Now we have double the makings for a very exciting, historical election. Come November (or January, if you live in Florida and can't quite figure things out) I can't wait to see who wins.
You know the main issues for some people will be "black man" and "woman". Too bad they'll be allowed to vote despite never having informed themselves about the merits and such of each pair of candidates.
And why do they keep mentioning that Palin likes Mooseburgers?
Palin has 5 children, including a 4 month old, right? When you're the vice president, are you allowed to take days off when your kids have diarrhea and are puking? Is it ok to come to work with spit up on your suit? Have binkies in your briefcase and cheerios stuck to your butt? It would be really cool if she were pregnant as the Vice President. That would blow my mind. Think about all the potential for Letterman, Leno, Stewart and Colbert.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Mormon Monday
I was a missionary in Panama during 1996-1997. Oh how I loved my time in that country! I've been back to visit a couple of times and even did the research for my thesis there.
A temple was just finished, dedicated and opened in Panama City and it is beautiful! I am so excited for the members of our church there. They no longer need to travel to other countries to attend the temple.
There is a great video on Youtube that has exterior and interior photos of the new temple in Panama. I tried and tried to get the actual video to post to my blog--but I was never successful. Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6biooD7GY5Y
You can find out more about LDS temples here.
A temple was just finished, dedicated and opened in Panama City and it is beautiful! I am so excited for the members of our church there. They no longer need to travel to other countries to attend the temple.
There is a great video on Youtube that has exterior and interior photos of the new temple in Panama. I tried and tried to get the actual video to post to my blog--but I was never successful. Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6biooD7GY5Y
You can find out more about LDS temples here.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
The one where I'm dumb
So on Wednesday night we realized that James was way past due for a bath--he doesn't have that sweet baby smell anymore, he's full-on stinky boy. Anyway, I was doing some work on the computer while Ben bathed him. Ben went to get a wash cloth and when he walked back into the bathroom he yelled, "aaaahhh!" I asked what was wrong and he reported that James had pooped in the bathtub. Although we always expected to experience that rite of passage, it had never happened up to this point.
I jumped up and yelled, "Don't let him touch it!" (yeah, I am worried about germs and gross stuff all the time.) I ran into the kitchen wondering what I should use to get it out of the tub, because (TMI ALERT) that sucker was NOT going down the drain. The colander briefly passed through my mind, but I didn't want to have to throw it away, so I started chanting 'disposable, disposable, disposable.' Aha! The plastic cups in the high cupboard! I grabbed three cups (yes, 3) and raced to the bathroom.
Ben, holding onto the wet, slippery, laughing, LARGE 2 year old, asked me why I brought three cups. I had no answer, I just thought this was a three cup situation I guess. (Aside: a big, floating poop in the bathtub is WAY MORE DISGUSTING than a poop in a diaper. Why is that?) Anyway, I held my breath (don't know why) and scooped up the big poop in big, red, plastic cup number one. I held tight to cups 2 and 3.
Then I froze.
What was I going to do with the big, floating poop in the big, red cup? My mind started racing and these were my LITERAL thoughts "I could put it in the trash but then the water would probably drain out in the can. I could pour the water off in the sink, and then throw it away in the trash and quickly take the trash out. I could sneak outside and pour it under the bushes where all the naughty (older) kids play but that would be really rude and what if someone got some kind of disease from having human poo on their shoes and it gets on their hands when their mom makes them clean their shoes and then they get sick, that would be bad, I could..." SUDDENLY, something interrupts my line of thinking. It was Ben, and he says,
"Are you going to pour that in the toilet or are you just going to hold onto it?"
Pour it in the toilet? That was the thought that HADN'T occurred to me-despite the fact that I was straddling the toilet in my efforts to reach the poo. I sheepishly poured the goods into the toilet and threw all three cups into the trash, just for good measure.
I jumped up and yelled, "Don't let him touch it!" (yeah, I am worried about germs and gross stuff all the time.) I ran into the kitchen wondering what I should use to get it out of the tub, because (TMI ALERT) that sucker was NOT going down the drain. The colander briefly passed through my mind, but I didn't want to have to throw it away, so I started chanting 'disposable, disposable, disposable.' Aha! The plastic cups in the high cupboard! I grabbed three cups (yes, 3) and raced to the bathroom.
