Is it weird. . .

That me, a 35 (almost 36) year old mother of four really likes this song by Jesse McCartney?

FYI: I didn't put the link to the real video because it is a little too racy.

Pictures

We went up to the tow yard today and took pictures of the car. Again, it is a miracle my husband and boys not only survived, but essentially walked away from it.

Gratitude

I have been thinking about gratitude this weekend. On Friday evening, Dentist husband and my two sons were in a serious car accident. So serious, that every eyewitness told me that they didn't expect to see anyone alive inside the car when all was said and done. In short, my husband's car was rear ended in such a way that it was sent rolling several times on I-80. Fortunately, the eye witnesses who ran to the car, found two very alive but scared little boys and one unconscious man, who after a trip in an ambulance and five plus hours in the ER ended up with only a lot of bruising and superficial cuts and scratches on his body. It is a miracle they are alive.


So, here is my list of things I am grateful for in light of this accident:


1. The good Samaritan who called me to tell me about it and first said, "Your boys are fine. Your husband is awake and alert and moving his hands but they have been in a serious car accident."


2. The good Samaritan who gave my kids her cell phone so I could talk to them the whole time I was driving to the accident.


3. The nurse good Samaritan who rushed to the car and held my husband's neck in place until the EMT's arrived. She also checked out my sons and was very good at giving me directions to the ER they were taking my husband to.


4. The kind EMTs who told me before I got to the accident that it appeared as if my husband's injuries where superficial and that his hands and arms were OK. (I kept saying, "He is a dentist and needs his hands. Are his hands OK?)


5. The wonderful people who took such good care of my kids until I got there because they had taken my husband away in an ambulance. The same good people who gave me such good information about what happened (he was reared ended by an older gentleman who confused the gas and brake pedal) and warned me about the seriousness of everything without sounding panicky or distraught. (That helped me keep my cool in that I always cry when someone else cries.)

6. The wonderful doctors, nurses, and hospital employees and volunteers at the ER who took such great care of my husband, kids and me.

7. My best friend from growing up, Diane, who came up to the hospital (leaving her own kids) to watch my kids, so I could be back with my husband. She was a life saver.

8. My sister, who called my best friend and asked her to come up and be at the hospital.

9. The nice lady at Shopko Eye Care center who immediately ordered new glasses for my son and husband and put a rush on them, so they will arrive early this coming week.

10. Our wonderful eye doctor who came in on a Saturday afternoon to check out my husband's eye which showed some worrisome eye symptoms. (They are worrisome but he confirmed his eye is fine and his eye is healing.)

11. The makers of the Subaru WRX who made a car that somehow protected my husband and sons during a multiple roll over accident.

12. The great car insurance people at Progressive who have been prompt and kind in dealing with this.

13. The nice sheriff on the scene to who called later to check on the boys and my husband.

14. My husband for having himself and the boys in seat belts. If they hadn't been in them, there would have for sure been fatalities.

15. Most importantly, a loving Heavenly Father who protected my husband and sons. We know most people don't survive things like this (our car insurance ward member informed us of this fact) and for some unknown reason, we were spared serious tragedy. We are so blessed and realize divine intervention was the only thing that can explain this blessing in our lives.

Two Year Old Hair

In preparation for a family picture, I have spent the last few mornings trying to figure out the best way to curl toothsome #4's hair.

Toothsome #4 is a crazy baby and spends most of her days hollering, "I do yit." Here she is with hot rollers in her hair. (I learned quickly that she has no patience for sponge rollers and takes them out before they have done anything.) So, hot rollers it is.
After they were taken out by her after about 3 minutes--again, "I do yit"--this is the results. Trying to get her to hold still for a picture was near impossible.


Please bless the curls stay in long enough for our very expensive family photo session in a few weeks.

Sometimes I am an Awesome Scout Leader

Tonight was Pack Meeting and in preparations for the Pinewood Derby, which we are doing next month, we had a Lego Car Derby tonight. It was my idea and yes, I will pat myself on the back for this one. It was a huge success and I am now passing on the info to all of you people out there.

At lego.com I purchased a box of just wheels. This is what I bought and where I bought it. As you can see, it was not cheep but I have two boys, boxes of legos and I knew we would use them, so no I didn't turn in my receipt.

