Addison has discovered the joys of PBS kids. Curious George to be exact. Today she told me "George Bwoken", which really means "Curious George is over" Luckily we have the movie so no more "bwoken" at our house!
Today Addison and I walked Easton and his friend to school. I pushed Addie in the double stroller, with our rubbermade tote full of paper to be recycled. We stopped on the way and dumped it in the bin, then went to Eastons school and dropped off a large bag of food for the food drive. After dropping off Easton at class I decided since I had done something for the earth and something for folks in our area I would do something for Addie. I let her walk all the way home. She was giddy with the thought of me letting her out of her stroller. The walk normall takes 5 minutes, 10 if I dawdle. It took us a full 45 minutes to walk home. We stopped and looked at every plant, flower, bug, rock and crack in the sidewalk that we could find. We helped out quite a few houses by returning stray rocks to their flowerbeds. We examined one ant as it wound its way home. At one point Addie blew on it to help it out (poor ant)! We found dandilion flowers that were ready to be blown on. Addie loved picking them out of the neighbors grass and declared that she had "enough" of them, then blew to her hearts content. When they wouldn't come off as fast as she wanted she waved them in the air, back and forth, until the little seeds went flying off like the baby spiders at the end of Charlottes web! Addie stopped and smelled every "pretty" on the way, picked one yellow one to give me, and then told me "no bite". We had a delightful walk and I was reminded of why I am a mom. I get so busy and caught up in the day to day business that I often forget to stop and smell the "pretties". I could have been home prepping my house for Thanksgiving. I could have been doing laundry, cleaning toilets, sewing, or a million other things. Instead I took 45 minutes to do what I could have done in ten minutes....and I loved every minute of it!
I think I have sinned. Or at least broke one of my personal rules for myself. Thursday I went for a jog/walk. I know, I know. But it gets worse....I was sweating too! I went at 7 in the morning. I know. Don't faint on me now. (Did you just hear the song "hallelujah" playing too, or was it just me?) The important part of this whole post. So I went out in the morning....and mornings here are not cold, a little chilly, but really how cold is 41 degrees? You would not believe how many cars I saw running to get warmed up. I mean come on. I can see you doing that when you have to defrost your wind shield, but 41 degrees out? I guess this is the real proof I needed that the gas prices are down!
Downtown Holiday Jacket and Pant GIVEAWAY!!!!
One of my favorites so far!
Last night I had to interpret for a Relief Society training meeting (for all R.S. presidencies in our stake) I heard a wonderful story. The gal that spoke was telling about a time in her life, in the 1970's, when she was pregnant with her third child. She had two children under the age two and was in a very abusive marriage. She had married in the temple and was ashamed that her situation was the way it was. She didn't tell anyone about the abuse. Her family wasn't nearby and her friends we all very busy women, like we all are. She said at this point she was so ill that her children we living on cold cereal for all their meals because she could hardly get out of bed. One day she let the kids out into the fenced backyard to play and left the door open and laid down in bed. She then began to weep and pray. Moments later she heard someone come down the hall and in a hushed tone a voice said "Hi...I am sister Soandso from the relief society presidency. I am new in the ward and we met once. Today I was praying for who I can serve this week and was told it was you. I am going to just sit next to you and put some lotion on your hands and feet" The gal said she was so sick she couldn't even speak an answer. The Sister then rubbed lotion on her arms, hands, legs and feet and then left. She came three times a week for the next few weeks and did the same thing. The gal moved and divorced soon after and she never knew the gals name and never met her again after those few weeks of loving service. So are we paying attention to the prompting of the spirit? Are we praying for ways to serve? If we do and it tells us to go put lotion on a strangers arms and legs, do we then listen? Has anyone given you service that was so simple, but changed your life? Let me know!
Yesterday I paid $1.84/gallon of gas. At Fabulous Freddy's car wash/gas station if you buy a car wash then they take .25 off per gallon. I desperately needed a car wash so it was a win-win situation. My total for gas? $33 baby! I never thought that I would ever get gas this cheap again!
the grouchy neighbor who thinks it is acceptable to make my kids cry! You should know better....you were the one who put in great walkways on your property...perfect for riding bikes on. They weren't hurting your cement...they weren't even near your precious plants and grass. Next time...be grouchy with me! Or better yet...move to a 55 and older neighborhood...then you won't have to worry about my kids riding their bikes on your walkway. But then again....you won't receive any frowny face awards from your neighbor!
This morning when Addie woke up I heard her in her room for a bit. She likes to sing and talk to herself. After a while she started calling for me. Mom, Mommy, Mooooommmm! I went in to let her out (she has one of those thingies on her knob so she can't open the door). I open the door and she is sitting in the rocking chair in her room, reading a book! So like her mom! I love books. Love to read! Have been in search of a new good book to read!
