When you die, if you get a choice between going to regular heaven or pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It might be a trick, but if it's not, mmmmmmm, boy. –Jack Handey, SNL

I love it when Jefe cuddles my children in the mornings before he heads off to work. I forgot how much I love this little act... Mostly because then for the majority of the day, the kiddos smell like their Daddy. What a wonderful combination. My sweet baby to cuddle, who smells like Jefe.
Sigh.
What more could you want? (besides the real deal?!)
I am looking forward to this weekend. Just being together as a family and vegging. It will be nice. I can't get over the fact that in 3 days it will be April! Sheesh. Where did all the time go? AND further, that on Monday, my sweet Moxie will be 2 weeks old. Holy schlamolie! Where did that time go? She is such a sweet, content little baby. I hope that this sticks and what we are seeing is a baby/child that will be very easy going. That would be love-r-ly!

I have been thinking that I need to post my labor story... why I feel the need to do so is beyond me. Maybe because I am SO incredibly proud of the fact that I only had to push once.
Yes. You did read right... 1 time.
I pushed only 1 time.
Just once.
I am major proud of that fact especially since I was in the throes of epiduraldom... and seriously could not feel ANYTHING! That was actually quite a frightening feeling. The other 2 times I had an epidural, I could still feel pressure, and could move my legs, however, this time I was completely paralyzed. That really freaked me out.
So.
I am working on the post about labor. You know, it takes a little work to make those funny. Actually with me, it really doesn't take that much work. Just know there will be stuff about me yelling at the Anesthesiologist! Doesn't' that make you excited?? It should!

It's Random 10 Friday again. It seems like I just did this. Oh. Wait. I did. I was a slacker and did it on Monday. Should I refresh everyones memory on how to play? You push play on your music listening device (ipod, mp3 player, rhapsody, itunes whatever) and write down the 1st song that comes up... you don't even have to listen to it entirely. Then write down the next 9 songs that come up on Random play on your listening device. AND no fair skipping a song because you're embarrassed by it... you only get to skip it if its already listed on the current list.
Make sense?
The point is to see what you are listening to... get ideas about new/old stuff and then of course to make fun of our various listening choices. (not really)
So. Come on out and play with me!
Cheers!

1. Let Them Be Little - Billy Dean
2. No Good Deed - Wicked Original Soundtrack
3. Ants Marching - Dave Matthews Band
4. Little Goodbyes - SHeDAISEY
5. Used To - Daughtry
6. Belief (acoustic) - John Mayer
7. Luka - Suzanne Vega
8. Gone - Jack Johnson
9. Realize - Colbie Caillat
10. Criminal - Fiona Apple

Bonus: Curbside Prophet (live) - Jason Mraz

If I needed any better of an excuse (besides the obvious one of I just had a baby) to stay in my pajamas all day, in my bed, cuddling Moxie and Thing 3, watching movies & reading...
Well.
This closed the deal.
Are you kidding me? Snow? It was 62 yesterday.
But. I'm not complaining. I needed an excuse to 'lay low' (i am entirely motivated by guilt, and feel guilty just lying around in bed all day when there is so much to be done in the house, and the kids need to be carted hither and yon...)
I clearly did too much yesterday... I was really hurting last night, so I "got" to take a pain pill and my lovely 800 mg prescription of Motrin. To say that Moxie and I slept well is a complete understatement. Really. She slept brilliantly last night. She got up twice. And I feel great this morning. My quandary now is to keep myself from over doing it again. Because, really I do feel great... until about 8:00pm and then I can hardly keep my eyes open and parts of my body hurt that you should not be able to feel!
So. The snow. Yeah. It's a welcome sight at my house. It means I can hunker down with my babies and not feel guilty about being lazy!

I came home from picking Thing 1 up from school today and noticed that I could smell Bum cream. You know. A& D ointment for diaper rashes. I had lost it yesterday... meaning I couldn't remember where I had put it. I found it in the office and put it in my cute little basket that I have made to cart all my paraphernalia around that is necessary to have in a diaper change.
Well. I forgot to take my cute basket off the coffee table.
Now.
In most homes this would not be a problem. However, in my home... HUGE problem.
You see, I have a crazy boxer dog that eats EVERYTHING. And, when I say everything, I really do mean everything! She ate the wiring to the air conditioner TWICE. She ate the cords on the outside of the house for the cable 5 times... twice in 1 day. The repair man got so sick of coming out to our house to re-wire the house, that he re-wired it the last time by taking it up and OVER the house and then digging a trench on the OUTSIDE of my fence to re-wire it all again. (why would he do that you ask? Well. Because the last time she ate the cords, she not only ate the cords, but pulled them up through out the entire yard... all. the. way. to. the. cable. box. Stupid dog! Soon to be dead dog! ) We were lucky that I only had to pay the repair fee once, because the repair man also had a boxer and he would just laugh at us all the while shaking his head.

She also ate the wiring to my really nice deck lighting... and the cords to the wiring for the pool lights. Seriously. This dog is totally crazy... and loves wires. Or anything that has weird smells. I won't even start to tell you the crazy stinky stuff I have found her munching on... (oh. I can't resist... a nest full of baby rabbits sound gross enough for you?? She really wasn't eating those, just more like using them as squeaky toys. Once they stopped squeaking, she went and got a new one to "play" with. Yes. It was THAT gross!)

Well. I started sniffing around, and found the A&D ointment... in the dogs mouth. She was EATING it.
Eww. That is not only just gross, but SICK AND WRONG!
What on earth would posses a creature to EAT bum cream?
Seriously. Enquiring minds want to know!

The photos for today's Wordless Wednesday post (which, BTW, is NOT going to be wordless) were taken by Thing1 and Thing 2... in that order. I have some other, great shots of the Things and Moxie, but I can't find the cord to my camera... I have the card reader, but the cord... no idea where that sprouted legs and walked off to... Once I get that found, I will have others to post.