Ben, holding onto the wet, slippery, laughing, LARGE 2 year old, asked me why I brought three cups. I had no answer, I just thought this was a three cup situation I guess. (Aside: a big, floating poop in the bathtub is WAY MORE DISGUSTING than a poop in a diaper. Why is that?) Anyway, I held my breath (don't know why) and scooped up the big poop in big, red, plastic cup number one. I held tight to cups 2 and 3.
Then I froze.
What was I going to do with the big, floating poop in the big, red cup? My mind started racing and these were my LITERAL thoughts "I could put it in the trash but then the water would probably drain out in the can. I could pour the water off in the sink, and then throw it away in the trash and quickly take the trash out. I could sneak outside and pour it under the bushes where all the naughty (older) kids play but that would be really rude and what if someone got some kind of disease from having human poo on their shoes and it gets on their hands when their mom makes them clean their shoes and then they get sick, that would be bad, I could..." SUDDENLY, something interrupts my line of thinking. It was Ben, and he says,
"Are you going to pour that in the toilet or are you just going to hold onto it?"
Pour it in the toilet? That was the thought that HADN'T occurred to me-despite the fact that I was straddling the toilet in my efforts to reach the poo. I sheepishly poured the goods into the toilet and threw all three cups into the trash, just for good measure.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A few of my favorite things
We're helping James with his two new favorite activities: "Clay doh" and Cooking. Well, if he remains the only child, at least he'll have all the one on one time he can stand. (And, yes, I AM wearing a house dress :p
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Stuff
Recommendation for traveling toddlers and little kids:
When we traveled this Summer, we stayed in a lot of different places. I knew we would need something for James to sleep on since the pack n play is waaaay too small for the boy. I researched online and found this inflatable from aerobed. It is a kidsized airbed that sort of resembles a raft--it has raised sides so that the kids can't roll off. James LOVED his 'vacation bed' and slept so well in it no matter where we were. It comes with a pump and a fleece cover and it all fits in a normal sized backpack (included). It has rave reviews on Amazon, and we love it too!
Oh, and Mcdonalds needs to stop pretending that they are like Chick-fil-A. As if.
When we traveled this Summer, we stayed in a lot of different places. I knew we would need something for James to sleep on since the pack n play is waaaay too small for the boy. I researched online and found this inflatable from aerobed. It is a kidsized airbed that sort of resembles a raft--it has raised sides so that the kids can't roll off. James LOVED his 'vacation bed' and slept so well in it no matter where we were. It comes with a pump and a fleece cover and it all fits in a normal sized backpack (included). It has rave reviews on Amazon, and we love it too!
Oh, and Mcdonalds needs to stop pretending that they are like Chick-fil-A. As if.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Mormon Monday
I found these words from President Thomas S. Monson to be particularly inspirational:
"How fragile life, how certain death. We do not know when we will be required to leave this mortal existence. And so I ask, “What are we doing with today?” If we live only for tomorrow, we’ll eventually have a lot of empty yesterdays. Have we been guilty of declaring, “I’ve been thinking about making some course corrections in my life. I plan to take the first step—tomorrow”? With such thinking, tomorrow is forever. Such tomorrows rarely come unless we do something about them today.
As the familiar hymn teaches:
There are chances for work all around just now, Opportunities right in our way. Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,” But go and do something today.7
Let us ask ourselves the questions: “Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need?” What a formula for happiness! What a prescription for contentment, for inner peace—to have inspired gratitude in another human being. Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved."
Like he said, our opportunities are limitless-but they are also perishable. We have to really live today, both in improving ourselves, and in helping others. I hope to never put away a thought of a kind thing that I can do for someone--whether inspired by the Spirit or random thoughts.