So what have we been up to? Well let's see....went with Neil to Provo for some meetings he had. Met up with one of my favorite people from college...Julie! So fun to see her and catch up. She is by far the funniest person I know. Just ask her about the time she was camping, used the shower there...and ended up sliding across the shower floor! (you know the showers where the walls only start at your shin) We finished the last day of soccer (wow 10 weeks of soccer is a long time) had 1 soccer party. I interpreted for 1 primary program! Went to 3 parent/teacher conferences. Felt relieved that all the kids are doing great in school, while only 1 needs to work on talking too much! (totally not surprised by that one). Went to a business dinner with Neil and a bunch of county employees. Went through some of the kids toys to find some to donate. It broke Camdens little heart. He kept telling me how sad he was that there are kids that might not get anything for Christmas. Did my couponing deals for the week (will post more on that later). Well that was since Thursday, so I will finish this busy week and keep you posted on more later!
Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!!
Fabulous costumes!
Last night Camden said "I don't want Barak Obummer to be President" I quickly said "I think that is excatly how you say his name...Obummer"! Let pray for him to lead with wisdom.
With my crew whenever someone tattles it is immediately followed by the other person saying "no I didn't". I was a little surprised this morning when I heard this conversation...
Cam: Mom, Easton slapped me for no reason
Easton: nuh uh, I slapped him because he was bugging me!
As long as we have the facts right!
Or know someone who does. Today is the day. Encourage them to vote yes on prop. 8 Here are some facts I read on another site....things I hadn't thought about...
1) Children in public schools will have to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage.
The California Education Code already requiresthat health education classes instruct children about marriage. (§51890)
Therefore, unless Proposition 8 passes, children will be taught that marriage between any two adults is of the same worth, regardless of gender. There will be serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.
2) Churches may be sued over their tax exempt status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public. Ask whether your pastor, priest, minister, bishop, or rabbi is ready to perform such marriages in your chapels and sanctuaries.3) Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston already had to stop providing adoption services in Massachusetts because courts legalized same-sex marriage there.
4) Religions that sponsor private schools with married student housing may be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if counter to church doctrine, or risk lawsuits over tax exemptions and related benefits.5) Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages may be sued for hate speech and risk government fines. It already happened in Canada, a country that legalized gay marriage. A recent California court held that municipal employees may not say: "traditional marriage," or "family values" because, after the same-sex marriage case, it is "hate speech."
6) It will cost you money. This change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits, including some already lost (e.g., photographers cannot now refuse to photograph gay marriages; doctors cannot now refuse to perform artificial insemination of gays even given other willing doctors). Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today's activist judges), think of the money – your money – that will be spent on such legal battles.
The following reasons were blatantly copied from the website: http://www.whatisprop8.com/
In letters 3 foot high...and the whole town said that he should have used red, but it looked good to Charleen, in John Deere Green.
Remember that song? Anyways, Neil and I watched the John Deere special on Nat Geo channel yesterday. We saw how they make their combine. We were very dorky and enjoyed every minute of it. It did make us miss the farm. Although when I think about the hours Neil put it I am glad we left! So here is a little reminder of life when I was a farmers wife (as opposed to being married to a garbage man? Not really...he just oversees the garbage, recycling etc. for the county. Purely a desk job!) 
Our favorite day on the farm was Sundays. Neil only spent two hours working (I know...only!), but Sundays we worked with him! We drove out to the farm and the kids played in the dirt while Neil check his potatoes for moisture content! (potatoes are actually a very complicated crop requiring lots of attention) The kids loved it when Neil let them sit on his lap and drive the truck and they loved running through the corn stalks. The stalks were a good 7-10 feet taller then them, so they were loving it. I loved seeing them get filthy and have a great time with daddy since most other days we only saw him for an hour or two (if we were lucky) Just so you know...these are pictures of one of Neils potato fields...not POT! I think the only resemblance is that they are both green...but wanted to specify! What do I miss the most? Lots of things...fresh corn and potatoes the size of my foot! Neils excitement with a successful crop. The smell of the dirt on Neil. I would wash his clothes and catch the smell of dirt which was so different then the dirt in the backyard. It smelled of the earth Neil was tending and caring for. It was a clean earthy smell. I have missed the smell maybe more then anything. Now he just smells like fabric softener and shaving cream. (thankfully he doesn't smell like the landfill!) I also miss the Sundays on the farm. Having him around from 4 p.m. on and eating breakfast with him every morning and having him here on Saturdays and Sundays more then makes up for what I miss.