I forgot that when you have a nursing baby, your day pretty much goes like this: (Jefe asked me what I had done today... and being the typical GIRL that I am, I gave him a blow by blow... yes. It was thrilling I'm sure!)
Nurse Moxie at 7am.
Get the kids off to school.
Check email.
Nurse Moxie & watch Little Einsteins with Thing 3.
Put Moxie down for nap.
Make my bed, and put Thing 3's clothes away (for the umpteenth time... when she's looking for clothes to wear, she pulls ALL her clothes out of the dresser...)
Change Moxie's diaper (she is a total double pooper... meaning you change her wet diaper, and then 5 minutes later she poops in the clean diaper.)
Make Thing 3 a snack.
Take a shower
Nurse Moxie
Run Thing 3 to school.
Pick up Thing 1 from school
Come back home, and Nurse Moxie
Go buy bum cream for Moxie's sore bum
Go pick up Thing 3 from school.
Come back home, and.... you guessed it... Nurse Moxie.
Take kids to piano lessons.
Come back home & have dinner.
Now I am waiting for Moxie to wake up so that I can... Nurse her again.

Yes.
I AM tired. I think I'll go to bed now... That is AFTER I nurse Moxie again.

p.s. I'm NOT complaining! I am thrilled Moxie is finally here... I'm just just taking note. thats all. Remember, its been 5 years since we've had a little person around here. It's like being a first time parent all over again. And I'm enjoying every minute of it!

This morning, Thing 3 and I were watching Little Einsteins while I nursed Moxie. I'll be honest, I've never watched this show before. We were watching the show unfold, and the "little einsteins" were asking the kids what the train should do... They had been using music terms to teach the kids about speed. They asked the kids what the train should do, and Thing 3 yells out "Go adagio! Go adagio!" I sort of gasped, and looked at her funny, and asked her what "adagio" meant. She sighed, and said "Mom. Adagio is slow. Allegro is fast. Sheesh."
Well.
Excuse me, Maestro!

Moxie got up last night at 11pm. 3am, 5am and 7am.
Hot dang!
Hallelujah!
Praise Allah!
Pass the egg nog!

Ok.
So, I totally forgot about my little Random 10 Friday on Friday. Let's blame it on Thing 3's birthday and being so tired from birthing Moxie. Shall we?
It was nice, however, to sit down tonight and turn the music on. Oh how I love music. It really does soothe me. And, for whatever reason, music really does seem to bring me back to my home... my center. Does that even make sense?? I didn't realize how much I was missing my music until I sat here tonight and found myself unwinding while the tunes floated by. Being able to sing along, softly... I know. That sounds so weird! But, I love not only the way music helps me get back to my center, but also how it helps me to think more clearly and just Be. I know I've blogged about this before, but... I just don't know how I would exist without my music. Weird, I know. But, its an outlet for me. As Jefe puts it, "I fly happy through my joyful zone" when I have my tunes on. He's so funny... but hits it right on!
Anyway.
I have been missing it big time lately. I have been consumed with my sweet Moxie... and have been too tired to do anything about it. I really need to invest in an MP3 player of some sort for myself. My children all have them, but they think my music taste is odd and weird. (although thing 1 is a retro girl... she has Reo Speed wagon on her player and Styx: Mr. Roboto...and I totally love that about her. She is like her Dad and me... a music junkie. She knows her bands, and that is endearing to me!)
I think that would be beneficial to not only MY mental state, but also to everyone else's that has to be around me. So. I am finding myself being extremely grateful for all the talented people out there that make the beautiful tunes that soothe the savage beast in me.

Moxie and I are still getting acquainted. I guess I forgot how much I sucked at Nursing... its hard for me. I didn't nurse my two oldest children... for all sorts of various reasons. I did, however, nurse Thing 3 and after a bit of a struggle, we finally worked out the kinks. She nursed well, and is a very healthy eater. Moxie and I are still working out the kinks. The thing that is the hardest for me and nursing is the not knowing if they are getting enough food, or if they really are starving. I tend to worry myself silly that they are starving right to death. I know that she isn't, but the crazy lady in me tends to dominate that whole thought process. Does that even make sense? I am hoping that it will get easier. It IS less painful this time around... so I am hoping that is a good sign that we are doing something right. She is sleeping really well. It's not the schedule that I want... but it has been consistent, so I am accepting it. She is still so content and peaceful. She still only squawks when I change her diaper. She is content to lay in her bassinet and watch the world pass by. I have too keep reminding myself that I am not a bad mother if I let her lay there. (that actually has become my new mantra... "I am not a bad mother" if she lays in her bed, and is not crying... repeated over and over!) The big kids are still totally smitten with her. Thing 2, every single morning, runs into our room, and asks if he can hold Moxie. He totally LOVES her. Last night, he sat on my bed for over an hour and just held her hand and kept putting her Binky back in her mouth. He was happy. Moxie was happy. I was happy.

We had a lovely Easter yesterday as well. I forgot to charge the camera, however, so there are no Easter photos. AND, with Moxie's arrival, there were not Easter duds either. I didn't have my act together enough to get that little deed done before she was born. Sigh. We all stayed home from church together yesterday, and just hung out in our PJ's all day. We ate candy till we were sick. Had a really nice dinner of Smoked turkey and twice baked potatoes and a Fab. salad (thanks Mom! Jefe said it was the best of both worlds... my Mothers cooking at his house! and were just together. I think, in all honesty, that it was the nicest Easter we've had. Jefe talked with the kids about The Saviour, and the fact that Easter wasn't about Eggs and bunnies but Christ and his reserection. This was good, since I didn't do the Easter shopping this year... it was a little sparse. (I have a tendency to go completely overboard and buy enough candy to last an entire year... a years supply if you will of candy! Actually. That's really not a bad idea... hummm)
However, I think was actually good. I have felt for years that the whole commercialization of Easter has taken the focus of the holiday off of where it should be.(i found this particularly so when I was working at Kohls... people were spending hundreds of dollars on Easter "presents" for their families. It was shocking, and really quite disgusting!) It's not about the finest new clothes money can buy, or chocolate (although I do like to think so) or colorful eggs. Its Christ and his sacrifice for all of us. I am grateful today for that sacrifice and the ability that I have to every single day start fresh... to start new. That right there gives me hope. I know that if I screw up today, I always have tomorrow... and it is a fresh, new start. I am so grateful for that.