"How fragile life, how certain death. We do not know when we will be required to leave this mortal existence. And so I ask, “What are we doing with today?” If we live only for tomorrow, we’ll eventually have a lot of empty yesterdays. Have we been guilty of declaring, “I’ve been thinking about making some course corrections in my life. I plan to take the first step—tomorrow”? With such thinking, tomorrow is forever. Such tomorrows rarely come unless we do something about them today.
As the familiar hymn teaches:
There are chances for work all around just now, Opportunities right in our way. Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,” But go and do something today.7
Let us ask ourselves the questions: “Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need?” What a formula for happiness! What a prescription for contentment, for inner peace—to have inspired gratitude in another human being. Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved."
Like he said, our opportunities are limitless-but they are also perishable. We have to really live today, both in improving ourselves, and in helping others. I hope to never put away a thought of a kind thing that I can do for someone--whether inspired by the Spirit or random thoughts.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
You know what our town needs?
A giant piece of fly paper in the sky. Our city has an OUT OF CONTROL fly problem right now. I have never seen such a thing in all my days nor do I hope to see it ever again! They are everywhere! Anytime we come in or out of the apartment 3 or 4 get in despite our pick up James and run method. They are inside the grocery stores, mall, schools, etc. GROSS GROSS GROSS! Forget mosquitos, kill the stupid flies already. Ugh.
And now the kid loves play dough! He sits for an hour at a time rolling and squishing a molding and whatever else he can manage. People keep telling me that they prefer the homemade stuff, but no one has produced a recipe yet...
And to win the parents of the year award: We sold James' Christmas present from last year. On Craig's List. We bought him a nice, big spring horse and he rarely used it. It was taking up valuable space in our living room, which would be fine if he loved it, named it George, petted it, pretended to feed it carrots, rode him all the time, brushed his silky coat, shoed him, etc. But he didn't. He would sit on him about once a week and that would do. Finally after a month someone was interested and was willing to pay what we wanted. I was freaked out about the whole online internet stalker killer craze (its all in my head, you know) So I made Ben load that monster up, and meet the lady in the parking lot of a convenience store. The sight of Ben in a empty parking lot probably was enough to make the lady rethink getting out of her mini van, but all went well and we earned some money back.
James has never, not once, mentioned the absence of that horse.
A giant piece of fly paper in the sky. Our city has an OUT OF CONTROL fly problem right now. I have never seen such a thing in all my days nor do I hope to see it ever again! They are everywhere! Anytime we come in or out of the apartment 3 or 4 get in despite our pick up James and run method. They are inside the grocery stores, mall, schools, etc. GROSS GROSS GROSS! Forget mosquitos, kill the stupid flies already. Ugh.
And now the kid loves play dough! He sits for an hour at a time rolling and squishing a molding and whatever else he can manage. People keep telling me that they prefer the homemade stuff, but no one has produced a recipe yet...
And to win the parents of the year award: We sold James' Christmas present from last year. On Craig's List. We bought him a nice, big spring horse and he rarely used it. It was taking up valuable space in our living room, which would be fine if he loved it, named it George, petted it, pretended to feed it carrots, rode him all the time, brushed his silky coat, shoed him, etc. But he didn't. He would sit on him about once a week and that would do. Finally after a month someone was interested and was willing to pay what we wanted. I was freaked out about the whole online internet stalker killer craze (its all in my head, you know) So I made Ben load that monster up, and meet the lady in the parking lot of a convenience store. The sight of Ben in a empty parking lot probably was enough to make the lady rethink getting out of her mini van, but all went well and we earned some money back.
James has never, not once, mentioned the absence of that horse.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Isn't synchronized diving the coolest event ever? I have never seen it before and I love it! James will even sit there and watch the divers and whine about the commercials in between.
In other news, this has not been my favorite week. Girl issues (read: not pregnant), Podiatrist cut and burned 12 (yes twelve) plantar warts out of the bottom of my foot and it HURTS to do anything standing, Root canal today was a thrill, swamp cooler issues, and I went back to work. Ugh. I would say I want a do-over, but then I would have to live through it all again. Come on weekend!