I had one table set up that just had the wheels on them and I was the wheel lady. The boys came to me to get their wheels and traded different sizes with me as they wanted them.
Here is the race track. These were made from aluminum siding that was bent up on the sides. I didn't do exact measurements but I would say they were four inches across and about 10 feet long. A man in our stake donated the siding and made them for us.
Our pack has two wards in it so we had two different tables, set up, across the room from each other with legos on them. The den leader in the one ward brought her son's legos and I brought my son's Legos. We threatened the boys to only use the legos from their respective tables, so they wouldn't be combined. We also made it very clear that they would not be bringing the legos or the wheels home with them. I must be a great threatener, because the boys were great about keeping the legos separate and neither family lost legos and I have all of the wheels back.
Here is our Cub master, manning the racing station. She would have the boys line up and race their cars by doing just a simple, "On your marks, get set, go."
Here is toothsome #1 with one of his lego car creations.

The boys quickly learned that the longer and the heavier their cars were, the faster they would go. Most boys started out with a simple brick-like idea and then reworked their cars. Also, because I did purchase the wheel set, the boys experimented with different wheel sizes.

I can't express again, how great and easy this activity was! The parents, the little siblings, the older siblings (one 15ish boy was really into it)--everyone got involved and had a great time. So yes, sometimes, I am a great scout leader, other times--like driving them 45 minutes to visit a very lame recycling center, not so much, but tonight, I rocked.

Canyon Cooking

One of the greatest things about living so close to the mountains is being able to go up regularly and roast hot dogs, make Smores and hang out around the fire.

We haven't done it much this summer, but made up for it by going alot so far this Fall. Already, we have plans to go again this weekend. Every year we try to time it so we go up one last time before the first snow fall. We still have plenty of time, but already we are talking about doing it again this year.

Cute toothsome number 4 next to the beginnings my husbands "rockin" log cabin fire.
This my attempt to take a picture to prove that I was there. Not so flattering of me but great of toothsome #2. Notice our Honda mini van in the back. I love that car.
Toothsome #1 with his hatchet. Again, at home, he would never be allowed to "play" with a hatchet and a log but up the canyon--always.
We have a favorite spot with a lot of great climbing rocks. The kids are in heaven, I am in heaven and so is dentist husband.

When Dentist husband was in dental school, we had a favorite spot about 5 minutes from our house (up Flagstaff, for those of you familiar with Boulder, CO) and we ate up their regularly and developed a favorite meal we called, "Cow in a Cave" which is steak and mushrooms eaten in a hollowed out end of french bread. So, we feel so lucky to be close to great mountains and continue enjoying our Canyon cooking.

FYI: We not big camping people, but big go up for the evening and enjoying the mountains kind of people.

Things are Looking Up

Just when you think you are full of with sadness, toothsome #3 lightens the mood by sincerely asking for a urinal for Christmas. Thanks little guy. It helped with my mood.

I'm Usually a Positive Person but today I feel like Posting What is currently Frustrating Me

OK, here is my list:

1. Last night, we attended my son's soccer game and he didn't play one minute of it. Yes, we were gone the whole month of August and missed a ton of practices, yes, this is competitive soccer, yes, I didn't pay the extra money for a summer long soccer camp but after the team was beating us 4-1, the coach could have put him in. I love this coach, I love this team, but it broke my heart to see only the starters play the whole game. FYI: There were other boys who didn't play the entire game either. I wish we had stayed up the canyon last night. My son then wouldn't have been crying on the way home.

2. Ward boundaries: There has been a rumor floating around that they were going to realign the ward boundaries in our stake. We need it big time. In the last few months, our ward has lost about 7 strong families. Our ward is now tiny. The pews are empty. I am doing a minimum of three callings. In a short time, we will have less than 10 young men in our ward. We are in a dying ward. It is the smallest ward I have ever lived in and that includes areas in my Argentine mission. Yesterday, I found out another family is moving out because our ward is so small and their son needs to be in a ward with young men his age. I am very close to this family. I have cried with them over their concerns. They have listened to my fears and worries and were one of the few families who reached out to me and my husband during a hard trial of our faith. (Yes, even returned missionaries, full tithe payers sometimes have them.) They have been very vocal about their worries and wanting the boundaries changed and instead of compassion, they have gotten unkind things said about them which is very unfair. I stand by them and their decision and truth be known, if things don't change, we will be facing a similar decision soon. I support my leaders. I know they have hard things to deal with and a lot of hard difficult decisions need to be made when changing boundaries. I know it isn't easy and feel for them too. But, at times it feels will we are being abandoned. I have not even heard a word of "We know you guys are struggling. We feel for you and know we are working on fixing it." That would be nice to hear and I believe that is how they feel. I am currently, just so sad to lose such great people and friends and worry about what this will do to an already hurting ward.