Lastly, it's going to sound extremely stupid, and taboo... but I am very grateful for this dumb blog. Jefe said to me yesterday that he was so glad that I did this because, some day down the road, we would all be able to read about our lives... and remember things that would be lost otherwise. We will remember things about Thing 3 and Moxie that we don't about Thing 1 &2... simply because I meant to write it down... but didn't. He said it was better than a scrapbook. That really made me feel good. It is to me better than a scrapbook, because my thoughts and feelings are here too. Someday, when I am gone, my kids and grandkids can pull up this site (unless the internet has exploded by then) and read about our lives and our family. They will be able to really see into what I found to be important... and they will read my feelings about each of them. Isn't that family history? But, all that aside, its been a wonderful way for me to be creative... and to write. OH how I love to write. So. I am grateful for my dumb blog. It has been a great creative outlet, and honestly. It's cheaper therapy than a real therapist!

Here's my Random 10 Friday... on a Monday. Come out and play with me!

1. Sleeping to Dream (live) - Jason Mraz
2. Not That Girl - Original Soundtrack, Wicked
3. Belief (acousitc) - John Mayer
4. With or Without You - U2
5. Angel - Sarah McLaughlin
6. Mad World - Michael Andrews *I LOVE this version of this song!! So beautiful! He sounds like Michale Stipe from R.E.M... but its not! Yowzers! *
7. It's Not Over - Daughtry
8. Mayberry - Rascal Flatts
9. Morning Song - Jewel
10. Sparks - Coldplay

bonus: What Is This Feeling? - Original Soundtrack, Wicked

Five years ago, I was sitting in a hospital room, hooked up to an IV drip line and was watching the war in Iraq unfold. I seem to recall having a small debate with my Dad... he was convinced that we would be in and out of Iraq within 30 days. No more. I told him he was up in the night, and further that we really had no business being there. I seem to also recall that he bet me $100 that we would be in out and on with life within that 30 days... humm. I think I would like to collect that $100 dollars now Dad. With Interest!
Anyway...
I was having an emergency induction to get Thing 3 here. She was my little sickie... our baby that cost the most (read:$70k+ No lie!) and the one that I spent over 4 months on bed rest waiting and worrying about her...praying that she would be born healthy and fine. They thought that IF she had kidneys, there was only one... and typically when there is renal problems, there are heart problems. When I would be stressed, then she would be stressed. So. I got to experience the joys of bed rest. The Dr also thought that when she was born, she probably would have a difficult time breathing and would need to go to the NICU. But, when she was born, she was screaming and healthy and happy. All of the things that they feared would be wrong with her were not. She was 100% healthy and such a good little baby. I remember that I cried when all the tests that she had done after day 1 of life came back clear and normal. What a miracle she was... and has been ever since.
She has been my little companion. My little shadow. My little angel. I count my blessings on a daily basis when it comes to my little Thing 3... she is a walking miracle to me. Proof that prayer works. When I find myself being cranky because she is cranky and feisty, (extremely feisty) I remind myself that she has be that way. She had to fight to be here from day one... and so I thank God for my beautiful little, feisty, sometimes quite cranky miracle child.

Today, my little baby turned 5. Five years old. Where did all that time go? It seems like just yesterday I was in that hospital room. Anxious, and waiting, and watching the war in Iraq unfold. ( I will never forget where I was when the war started...)
But, here she is... A big girl now. She woke up this morning and informed us that she was 5, and a big girl now. Then showed us her feet. See? My feet are bigger now, cause I'm five.
She was such an easy baby. Really, I know that's hard to see, but really she was so easy. The toddler years almost killed me. She is so independent. So strong and opinionated. I know now that is a good quality to have, but at the time didn't realize that. She will never be persuaded to do anything that she doesn't want to do. And further, she will never not do something once she has made up her mind to do it. What great qualities to have... just oh so hard in a toddler.

We have spent the day telling Thing 3 all about when we went to the hospital to get her. How we felt, what we were thinking. She was really curious... seeing how Moxie just came home. My biggest concern when we found out we were having Moxie, and then WHEN she coming was that she NOT be born on Thing 3's birthday. I felt very strongly about that. I am glad I was able to convince the Dr. to see things my way. I also did not want her, or the other kids for that matter, to feel pushed aside. So far so good... at least I think.
We have been telling Thing 3 how excited we were, how we picked her name, and how when she was finally born we cried. I was grateful that she was healthy and was actually crying. That was music to my ears. She is my miracle, and I do believe in miracles.

There are so many things about Thing3 that I love. She is such a sensitive child. From the moment of birth, loud noises scared her... they still do. She hates it when people are fighting, and she is always thinking of other people. Whenever we go to the store, she always wants to get a treat "for her big kids"... she has their backs like that. She is the most affectionate kid I know. She loves to cuddle, and give you lots of hugs and kisses. She wants you to know for sure that she loves you, and she is your biggest fan. She LOVES her big kids. Colin can make her laugh like no other, and she just wants Thing 1 to love her. She is my little shadow, always has been. If I leave the room and don't tell her where I am going, pretty soon I will hear her hollering through the house for me... Once she finds me she will say: "Oh. I was just wanting to know where you are Mama!" Sometimes I find it irritating... mostly its endearing. She is such a teaser... she loves to tease everyone. Her sense of humor is quite developed for such a little person! I love that she loves to laugh, and is game for anything that is fun. That makes me happy... that she has a sense of humor. That will get her far in life!


She wants to be good, and do good. She is the one that reminds me to "turn on the scriptures Mama" (we listen to them in the morning while we are all eating our breakfast) She learned in Primary at the beginning of the year that she should read her scriptures. The Primary presidency challenged all the kids to read their scriptures for 5 minutes a day. She took that to heart... and feels bad if she doesn't get it done. When Moxie was born, Jefe told me that in her prayers that night she prayed that "Mama and Moxie would come home soon and be safe and happy". That warms my heart!