My job is newish. I'm still teaching English to Adults and working for the community college, but now I am doing it at an Elementary School as part of the Even Start program. Even Start is Head Start with a crucial difference: Your child can only be accepted into Even Start if you commit to coming to school all day too. While your child (or baby) is in the preschool from 9:00 til 2:30, you are in required classes: GED, Computer Literacy, Parenting, and ESL (if necessary). I think it is an awesome program that changes the lives of those who commit to it. I teach 4 days a week for 2 1/2 hours and go to a meeting on Friday. I'm not thrilled to be working daily, but I am excited to work with this program. We shall see.
In other news, this has not been my favorite week. Girl issues (read: not pregnant), Podiatrist cut and burned 12 (yes twelve) plantar warts out of the bottom of my foot and it HURTS to do anything standing, Root canal today was a thrill, swamp cooler issues, and I went back to work. Ugh. I would say I want a do-over, but then I would have to live through it all again. Come on weekend!
My job is newish. I'm still teaching English to Adults and working for the community college, but now I am doing it at an Elementary School as part of the Even Start program. Even Start is Head Start with a crucial difference: Your child can only be accepted into Even Start if you commit to coming to school all day too. While your child (or baby) is in the preschool from 9:00 til 2:30, you are in required classes: GED, Computer Literacy, Parenting, and ESL (if necessary). I think it is an awesome program that changes the lives of those who commit to it. I teach 4 days a week for 2 1/2 hours and go to a meeting on Friday. I'm not thrilled to be working daily, but I am excited to work with this program. We shall see.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Well, that was interesting. I just got a calling that I've never heard of before. Actually, they may have made it up :) They did make up the title...Ward Communication and Technology something or the other. I am to maintain the official ward website, facilitate online communication for ward members (email, blogs, etc) and help ward members use technology when they teach. Sounds really interesting, but I need some brainstorming from out there, loyal readers. What do all of you and your wards out there do that involves the internet for communication and technology for teaching and what not?
Comments, please!
Comments, please!
Saturday, August 09, 2008
I love you!
This phrase has become very amusing around here. I posted last week about how James said, "I love you too much baby mama." Three days ago I told James, "I love you" and he looked at me and said, "Um, thanks." I died laughing and wondered what non-committal men he had been hanging around with. When I told Ben about it, he, too thought it funny and was "proud" of his little man. This morning I told him, "James, I love you." He then looked at me and said, "Good." As in, 'you better love me, woman!'
I LOVE THIS STAGE OF LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT!
I LOVE THIS STAGE OF LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT!
Sad, but true: This is the ONLY pic from our visit with Karla, Dave and Spencer in Austin. Karla and I would have been in this picture, but we hadn't had showers yet. It's complicated, ok! Spencer was being perfectly amiable and was ready for the pic, but James was too busy checking out Spencer's toys. We were so happy we got to see them once in Texas now that they are going back to UT again!
Our Austin cousins
James is still asking to see his cousins! (All of them, but today's pics are from the Austin branch.) James loved playing with Joseph (who pushed him tirelessly on the swings), Elizabeth (whose help I could SERIOUSLY use around here) and Joshua (who is hilarious and gave James a run for the money.) Please notice that James was attached at the hip to Elizabeth. He LOVED her--and all the endless attention she gave him. He is holding her hand in the two pics we took after church and he would NOT leave her side at the splash park. Thank you Elizabeth!!! (And I love that Joshua looks like he's going to take us all down Ninja style under the tree!)Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Ah, sweet karma
Don't be alarmed: It's only the effects of afternoon church.
Oh the days when I was carefree and rolled out of bed just in time to get ready for afternoon church. I made fun of the people who liked 9am church. Ugh. Now that I'm the mama of a 2 year old, I hate 1:00 church. I really, really loathe it, and we've only done it 2 weeks. (We change schedules in July here and since we've been out of town 3 Sundays...) The nursery was a scary place on Sunday. I got wrangled into staying an hour last week (Ben stayed the 3rd hour) and there was 2 year old chewing(and stringing) gum, 1 without underwear, multiple bullies, major snack malfunctions, missing leaders, leaders on cell phones, etc etc etc.