3. Sickness: The fall is my favorite time of year. I get giddy with excitement when the air gets cooler. However, this fall, my house has been plagued by minor sickness. We have had stomach flus, colds and migraines.

On a side note, many friends have asked me why I don't have a Nie Nie link on my blog. They know I read about the Nielson family and their horrific airplane accident that left them severely burned. Their blog is on my Favorites list on my computer. The story itself hits very close to home to me because my husband is a private pilot and that could conceivably happen to me. That said, I don't have a link because this world is so full of tragedy, I don't feel right just focusing on one. I completely support all the efforts on their behalf and encourage people to keep supporting them. I think it is WONDERFUL! But for me personally, I am choosing to not highlight them here specifically on my blog in deference to all of the others out there who are in need.

Anyway, I promise to post something more positive again next time. Currently, my heart is breaking for those around me (and little for myself. :) ).

Something to Think About When You Decide Who to Vote For in the Election

My friend Noelle posted this on her blog:

"We all have things we've regretted saying, or writing, but on a day like today, this is one for the record books:(from a 2003 New York Times article detailing a proposal by President Bush to create a new agency to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which would have been the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis, and which was later rejected by congress)

"'These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis,'' said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. ''The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.'"

uhhhh....also from the article: "Among the groups denouncing the proposal today were the National Association of Home Builders and Congressional Democrats who fear that tighter regulation of the companies could sharply reduce their commitment to financing low-income and affordable housing."

Just thought it was important enough to post over here at my blog.

It Appears as If I am Not Raising an animal rights activist

At least once a month, we have a family movie night. This weekend, I suggested having one and recommended to my kids the movie, "Free Willy." I remember liking the movie when it came out (particularly the Michael Jackson song that went with it) and since we were just at Sea World, I thought my kids would like it. Toothsome #4 age 2 still walks around the house waving her arms and hollering, "Shamu Shamu".

Anyway, my oldest said, "I don't really want to see it Mom." When I asked why, he said, "Because the whole movie will be about, "Save the whales, save the whales. Blah blah blah. We just need to remember to save the whales."

Hmm. It appears as if I am not raising an animal rights activist.

More Sale Info

As you all know, I love pass on sale info, so here is my latest discoveries. Just so you know, I only pass on things I personally buy myself. So, you are stuck with my taste in things but you also know that I stand behind the info.

Anyway, Hannah Andersson currently has a great pajama sale. I picked up my kid's Christmas Eve PJ's today. So, go here This is the link to their sale in general, not just their PJs. FYI: I did order this for me. It matched this perfectly which is a Lands End product. The color is a little wierd but the skirt fits perfectly on my body type and will be nice for the colder months ahead.

Also Kodakgallery has free shipping on orders over $25 until the 19th. You have to enter the code "summer" when you check out. I am finally getting around to creating some photo books of my summer pictures and so that is a deal for me.

So, that is the latest things I have discovered over the last few days. Also, I know today is 9/11 and I have read a lot of your moving tributes to that horrible day 7 years ago. Please bless that we all do indeed "Never forget." It seems a lot of people currently are forgetting (yes, all of you against the war.)

My Life is Getting Easier but I kind of Don't Like It

Toothsome #3 is now in pre-school three afternoons a week.

Here he is on his first day of pre-school. I also have two kids in school all day now which means for thee afternoons a week, I only have this little one home with me.
Which means, I have three afternoons, when she naps and I can get things done.

This is great. This is good. But, it makes me a little sad.

I love being the mother of young kids.

I like being the lady in the ward/neighborhood who is pregnant every two years.

I like having little people in my home, under foot keeping me walking on the borderline between sanity and insanity.