She has spent the last year really growing up... and becoming more "reasonable". She has really started developing her reading & writing skills. She LOVES to write notes to people, and draw pictures for them. She spends hours coloring pictures for people... and she is actually quite good at it. She is a little budding Picasso. My artist friend from Chicago told me when she was really little that Thing 3 had the budding artist in her... she had never seen a 18 month old that could properly hold crayons, and be so content to draw for such long periods. I hope she is right. She is also my dancer and singer. One of my favorite things is to hear her in the playroom singing away... just making up songs. Her latest song she made up was about "Her Dad his name is Jefe. My mom her name is Motherboard. My brother, Thing 2, my sister Thing 1 and the baby that's never coming out." I laughed until I cried when I heard that.

So, Happy Birthday Thing 3. I hope you know just how amazing your Mother thinks you are. I hope that some day, when you are old enough to read this blog (which I hope by then I have actually made into a book...) you will realize how much I loved you. And that the ONLY thing I have ever wanted for you is to be happy. You are such an amazing child... and have been blessed from the very beginning. You will go far my little darling. You will go far.
I hope you know how much you are loved... I know Dad tells you this every single day... but we do love you. Very, very much. I am so grateful you are MY Thing 3... because you really have blessed our home. Being your Mother has been one of the greatest things I have ever been able to do.
Thank you.
Happy Birthday baby! I sure do love you!
Love,
Mom

See if you can picture this: Me on the phone trying to explain to my sister, Loubop, how to make the following project... I know that when I was figuring this little project out, I had to actually see it made to finally "get it". I tried to attach the photos to an email, (really. I did. but i am lacking not only in sleep these days, but patience as well it seems) but they are huge, and I'm too tired to try and figure out how to resize the dang things. I decided to hurry and post the project photos here... for everyone's viewing pleasure.
It's easier for me. More boring for my 2 readers, but oh well. It's my blog. Right?!

They are the small red military size Book of Mormon. I covered a bunch (ok like about 40+ of them) for the YW to have (some of the girls, to their credit, did actually try and help... but it was easier for me to just hurry and do it myself) to put in their purses to carry around with them. I wanted it to look like a "notebook" or something so that they wouldn't be 'embarrassed' to be seen in public with their scriptures. They actually turned out SO cute... So, when I got done with the YW's, I did a bunch just for fun. Now I have all these covered BOM's in my house... just because they were so fun to make!
Anyway.
Here are the photos of the project, Loubop... Sorry it took so long to get up. But, Moxie decided she wanted to nurse at the exact same time.
Man.
I AM multi-talented! I can blog AND nurse a baby at the same time.
Who would've ever thought of THAT as a talent?!

You wanna know one of the best things about new babies?? Well. For right now anyway, one of the best things about Moxie is the feeling she brings into my home. She is SO peaceful, and content. Her presence in our home has caused us all to slow down and just be. By that I mean Just be in the moment. Just be with her. Just be. Everything else seems to not be all that important anymore. All the drama of families, Jr. High, callings, friends, blah blah blah... Moxie is SO peaceful that all that other stuff is just forgotten, because we just want to be in the moment. I love that about new babies. They really ARE peaceful... Moxie especially so. She is not a crier. I have to really pay attention to see when she is awake, because she is content to lay in her bed and wait... she does cry when I change her diaper... because that means she is OH. SO. COLD.
She hates that.
Otherwise... she is perfect.
Last night, Thing 1 sat and held Moxie for almost an hour... just holding her. Watching her. Talking to her. When she finally put her down, she came and found Jefe, gave him a big hug and sighing the deepest sigh said: "Oh Dad. I just LOVE the way Moxie makes me feel!" We all do!

Thing 1 was trying to convince me to let her try all of Moxie's clothes on her yesterday. I looked at her puzzled and said 'You mean you want to play dress up with Moxie?' She smiled a sly smile and said 'Yeah. I want to try all her clothes on her and see how cute she looks.' I had to remind her that Moxie is REAL, and not a doll. But, seriously, how cute is THAT?? My almost 13 year old wants to play"dress up" with her baby sister!

I love the feeling in my home right now... Peaceful and calm. The trick is figuring out how to help it stay here. We are much happier, and I just want to maintain that feeling past tomorrow. That's the trick. If you know how to do that, let me know!
Anyway. Thats one of many things I love about having Moxie home... I am sure I will be discovering more.

Moxie has arrived, 7.1 lbs, 20 inches long, 1:00 p.m., Mom happy, family happy, Moxie happy.
The End.

This is NOT baby Moxie... did I psych you out?? :>

This is E.C.P... Loubop's new babe! Isn't he darling?? He hated having his first bath! And from what I understand, he has quite the set of lungs on him~ That will be good for him... All the better to be heard with!
Not so good for the rest of his family.
But, being the last one... those good strong lungs will serve him well!

1 baby down, 2 more to go!!

I grew up in a family of all girls. Yes. The hormone levels were out of control at times. (read: we all had our periods are that same time... eek!) My poor, poor father. He was totally out numbered... we even had a hormonal girl dog. (i will save the hormonal girl dog stories for later)
There were cat fights over clothes, and bathroom time, and your "too noisy in the morning"...

But, it was wonderful too. We may have fought a lot, but we always watched each others backs. ALWAYS. Blood will always run thicker than water. And having 3 sisters has been a huge blessing. You always have someone you can go to for advice, or a shoulder to cry on , or a pick me up... I wish we all lived closer together. But, alas, only 2 of the 4 live nearby.

3 out of the 4 of us are pregnant right now. I had someone ask me recently if we had all planned it that way. My response was "EWWWWW! Thats so gross."
NO. We didn't plan it that way. It just sort of happened... can you imagine the hormone levels and emotions if we were all able to be together right now?? yikes! (you would definitely need to run and hide Dad!)

My sister, Loubop, had her baby yesterday. He is beautiful!! My mom will fly out this weekend to go take care of her... and that is as it should be! All her kids are under the age of 7. She will most definitely need the help!
I am excited that we will have 3 babies that will all be the same age... doing the same things... being friends. How fun for us, and how fun for the babies!

So, there once was 3 pregnant girls... And now, there are 2!

p.s. I will ask Loubop if I can post some photos of the cutie pie...

