King is one of my all time favorite horror books. But i got so freaked out one night walking home from Laura's house (she lived diagonally behind us) one night that I stopped re-reading it every year as a tribute to my love/hate to feel freaked out. Little Danny Glick in the window...stop...I am in the basement and JaDee is not home and took the pistol. Not that that would stop Little Danny Glick, I would have to dismember him and burn the pieces or beg him to turn me and then run off to steal Jasper from Alice.

I am so glad I'm not them ...Thankful #17

Or you could read I am so glad I am me.

So my neighbor has a daughter who sells the cutest shoes, boutique style, for little girls. For those of you familiar with Olivia's squeaky shoes this is where I get them. Anyway, I got a call saying Heidi would be at her mom's house selling her cute shoes today. Of course I go because Olivia loves shoes as much as I do (I have to tell you about the sweet North Face boots my sister picked up for me at like $80 off).

So I get there and I am a mess. I had been painting the newly finished laundry and family rooms all day and I was speckled from head to toe and smeared on my legs and shoes. No makeup and not even the No-Shower do of curly hair (yes 3 pregnancies have given me curly hair). I was frightening I'll admit it. There was a new feature to the shoe boutique and this was trendy handbags, Juicy sweatsuits and some way expensive jeans. This was not Heidi's gig. Her cute baby shoes were in the back and these tag-a-longs were set up for all to walk through. Even paint spattered me. I even had my safety glasses on my head still.

I don't even know how to start telling what happened next. It was like a Twilight Zone. I stepped up the stairs and said "Hi, I promise I am all dry I have been painting all day (duh) and had to hurry over for Heidi's shoes." Nothing. Silence. Just a few looks up and down at my obviously not worth their time appearance.

See these girls were ummm... lets say plastic. What was that movie that took place in a high school where the girls who were surgically enhanced were referred to as The Plastics? (Leave a comment if you know). Well these were those same girls only 20years later and stuffed with a few more recycled milk jugs (or tubs of chicken fat). Totally huge stacked boobies (silicone). Gigantic pouty perfect lips (collagen). Hair extensions, acrylic nails, false lashes, lifted booties and tucked in tummies, tattooed eyeliner so thick Tammy Fay Baker (rest in peace) would be rushing to the bathroom to apply more just to fit in. All this was clad in Juicy Couture (not the knock offs they were selling) velour lounge wear and Coach bags (again not the knock offs they were selling) poised perfectly on their arms with the faint sounds of custom ring tones from a blackberry acting as background music.

I thankfully found Heidi in this landfill and we chatted about Alaska, her vacation there, my move, her wanting to hear how it all turned out etc. Found darling shoes, squeakers and all, for Livs and went to check out The Plastics merchandise.

Now I am a shopper and not a fraid of a knock off ( I do own a "burberry" bag from the swanky Times Squares Hawkers. So covert that it even came out of a black plastic garbage bag in someone's trunk). I have even been known to have acrylic nails, hair extensions, and a very good Victoria's Secret bra that I have dubbed Cheaper than a Boob Job (Body by Victoria). But as I perused The Plastics' wares I got not a one "how may I help you?" or "what size do you wear?" or "look what we got just for this boutique." Nothing. I was invisible.

I guess because the only silicone I had on me was smeared across the leg of my jeans from caulking the bathroom 2 years ago...that stuff just does not wash off...I was not worthy of the knock offs, the flashy bags, the chunky beaded watch bands.

So me and my Fossil watch, 6 year old paint splattered Ralph Lauren jeans (authentic not even outlet) and Simple loafers, delegated to household chores, walked off.

So why did I name drop the brands I was sporting? Because if they had looked past the grime they would have seen some of the very labels they and the world hold in esteem. I like them because of function. Waterproof watch, sturdy shoes and jeans that didn't make my butt look big after Ethan was born. but now they are worn out, stained, and not worth a whole lot.

And what did I think on the way home? I am so glad I am me. I practically skipped I was so happy. So glad that I did not care or feel insecure, or even worse try to fit in. I am so glad that I know myself and feel comfortable in my own skin no matter what. And even if I was my normally put together self I still would not have received the time of day from The Plastics because I know I carry myself as someone who knows her values and what she is really worth.

things you have to do when you move to Alaska over the holidays

-Wrap all the presents for parents and grandparents and the name exchange in WY to get sent home with said parents over the birthday party weekend. This actually saved me a ton on shipping which would have to be done too.

-Finish present for a red headed sister because I get this idea to make her something that at least makes me laugh if not her!

-volunteer to buy rolls from Idle Isle for Thanksgiving (if you get up my way you have to eat here! not that other famous steak joint down the road..their rolls suck and so does the service unless you order take out).