Since toothsome #4 is our last one, I am done being that woman. I now officially moving into the "raising" children stage and out of the "having" children stage. And, from what I have heard, that is a good and happy stage to be in, but I don't have to like it right now.

A clean house and being able to get things done, doesn't seem like a good trade off.

Tea Party

Toothsome #2 turned 7 this past week. For her party this year, we went downtown to the Grand America and had their Afternoon Tea. We took her best friend and her best friend's mom (my good friend) with us. The two best friends
Serving herself a scone
All of us.

It was a delightful afternoon and a great way to celebrate.

How My Flower Beds Turned Out

A year ago, I posted this post about my poor Rose of Sharon. It did eventually bloom in late August. Well, one year later, it fortunately, is doing much better. Here is what it looks like now. I also did this post about planting my front flower beds. I didn't deadhead my geraniums enough, so they didn't flower as much I wanted them to but still, things looked nice out front.
My Rose of Sharon tree--an althea did just what it was supposed to do and flowered with pretty, tiny pink flowers all over it.
This is a little better picture of it.
So, for the most part, I am happy with how things turned out with my plantings this summer. Two bushes I planted died but it was because I forgot to water them and my tomatoes are doing so so. Hopefully, this Spring, we are going to pour a new concrete pad in our backyard and I can get serious about planting things back there. My grumpy backyard neighbor hates our "just grass" but who cares. He is mean and grumpy and my kids love all of the space to run around.

Bedspread is finally here!

A while ago, I posted this entry about making flags into bedspreads. Well, today, I finally was able to pick up toothsome #3's bedspread. If you don't know, that is the Utah State flag. Since the flags picked the colors of their room for me, I need to get some sort of window covering besides blinds and maybe do something creative with flags on the wall. Knowing me, it won't ever happen, but I think these two beds look nice together, don't you?

After . . .

After a Labor Day spent taking care of two throwing-up children, one looks forward to everyone going back to school. After toothsome #1, one of the sickos from the day before, starts complaining about a stomach ache after eating breakfast and you try and convince yourself, that is it is nothing, one decides to try drive them to the bus stop (five house up the street), in hopes that the stomach pain is just anxiety about school and not real pain.
After toothsome #1 comes running to the car sobbing saying he thinks he is going to throw-up again, you tell him to get into the car and you will drive him and toothsome #2 to school because one holds onto the belief that it might indeed just be anxiety. On the way to school, you have to stop and get an extra large Diet Coke at McDonalds because you know it is going to be "one of those days."
After taking toothsome #1 to school and he still is writhing in pain in the backseat, one comes to terms with the fact that he really is sick, you are a bad mother and you drive back home.

After toothsome #1 takes some Tylenol and watches "The Spiderwick Chronicles", he starts feeling better and one realizes that one can use said child to watch toothsomes # 3-4 while you get a TON of housework done. You can also make toothsome #1 get some weeding done just in case some of the stomach ache was fake and he better not try that again on his mother because staying home from school is worse than going, if you have to weed.

After that, well, one has to blog about it.

Recipe--Black Bean Soup

This recipe is originally from my sister-in-law Kelly but I have modified slightly. Kelly a great cook and puts me to shame regularly. Her hummus recipe is to die for. You can find that recipe HERE.

Anyway, I don't even like soup but I LOVE this one for some reason and all my kids like it as well and it is the easiest black bean soup recipe on the planet but tastes like you spent all day working on it. Enjoy!

Black Bean Soup

2 cans S and W black beans (Don't bother unless you use S and W)
2 cups chicken broth
1 onion--chopped fine
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 tomato, peeled and cut up
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped--divided in 1/2.
1 lime
sour cream (optional)

In a large sauce pan, saute onion in olive oil (about 3 minutes) with lid on. Add chili powder, cumin and garlic salt and saute a bit more.

Add beans (with all the juice--so don't drain) and chicken broth. (I like to mash the beans just a little bit before I add the broth--they mash better. You want the beans broken up but not mushy.)

Add tomato and 1/2 of cilantro.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer (with the lid on or off--doesn't really matter) for 15-20 minutes.

Just before serving, add juice from lime and other 1/2 of cilantro.

This is really good with sour cream and flour tortillas on the side.