"The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face." –Jack Handey


I just finished reading this book... again. For the 3rd time. This last time I read it, I used sticky tabs and a highlighter. Just so that I could find answers quickly! (it has sort of become my handbook of how to handle teenage girls... ) Seriously. I am not a big non-fiction reader. I had to do TOO much of that in college, so I usually read for entertainment. However, this book is fascinating! If you have seen the movie Mean Girls then you have a basic understanding of this book. They based that movie off this book. I read this book about 6 years ago and gave a presentation on it at church. I used several clips from the movie (there is a documentary in the special selections part from Roslind Wiseman) and it was SO enlightening!
This last time I read it, it was interesting to me to see that this concept not only applies to teenagers, but also adults. I could see the social structure in my neighborhood, and point out all the rolls that everyone is playing. I reflected on past wards I have been in, and was able to do the same. Anyone who is the mother of girls should read this book... And further, I think ANYONE who has to interact with women should read this book. It is SO enlightening! I am excited because I just picked up her sequel Queen Bee Mom's and King Pin Dads
(I am of the opinion that the mean girl behavior is learned, typically, in the home...) I have heard that its excellent. I am always looking for ways to interact with people who are uber opinionated (yes. I know that I am too) and to learn how to do it in ways that aren't 'offensive'. My sister, islandmom, says this book is amazing.
The thing that I found so interesting in reading this book, as that it said that a girls self esteem is pretty well set in grades 5th and 6th(depending on how her peers treat her and such). And, if they are having difficulties in those grades, it can be detrimental to their psyche. I also found it interesting that at some point or another, most girls will play each of the rolls discussed in the book. Whether it be in childhood, adolescence or adulthood. Looking back on my life, I can say that little tidbit of information is totally true.

However, I do feel that the author missed an important item. I get that the book was about how to deal with "mean girls", however, I think that it is possible to be a "queen bee" and not be mean, but be a force for good. I think its possible to be that "queen bee" and be a person that others look up to, and want to try and emulate and follow and be friends with just because she makes others feel so good about themselves. I have a couple of friends like that back in Illinois. Everyone wants to be their friend because they are so well liked, and leave others feeling better than when they found them.

The trick, I think, is how to teach our girls to be THAT kind of "queen bee"?? I have been thinking a lot about that, and I think that it boils down to this: (sorry. I have to get a little religious on you right now...) teaching our girls about their Divine Worth. I LOVE this quote by Sheri Dew:

"Noble and great. Courageous and determined. Faithful and fearless. That is who you are, and that is who you have always been. Understanding that truth can change your life, because this knowledge carries a confidence that cannot be duplicated any other way."

I think that is the key to helping our girls become, what I like to call "The good queen bee". If she has that sure knowledge, then she will have an amazing amount of confidence-- that can not be duplicated any other way-- and not care what others think... She will be happy just being herself and will be able to enjoy life. She will do her best to make others feel the same way that she does.
Anyway.
That was a long discourse about why I love this book, and think you all should run out right now and buy them both! You seriously wont regret it!

Random 10 Friday.
I love Random 10 Friday.
I love music. I have blogged on numerous occasions about how I live my life in a musical. I will be having experiences and find myself thinking: "Oh. right now in my "life movie" I would play this song, and then we would all break out into a dance."
Yes. Nerdy. I know. Oh well.

The baby is coming on Monday. I'm excited and little scared too. I really hate labor. I am a giant boo-waa baby when it comes to pain. I told the Dr to make sure that the anesthesiologist meets me at the door, and gets that epidural going while we walk down to my room. He thought I was kidding.
I wasn't.
Anyway. It will be good to get her here, and try to get back to some sort of "normal"... whatever that is!
Post your random 10 people, and have a fantastic weekend... I'll be thinking of you on Monday.

Not really. :>

ps. read an article HERE about the "Mean Girl syndrome. SO fascinating!!

1. Be Be Your Love - Rachael Yamagata *she is SO yummy!!*
2. It's Not Over - Daughtry
3. Lovesick Blues - Ryan Adams
4. One Good Love(live) - Rascal Flatts
5. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
6. The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani
7. Gone Away From Me - Ray LaMontagne
8. Clarity - John Mayer
9. Letting Go - Suzy Bogguss
10. Curbside Prophet (live) - Jason Mraz

bonus: Come Pick Me Up - Ryan Adams

I have a confession to make. I hate listening to my children practice the piano. I know. I know. I just won the worst mother of the year award. But, seriously. I really really dislike listening to them practice the piano. Mostly because I have played pretty much every single song they are learning, and I can HEAR when they are playing the wrong note or the rhythm is completely WRONG. I try really hard to not freak out. I try really hard to let them "learn" the pieces on their own. But, seriously, there are times when I JUST. CAN'T. TAKE. IT. ANY. LONGER.
And I find myself running into the room hollering "WHOA! That is SO not right!" and then I tell them to scoot over so I can play it right... I know. It truly is a sickness on my part.
I try really hard not to get mad. (why I would get mad is beyond me, but sometimes, hearing them butcher the piece of music is more than I can handle) I try to not yell out from where ever I am in the house "thats not right" OR, "is that one of your assigned songs?"Or, "Slow down. We're not going to the races! You'll play it better if you SLOW IT DOWN!" OR their personal favorite (I'm sure they'll tell you otherwise) "You're not counting. Slow it down. C.O.U.N.T. please. Please count. Please, for the the love of all that's holy, count!"
When I do loose it, and start my Tibetan monk chat of "count count count. you're not counting. please count." Thing 2 will usually start acting like I am beating him with a rubber hose. Thing 1 just rolls her eyes and says: "I AM counting, just not loud enough for you to hear."
Seriously??!
I may be old, but people, I do still have my hearing AND a sense of rhythm (just wait till I show you my awesome dance moves! ha!)
So.
That is my confession. I HATE listening to my children practice the piano.
I love to hear them play the pieces once they have learned them.... but practicing.
Eh. Not so much.
I am glad its getting to be spring so that I can go outside and hide. It will save what little sanity I have left. Not to mention my dignity. It really is pathetic to get so worked up over practicing. I get this. I totally KNOW this. I just can't seem to help it.
sigh.
I guess that's why I am the Queen of Crazyland!