-volunteer onen of your bachelor brothers to host Thanksgiving. They have cool things like theater rooms to hook up the Wii and get my kids out of my hair.

-con one of JaDee's future co-workers into accepting and holding our Christmas packages becuse we will be in a Residence Inn for Christmas. (Sounds cozy)

-Try to figure out how to hold Christmas in a Residence Inn with 3 kids, a fake pre-lit tree from Lowes, 2 cats, a dog and a kitchen the size of my bathroom, which is small in case you were wondering.

-have Christmas bought and wrapped and shipped by the 18th of November because it takes a LONG time to get things to Alaska.

-wrap while the paint is drying in your new family room that you had to get finished because it will add $10,000 to your appraisal price which is what the company will buy your house for in Jauary when it doesn't sell before then. Which it won't, because come on, have we seen the economy lately!

-Christmas cards...how about Valentine's Day cards with our new address and phone #

-Don't forget my parents birthdays on Nov 22 and 30 and Olivia's on the 13. Even November babies are too close to Christmas. And I should know what too close to Christmas is. I celebrate Dec 26th as the day of my birth.

-Have a band concert (Carter) Nov 13

-a late night party (Carter) Nov 21

-another party (Ethan) Dec 6

-a bookclub Christmas banquet (not at my house)! Dec 11

-be on the ward Christmas party food committee (was I on Crack to agree to that...no, I just can't let my life here go just yet). Dec 5

#14, 15, 16...thankful and exhausted

I am thankful this weekend is over! Don't get me wrong we had more than a ton of fun but fun is tiring.

I am thankful that the mud and tape guy got our family and laundry rooms done on Friday. This means I get to paint for the next 2 days.

I am thankful for my WONDERFUL friends! The start of the weekends festivities was a 5K with my buddies Jen and Sarah. Now Sarah ran Top of Utah and qualified for the Boston Marathon. Jen runs with Sarah and ran Ogden's half with her so she could qualify too. I have issues with races mostly centered around bathroom needs. My dog's on the last run and my own on this one. I was slower this weekend than with the pooping dog 2 weeks ago. I had timed all of my pre-race rituals from my bowl of oatmeal to my advil consumption, but I missed the last potty break. Not a good idea to run with a full bladder. Jen and Sarah were awesome to dumb it down for me and we had a great time! Right up through the diet dr. pepper stop at Chevron on the way home. We almost went AWOL on our families and too off for Salt Lake to shop but we were stinky and sweaty and didn't think Nordstroms would appreciate us.

The second event of the day was Olivia's Birthday. There was a butterfly cake, presents, best friend cousin Marin and Grandma and Papa drove in from Wyoming (8 hours all night Friday)! Nonna, Jared and Courtney rounded out the family well wishers. Check out the pictures!




Luckily I have made this simple cake before (heart cake pan and cupcakes; even bought the icing in a 4 lb tub for optimal coverage) so very little swearing was involved in making it. Those of you who know me well know that the cake is the trial of my birthday celebrations. I would rather give birth again...everyone knows that's not supposed to be pretty.



Olivia only has 3 requirements for birthdays. Balloons, cake and party hats!


A very enthusiastic present opener.


Marin and Olivia donned party hats and ate cake.

As if this wasn't enough...I hosted a reunion of sorts for my old friends in my Liverpool ward. We all went to church, YM/YW and early morning seminary together. So Amy, Ranae, Laurie, and myself along with Ranae's parents got together after Olivia's party. It was a good idea a month ago to have 8 extra adults and 6 small children in my house. That was when the family room was supposed to be done! We worked around the mess and the disaster zones and had a good time seeing each other again.

Birthdays and Olivia

Today I am thankful for Olivia and Birthdays! Because today is Olivia's 3rd birthday! She even woke up at 1AM this morning to commemerate her birth. We are having the party on Saturday but I HATE not celebrating the real day. So we opened Grandma's present (because I knew what it was)- a Barbie Mariposa and put on wings to match and now we are making Pink cupcakes. I'll post more with pictures later.

I do love my children's birthdays. I can't help but look back on each one's birth and relive that special event. Each was so different and the feelings JaDee and I had at each event was so special. I tell them all day long what we were doing at the very moment back in time. (I really have an uncanny memory for these things). Olivia was born at 1 am so most of her event took place at night. What is so funny is how when I was pregnant with her the evening was her awake time and after she was born she was the msot awake from 8PM-12AM. She still likes to stay up late and probably always will.