Now that I've written that last paragraph, I have sealed my fate as the newest nursery worker.
But in all honesty, James was well cared for and had fun, so I won't complain anymore about the nursery. I will complain about how miserably miserable he is after church: He was miserable. The end.
Any suggestions out there to make church pleasant for the next 11 months?
Now that I've written that last paragraph, I have sealed my fate as the newest nursery worker.
But in all honesty, James was well cared for and had fun, so I won't complain anymore about the nursery. I will complain about how miserably miserable he is after church: He was miserable. The end.
Any suggestions out there to make church pleasant for the next 11 months?
Monday, August 04, 2008
The artist in our residence
When I came home from running errands, Ben said James had drawn a picture of me. He took a pic to show me because he knew I would want to see it and wouldn't believe it. Isn't it AWESOME!!!?? My little James drew this at 27 months. (Just ignore the tumor in my neck!) He is also way obsessed with something Granny showed him how to do: She taught him how to draw with yellow crayon and then color over it with blue to make green. He is constantly running around the house YELLING, "YELLOW AND BLUE MAKE GREEN!" I would show him that the baggies do that too, but he would probably implode.
Breaking Dawn- no spoilers
Well, turns out my boss made a mistake and I don't have to start work until NEXT Monday. What a happy error! I found that out on Sunday evening and since I didn't have to be all responsible, I made the mistake of staying up waaay too late to finish reading Breaking Dawn. I'm not sure how I feel about it. Um, how about a generic there were good parts and there were dull parts and vampire parts and werewolf parts. I can say there were a lot of FREAKY things about this book. Lots of twists and turns and surprises, but also lots of very predictable cliche-ish moments. What are we expecting though? Its no great american classic novel, but its a good escapist teen/ya novel. Because of various issues, the book was definitely more racy, gory, freaky, etc. I've already passed my copy on to a friend at church :)
Sunday, August 03, 2008
A little perspective
I took this picture with my camera phone about a month ago. A bunch of the moms in the ward were at the park and coincidentally three of us dressed our 2 year olds in the "same" old navy shirt from different years. Even though its not a great pic, I love it because of the outfits and because it shows James' size (height, head, weight) in comparison to two other little boys who are 6 and 9 months older than him. Yes, his head IS as big as mine!
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Please Stand By, Baby Mama
Ben, James and I just got back from a three week trip in which we ran amuck in Arkansas and much of TX. Since we were nomadic, I didn't update the blog as I should have. I'll start updating and telling about our adventures really soon. Maybe even tonight. Maybe tomorrow since I am without a calling now. (I don't know whether to follow that sentence with ! or :( or :) or sigh or what.) I'm going to miss those young women! Those (almost) 3 years flew by and now I'm a little leary of what might be around the corner. As much as I'd love to be in a room with 12 toddlers (James included) who are missing their afternoon nap... We shall see.
I'll conclude this afternoon's comments by sharing this little story: Like a typical child, James is always extra cuddly after we've been separated for a while. One morning on vacation I stumbled out of bed (at 9am, thank you very much, honey!) and came to sit down in the living room. James saw me and ran over to sit in my lap. He put his arms tight around my neck and said, "I love you too much, baby mama." I think that is the funniest thing he has ever said! He had been calling me "baby mama" occasionally--I'm guessing because I'll often call him "baby James". As for the 'too much' it is probably a misquote of me saying "I love you so much!" Anyway, having a kid makes for some funny stuff.
I'll conclude this afternoon's comments by sharing this little story: Like a typical child, James is always extra cuddly after we've been separated for a while. One morning on vacation I stumbled out of bed (at 9am, thank you very much, honey!) and came to sit down in the living room. James saw me and ran over to sit in my lap. He put his arms tight around my neck and said, "I love you too much, baby mama." I think that is the funniest thing he has ever said! He had been calling me "baby mama" occasionally--I'm guessing because I'll often call him "baby James". As for the 'too much' it is probably a misquote of me saying "I love you so much!" Anyway, having a kid makes for some funny stuff.
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