I absolutely LOVE this book! It is one of my all time favorites! When Thing 1 was little (read: under 3) every time we would go through a tunnel on a road, she would yell out "Can't go over it, can't go under it. Oh! No! You gotta go 'tru-it'!"

This book describes perfectly where I am right now.
"I can't go over it, I can't go under it! Oh! No! I gotta go through it!"
What do I have to go through, you ask.
Oh. nothing really.
Just LABOR. (read: holy cow! I really do have to do this, and there really is No way around it, just through it! AND I am a gigantic boo-waa baby when it comes to pain...breathe... breathe...)

Now, if we can just keep it going! It's sort of stuck. I'm ready. I'm contracting. I'm just...there.

Thank heavens for that scheduled induction people. Otherwise, I could become the first postal pregnant woman. AND, according to my friend, tracytreehouse, seeing a 9 month pregnant lady go postal on the news is VERY tacky and Oh SO trailer trashy!

I promise.
I wont.
Yet.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the whole Forgiveness thing. Its such a tricky thing. I have a hard time letting go of stuff, just because to do so would me that I have absolutely nothing to hang over that persons head any longer, and nothing to beat them with.
I read this book a couple of years back, and it was AMAZING! I have pulled it out recently, because I have felt compelled to re-visit forgiveness.

I had some people in my neighborhood do some things that really upset/hurt me and my family this past summer. It was serious. It was awful and it was cause for police intervention. (no. I am not exaggerating) We (meaning Jefe) chose to take the "high road" if you will. If it had been left up to me, I would have been the leader of the pack with the lit torches, ready to make the all out assault! Really. I was that upset. I was out for blood, and really, have been out for blood for over a year now. It ruined a friendship of mine. It ruined a friendship of one of my children. Basically, it broke my heart. Quite literally. Jefe was able to forgive and move on. He would repeatedly tell me that "we will forgive, but that doesn't mean that we forget what happened".
Honestly, I haven't forgotten what happened, and further, I have really had a hard time forgiving as well.
However, lately, I have had nothing but forgiveness on my mind. When I can't sleep, I have often found myself thinking about how to forgive and move on like Jefe has. I want to feel peace in my life again. Then I remembered THIS book... I have to preface this next statement with this: I HATE it when people say that books change their lives. That is SO cliche. AND FURTHER, I have always felt like people who said that were just being posers! But, that being said, the book The Peacegiver really DID change my life!

As I have been struggling with this whole forgiveness issue, I have had things from this book come to my mind. It was as if The Lord were gently guiding me in a direction that the natural man in me was fighting to go.
I have been thinking A LOT about the whole sordid affair, and how to forgive and move on when, I feel, the Lord blessed me with my own tender mercy.
I was talking with one of my children earlier in the week, and "the issue" came up. We talked about it, and then she said something that was a slap in my face.
"Well. Mom. I don't really remember what happened, but they said they were sorry. And, now that means they are forgiven. So we will forgive them too."
How could she have known that this was what I was struggling with? She didn't. But, The Lord did, and he knew that my child would be able to get me to listen. She was right. I can't have this burden any longer. But, the most amazing thing to me, and the tender mercy that was shown me, was when she said "I don't remember what happened, but they are forgiven."
That was my slap in the face.
That was MY tender mercy.
And THAT was an answer to my prayers.

I NEVER EVER recommend church books (mostly because I very rarely read them) but, on this occasion, I will recommend this book. It is mind blowing, and it really will change your life.

Guess what I heard this morning (read: 8:30am) when I left to go to the Doctor...

Do you think that means Spring is finally here? What a beautiful sound it was to hear those birds! I am so glad they are back! Thing 3 loves birds... she has ever since before she could talk. We had a lot of trees in our yard back in Illinois... and she would sit at the back window and get so excited every time she would see a bird. We bought her a bird house and bird feeder so that she could always have birds to look at.
Our house was smack dab in the middle of the Canadian geese migratory path. Every fall and spring for days and days, you would hear the geese flying over our home. Sometimes, they would be so loud, that I wouldn't be able to carry on conversations on the phone. Really. I always loved it in the spring when I would hear the geese squawking... it was music to my ears. It meant that the long and dreary winter was finally coming to an end.

So the birds chirping this morning... Their chirping was music to my ears.

My friend, Queen Elizabeth, has this AMAZING video on her blog right now.
Holy Cannoli, Batman!
Its awesome!!
Every once in a while its nice to get a healthy dose of perspective knocked into you.
This will definitely do that.
Go to her blog, watch the video and then say a little prayer of thanks.
You'll be glad you did!

Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night." - Charles M. Schulz

I have a bunch of random thoughts floating around in my brain, so I think I will just throw them out here so that I can start thinking more clearly. Just hang tight... cause we're going to be jumping all over!

1) Who do PR people think are watching Infomercials in the middle of the night? (obviously, me, but I mean, who else?) The CRAP they are trying to sell us, and convince us that we need... Are they for real and do they think we are THAT stupid? I saw last night, when I couldn't sleep, the most ridiculous infomercials...
a. How to make a million dollars on eBay. Send in $49.99 and we will teach you how to sell your crap on Ebay.
Riiiiight.
b. How to style your hair from the inside out with this amazing hair straightener thing... Um. Won't that sort of hurt??
c. "Save your life" power juicer. This juicer is supposedly going to SAVE YOUR LIFE! If you don't buy it, you WILL die. (for real that was their tag line)
d. Motionless weight loss. HUH? (need I say more about that one? I mean isn't the whole point of exercise/weight loss the idea that you need to GET OFF THE COUCH?)
E. Magic Jack. I seriously don't get this one. Pay $39.95 for a year of free phone service. Then each year after that its only $19.99 per year to have phone service. All because you have bought.. ahem. this "Magic phone jack".
Seriously.
F. Clean Colon - the secret to your health and vitality. It was sort of a "You and your colon" infomercial. They were really playing on peoples fears of Cancer. Frankly, it grossed me out when he started talking about all the goo on the walls of my intestines...
ICK!
Infomercials. I REALLY don't get them.