So all day today I tell her who were our visitors (Uncle Dr. Ben who turned the heads of all the nurses as he walked in with his scrubs and pager and commanded the CNA to bring me more water in his doctor voice) and how she was so tiny (3 weeks early and a mere 6 lbs) and how she and I got to get to know each other and the nurses hardly bothered us (except when Uncle Dr. Ben was visiting) because you were my 3rd and we were both so good at this new baby thing.

#11

I am thankful for the Relief Society Sisters. This is the name of the women's organization in the LDS Church. It is also the oldest women's organization in the world.

Since we have told everyone about our move I have had dinners brought over and offers to clean and watch my kids. These sisters truly are the embodiment of service.

Tonight I have the opportunity to attend a dinner with the sisters in my ward. We are friends, companions and neighbors. We enrich each others lives spiritually and temporally. I have learned to can beans, quilt, and of course rub vinyl letters on boards for my walls with these women. Likewise we have discussed the meaning of the Atonement, building faith in troubled times and the divine role of being a woman the Lord gave to us.

It is awesome to be part of Relief Society!

Thankful #10

I am so glad that got rid of the pipe on my running route! I am no longer suffering from PTSD everytime I come upon that bend in the sidewalk. See this post to understand why.

Thankful #7, 8, 9

We have been without a computer for a couple of days so I am behind on my thankful challenge. So here goes some catch-up.

#7 That my husband hired out the sheet rock of our downstairs family room instead of doing it himself

#8 My cute kids who love to play and share with each other...Olivia always gets extra treats for her brothers or sets aside some of her own for them. Ethan has been pretending to be puppies with Olivia and Carter lays down next to Olivia to put her to sleep at night. After that job is done he climbs into bed with Ethan and they giggle themselves to sleep.

#9 My gospel Doctrine calling. I love teaching the adult Sunday School! It makes me study the scriptures and think about the Savior more than I probably would have without this calling. I love the interaction our class has as we learn from each other and ask the tough questions.

grateful #6

Today I am grateful for modern medicine. All my kids got flu shots so there will be no 1918 like outbreak at our house!

Thankful #5

Today I am thankful for the most frivolous of things...the Sephora store. I have been spoiled to have a small store inside my local JC PEnnys for the last year. It'll be back to internet shopping in Alaska.

Casting your pearls among swine

So today I am greatful for ELECTION DAY! I have a sincere reverence for our Forefathers who set up this wonderful country of ours. I have no doubt that this constitution was divinely inspired. And you would believe it too if you took Political Science from Dr. Richard Vetterili (2 classes actually for my minor)! I always take my kids with me to vote so that they too can see what a responsibility it is to have a voice in politics.

And since this election brought out one of the more interesting races of the modern day, I am sharing a blog I found that is giving away a strand of pearls. It is Peep Toe Pumps and Pearls Check out her blog before tomorrow and you could be watching the Talking Heads on MSNBC, CNN, and Fox discect the election in a brand new strand of pearls. And if the Mighty Hunter is lucky maybe that is all I'll be wearing (a not so subtle hint as to what a strand of pearls will get you my dear

Gratidtude #2

I am grateful for Fall!

Gratitude

I am following my friend Mel's wonderful example by participating in the month of gratitude started by the South Breeze Blog. She and I both participated in a 5K run for our friend Amber who is fighting Inflammatory Breast Cancer Stage 4. This is most often terminal. She has been fighting since May 2007.

After my disastrous 5K in July I was working pretty diligently to get ready for a good time. Champ and I had been running a pretty challenging route and got down to 27 minutes. I was thrilled. Saturday I got ready and decided at the last minute to take Champ with me. He was thrilled. He got hair sprayed pink in support of the fight against breast cancer and was ready to go. Until the crowd cheered for Amber and her family. Clapping was a new thing for him and running with a huge crowd was another.

I knew it was not going to be a personal best time when a quarter of a mile down the road Champ had to stop and poop, I dropped my MP3 player out of my pocket and I was too hot in my pants and shirt. So Champ and I decided to just enjoy it. And after 2poop stops and picking a thorn out of his paw we finished only 4 minutes behind our average! And Champ got to be pink.

So during the run I kept telling myself I am so grateful that I have this body that will work for me. That I can do hard things and that I am able to run. I will run to show my gratitude for Amber and her excellent example of faith. I will run because I am grateful for my health. I will run for Amber when she cannot.

And tonight while reading in a May 2007 posting Amber summed it all up by being grateful for a day spent in the park with 2 of her 5 children. What a lesson to me from a mother my age, with children the same ages as mine, who is faced with an adversity that she never saw coming. Her favorite quote, "Each day is a gift that is why it is called the present."