2) Why does my dog choose 3am to start running around and playing? I usually don't have her necklace on her (as Thing 3 likes to call her collar and tags) but, Thing 3 was convinced that she was going to get lost, and the necklace needed to be on her. Uh. Yeah. That makes for a very noisy 3am. She was throwing her ball all around... running from room to room to check on the things... having a great time. I am sure this happens on a regular basis, but I usually don't hear it.
Yeah.
It was annoying.

3) Why can I always come up with these hilarious posts in the middle of the night, but when I get around to writing them, I can never remember them? My sister, ima10cow and I were just talking about this yesterday. We think of the most HILARIOUS stuff in the middle of the night, but by the time we get around to writing it down we are like an Alzheimer's patient...

4) When is Moxie going to make her grand appearance?

5) I really wish that my prayers could be answered as fast as Google answers my questions.
I know.
GASP!
How sac religious of me... But seriously. I type a question into Google and within 2.1 seconds I have answers. I just wish my prayers would get answered that fast... AND be that obvious!

6) Why is forgiveness so hard? Especially when you have been the "victim" (I so HATE that word) and have done nothing to cause the harm that has happened? Jefe is amazing with this, and can so easily forgive. I forgive too. BUT, when it involves my kiddos, I have a tendency to light the torches. Why is it harder to forgive others when they hurt those we love?

7) Junior High Girls. Need I say more? Why are they so damn mean?
Seriously! I was walking down the hall at the junior high yesterday, and about had a complete aneurysm with the crap I was hearing come out of girls mouths. Just plain meanness, and for no other reason than to just be mean. What is the point? (then there was the whole girl on girl lovin' thing that I witnessed, and I had to restrain myself from COMPLETELY FREAKING OUT... but that is a post for an entirely different day...)

8) I listen to my sisters, and friends talk about their stresses with their little kids... and I find myself longing for the days when my kids were all little.
At home.
Under my roof and my protection.
Without cell phones.
For those of you who have teenagers, you may see where I am coming from, but really. Teenagers are difficult. They have opinions. They have ideas. They may not be the same as yours. Kids are mean in so many different totally MEAN ways now... I wish I could rewind back to when everyone was happy sitting on the couch together watching Arthur and eating Popsicles. Much much easier! Or, easier in the emotional sense anyway.

9) And that brings me to my next random thought... I really like the TV show Arthur.
I know. I have just revealed how totally dorky I am. But, really. It is such an awesome show. I have tried really hard to get Thing 3 to like this cartoon, but she hates it. (now they have Postcards from Buster too... and my other favorite cartoon is Fosters Home For Imaginary Friends... That show is hilarious! Thing 2 and I watch that together a lot. wow. i AM a total dork!)
If I did what I really wanted, I would sit down and watch it... alone. But that would be more pathetic than this confession: When I was in Jr High and High school, the cool show to watch was Days of Our Lives. A tacky soap opera. All the girls would run home to watch Days, as we all liked to call it. My cousins were ADDICTED! Really. I would ask them regularly what was happening, so that I could pretend to be cool and be watching Days... When in reality I was running home not to watch Days, but to watch... ahem...
The Walton's.
I know.
I really AM pathetic!
It's not that I couldn't watch Days, my Mom didn't care. I just didn't get it.
I liked The Walton's.
Now I like Arthur.
Yes, I'm a dork.

10) Raise your hand if you are sick of the PRE Presidential race...
I rest my case! (and we have 8 more months until we get to actually vote. sheesh people! don't get me wrong. I am a political person. i like to consider myself educated on the candidates, but this is getting a bit ridiculous!)

So. That's the randomness that has been floating around in my brain lately. If you made it through all that... you're dedicated. Today has been a beautiful day! Sunny and its actually starting to warm up! Thank heavens!

Oh. Any day now, Moxie should be making her appearance. If not by the 17th, then the Doctor will induce me on that day.
So either way... Only 1o more days people.
Ten.
(applause)
We got the new pack n' play set up, and the new car seat and stroller set up. (i keep my babies in the pack n' play in my room until their about 3-4 months old. just cause I'm a freak that way) .
The clothes are washed, and ready... so all we need now is a cute little baby.
Anyway...
Here's my random 10 Friday that came up all random like on Rhapsody. What are you listening too? Have a wonderful weekend!


1. Idiot Boyfriend - Jimmy Fallon
2. Where You Are - Rascal Flatts
3. Everybody Wake Up - Dave Matthews Band
4. Rainbow - G. Love & Special Sauce
5. Realize - Colbie Caillat
6. Known For Years - Rachael Yamagata
7. Mr. Roboto - Styx
8. Forever Blue (acoustic) - Chris Isaak
9. Strawberry Wine - Ryan Adams
10. See You Soon (live) - Coldplay

Bonus: Sleeping To Dream - Jason Mraz

I wish I could've been a fly on the wall earlier tonight to hear the following conversation between Thing 3 and Jefe.
Everyone was vegging in or on our bed (cuddling with Dad) watching T.V. (except me of course, because I was busy doing something VERY productive, like solving the national budget deficit, or coming up with world peace, or maybe cleaning the kitchen...)

Thing3: Dad, your belly isn't as big as Mom's belly.
Jefe: Really?
T3: Yeah. I can't cuddle with her like this anymore, I have to cuddle with her like this (contorts her body into the shape of a C)
Jefe: Well. That's cause Moxie is in there.
T3:Yeah. Her belly pushes her chest up, and her chest pushes her chin up. Her chin pushes her nose up and her nose pushes her hair up.
Jefe: (laughing) Really?!
T3: Yeah. But, I can cuddle with you.

This little interchange leaves me with just one question:
Does that mean I have big hair??

"Mom, can I sing on the 'reck-a-noli'?"
The what?
The 'reck-a-noli' machine. I want to sing on it.
Um I don't know what that is, Thing 3. What is a 'reck-a-noli' machine?
Rolling her eyes and running away, she quickly comes back and hands me a microphone.
"The reck-a-noli machine... this thing goes to it."
OOOOHHHHHH!
You mean the karaoke?
(I totally see the resemblance, don't you? Reck-a-noli.... Karaoke... nope. don't even sound the same)
She is now happily singing on the 'reck-a-noli' (a.k.a. the karaoke) "On Top Of Spaghetti".
Sigh.
I love hearing my kids sing!!

I think a Diva is in the making!

p.s. my camera is STILL broken.
sniff sniff.
i hope to have it fixed BEFORE Moxie gets here! Thats why we are few on the photos of the Things...

Moxie just might have a name!

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about blogging, and what it has meant for me. Then I ran across several posts on blogs that I read ( here and here and here or here ) that have been talking about the same issue... People hating on people who blog. Calling us narcissistic or self promoting, or my favorite, a time waster (actually said to me recently: wow. you have too much time on your hands if you blog... or my favorite: what DO you do with your children while you waste all that time on the Internet? (i tie them up and stuff 'em in the closet) is having parenthesis inside parenthesis even legal?).
I totally disagree.
Why do I have to defend my hobby?
I don't criticize other peoples hobbies. I may not do them, understand them or even like them... but if it makes you happy, who am I to judge? What makes 1 persons hobby more "acceptable" than another persons hobby?
I have been pondering this... a lot lately. I have been asking myself the following questions...
1) Do I waste a lot of time on the Internet? I don't think so.
2) Do I ignore my other responsibilities? (read:family, house & church callings) NO!
3) Am I doing something 'morally' wrong by engaging in this hobby? 100% NO!

And, while doing this introspection, I discovered some things that I thought I would explain. First, when I blog, it may or may not be the actual time that is posted on the post. Usually it's not. I have a habit of back posting... a lot. Rarely do I actually post something at the exact day & time that it says its being posted. That way, if I happen to not be able to sleep, I can write stuff, and then save it to be posted at different times. If Jefe happens to be home, I can write stuff, and not feel like I am ignoring my family. If I have ideas that I am tossing around in my little puny brain, I tend to start writing them, and save them... I work on them over time. I don't sit at the computer all day, doing nothing but blogging.
But then how, do you ask, are you able to keep up on so many different blogs, and further why? Well.
Let me tell you.
First of all, I like to read, I like to learn and I like to know things. I appreciate other peoples opinions. When I read or better LOOK at other peoples blogs, I get ideas. It's sort of like looking at magazines for me (don't scrap bookers do that all the time? Look at magazines to get ideas?). It gets the creative juices flowing.
I look at a lot of photography blogs, to get ideas on things or ways to take photos. But, I don't look at them all every single time I check my email... I let Google do that for me. I subscribe to Google reader. It's wonderful! I put in the blogs that I am interested in following, and Google reader will then update them all in 1 place so that I don't have to jump around looking at all the various blogs.

Next, this hobby of blogging has been a life saver for me. When we moved here (read: me kicking and screaming) it helped me to have a place to vent, and a way to stay connected with my friends I left behind. I was lonely, and needed a way to feel connected with others. Blogging did that for me. My blog has helped my brain get off dead center (meaning being used for more than just Blues Clues interpretation and maid work) and actually come up with something intelligent. (i hope)

When I lost my baby in 2006, it was a wonderful outlet for me. I was able to write my feelings down... get my anger and sadness out.
Some I posted.
Most I did not.
But, it was therapeutic for me to have a way to get my emotions out.
It has also been wonderful for me to be able to see that other people go through the same things that I do. I am not alone, nor am I crazy. (i have often thought i was certifiable!) Reading others thoughts has helped me to understand myself better, and see things that I would like to be doing, or things I would like to change about myself. (You can tell that I introspect a lot. I don't know if that's good or bad, but I do)
Lastly, Blogging has helped me to start/maintain some sort of family history. I have always been a huge scrap booker. I love creating and molding and working with the whole paper thing. But, when I moved here, I stopped creating. I always meant to write down the funny stuff my kids did and said, but I always forgot. Blogging has helped me to capture our daily life... no matter how boring it is. I have been able to capture more memories here on my blog than I ever did in scrap booking. I still love to scrapbook, don't get me wrong. But, when there is no one to share that with... well. Blogging has taken its place.
Then there are the proverbial answers of: blogging has helped me stay connected or it has helped me re-connect; its helped me feel apart of something and helped me to stretch and grow; its helped me learn useful skills (really. these are useful skills!) that can be translated into employment if need be. But, the end is really this: blogging makes me happy. I like to write, and create things. I like to take photos and I like to read. Blogging accomplishes all those things for me.
So.
If you think blogging is a waste of time, or stupid, or narcissistic... please keep that to yourself!
Lets just be happy for each other! Lets comfort when we need to, celebrate when called for and Cheer when we each find success or things that make us happy!
Deal?
Deal!

I SO wanted my baby to born on Leap Day. I know, thats really weird of me. But, I did. I mean, how cool is that to be able to choose what day you celebrate your birthday? Will it be February 28th this year or March 1st?? OR I'm sick of the whole winter birthday, so this year I will celebrate my birthday on August 29th... How totally cool to get to pick the day you celebrate your birthday for 3 years...
But.
Alas.
She wasn't born on leap day. According to Jefe, Moxie is still in the "docking station". He keeps asking me when I think she is going to come.
Uh. I have NO idea.
He has been asking me to try and "arrange" her to be born on a Friday afternoon... cause that's easier to take off from work.
Uh.
Ok.
Let me have a little chat with Moxie...
"Moxie, your dad really needs you to be born on a Friday, preferably in the afternoon. Can we work that out for this next friday?? Maybe starting around noon and being done by... oh. Lets say no later than 4pm?! Thanks. That'd be great!"
I wait.
I listen.
I hear nothing.
Jefe, I guess she is telling us she will come when she comes.

On another note... I go SO much done on Leap day. It was like having an extra day. (not really... but that's what everyone says, right?)
I washed the baby clothes, washed the big kids clothes, cleaned 3 bathrooms, cleaned the playroom, kitchen, living room and family rooms. I dusted most of the baseboards in the house and also dusted the rest of the house. I cleaned my room, and vacuumed the entire house.
Whew.
I'm tired.
I even contemplated starting to paint... just the baseboards... I SO want to paint the entire house... but thankfully I came to my senses.
But. The house is clean, and that feels great!