Little Funny Haha's

Today T said, "If I had a birthday every day I would probably die because I would be so old."

Sometimes this kid just cracks me up! :)

Before that S and T were playing with a plastic "growing" starfish that my son was given by a man in a store today.  S and T made sure to give the said starfish a good aquarium complete with rocks.  At one point I overheard S proclaim, "Yes, it is hard being a mother."  Then  a couple minutes later T rushed to me and said loudly in my ear, "Mom, Shhhhh. The starfish is sleeping.

Politics: who, what, when, where, why on earth?!

Some of my good friends are very politically educated.  Speaking of politics, to them, is like eating a chocolate chip cookie would be to me.  In other words, it is exceedingly pleasant to them--whereas to me, it just makes me feel anxious.

A few years back a friend of mine brought a friend of hers to church.  Somehow it got out that I really had no idea what was going on in Washington, at the moment. I was utterly and completely wrapped up in my sphere of life--motherhood and though I would sometimes read Google news, my understanding of what was happening was next to zilch. This friend of a friend presented an idea that I was a complete idiot for not knowing and even worse not really caring (at that time).  She worked in Washington, she was a lobbyist, it was her whole world. . . of course she would think that.

Looking to the future.

Years later, still enveloped in motherhood,  having read more Google news, and listened to/watched occasional radio/television coverage of political candidates and races has more than once filled my mind and understanding--but many things still cause me to think that no one really knows anything about government or how it works, they are all just doing what they think the people want-ish.

So, what I am presenting to you, dear blog readers (and family members) is an opportunity to tell me what you think . . . .

Let's take this next presidential race for example. Let's pretend I was completely undecided (I'm not, but for the sake of argument understanding, please tell me).


Present President Obama vs. Mitt Romney
What were his promises in the previous elections. Which were fulfilled? Which were not? Why? What has he done to help the people--the most people--since being elected?  What are his promises for the next election? Is there a chance they could be fulfilled for the most good to the most people? What should this mean to me?

And lastly, where do I find as objective an understanding of this as possible?  Not all-Romney or all-Obama?

I have come to a juncture in my life where I would really like to understand and come back with a clear, concise answer to questions people ask me about my political standing, instead of "I'm still studying it."

Wherein My Oldest Bro, Rob Visits

Rob visited us and  we loved it.  

We were going to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, which I think Rob would have loved, only it felt like it was a million degrees outside and we changed our minds to go to Grimaldi's which is right near the Brooklyn Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier.  It was so beautiful, especially when you look at the lights of Manhattan. 

Rob stayed in New Jersey. That is where his business meetings were.  He took the trains into Manhattan and down to Brooklyn.  Then Thursday night he met me in Manhattan where we went here: 

La Esquina-- amazing Mexican Food!

The taco--sooooo good!

The food was so good! I loved it. I think I will have to go there again.  Then we went to Rice to Riches where the only thing they sell there is rice pudding.  I don't normally like rice pudding, but this place was so light and had funny quotes everywhere and the pudding looked delicious and tasted delicious.

The Monster At the End of This Book

The first time I remember reading this book was with my cousin Nicole.  I think I must have been between 8 and 11 years old and we took turns reading it in our most Grover-like voices. I don't know if she remembers, but the memory still makes me smile.  This was the first time I read it with T and he loved it as you will hear from the continual laughter and the "Read it again!" at the end.

You won't see my face very well. I didn't have make-up on and I wanted to enjoy reading it with him the first time and get it on video for my other kids to enjoy.  

Enjoy!

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Thanks Ashley and (later) my brother, Rob!  We had a great time! It was a wonderful educational experience! :)

Happy Father's Day!!

Yesterday, Father's Day, after having a sugar filled breakfast T zipped around the house over and over in his sugar-high (which lasted all day) and at one point stopped in my room to shout at the top of his lungs, "MOM IS CUTE AND DAD IS FUN!" Then he ran out.  W and I looked at each other and laughed.

Then during church, while the children were preparing to the Father's T wanted his good friend Blake to look and see him singing so he kept saying, "Blake, hey Blake! Look at me Blake!"  And then when they had completed the first song and moved onto the second song his dramatically put his hand over his face and said, "Not again! Not another song!"   The songs were beautiful and T danced to both of them, just a little.

Adventure at the Park

Just the journey to, at, and from the park was a great adventure for the five children I took to the park today.  It was so fun to understand their perspective and feel more like a kid myself. :)  Enjoy. If you can't see it, then go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6fV5KYV_rA&feature=youtu.be.  

The thing about this video is that you have to listen to what is said during the snail race. . . during which we ran out of batteries. I love the voices in the back.  If you can't understand what is being said let me know and I"ll add it.

Adventure is Out There!!!

We all seem to have different ideas of the word "Adventure."

Last Monday the kids and I went for a VDG adventure and when the kid's school called to find out where they were I told them, "We're having an adventure."

The dear woman (whom I truly think is a kind woman) said,  "A-what?!"

"Adventure." I assured her, "We are on an adventure."

"Okay," she said slowly and like maybe there was a chance I was just a little wacky.

"They'll be back tomorrow. Thanks for calling." I said.

Part of me is incredibly curious what she thought our adventure was.    I mean, did she suddenly envision the Swiss Family Robinson?  Or maybe she thought we were skydiving (my brother did, Saturday, in fact).  As much fun as I have thinking about our family on the adventure she had (perhaps) in her mind, the fact of the matter is that life, to me, is an adventure.

I talked to my school teacher cousin and she said, "M, that may have been what you were doing, but you never say that--you always say something like, "They're okay. They'll be back in school tomorrow."

I just wanted to let her know, in some way, that we were learning together as a family on an outing at a place called the water lab, no less.  That has to sound educational (though it is a little water park).  My kids watched birds play and they learned the life cycle of a lady bug.  Plus, they were once again assured that their mother loves them dearly.  That all counts for an adventure, right?!

When I was growing up my parents would sometimes take us out of school, and we would drive all around Idaho and sometimes other states, for the day and we would get into the woods or on a mountain and my dad would take  us on an adventure, starting a story on the way, pretending we were living it as we went along.  It was delightful.  We would stop at many of the historical sites--you know the signs along the road telling you what happened there or the geological significance of the place.  We lovingly called them "hysterical sites."

My dad would stop every now and then and we would hike into the unknown and my dad and sometimes my grandpa would point out the good or edible plants and tell us to avoid all the poisonous ones.  We saw all sorts of wildlife including rattle snakes. I learned an incredible appreciation for Southeast Idaho and the surrounding areas like Yellowstone Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  There were so many opportunities for learning and my parents wanted me to love all of it.

That's my goal of this summer, though instead of writing about it so much, I plan on making small movies of our adventures in and around NYC.  If you're reading this and interested in joining us or hearing about a certain place in NYC, let me know and we'll add it to our list of places to visit.  I'm really excited about this!

Portrait Layout

I am so proud of my new photo layout--it is supposed to look like an LDS Temple--kind of like the Rexburg Idaho Temple and kind of copies the entry way in my mother-in-law's home (that's where I got the idea). I love it.

 Doesn't decorating kind of make you feel a little happier and more courageous?

I took this photo.

A Conversation With My Mom

I took this photo and added the words. The artwork  is from the  Museum of the Native American in NYC. :)

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Not everyone has access to their mother.  I know I'm really, super blessed that I can call her and that we have a sweet relationship.  I call my mom when I feel down, but before I call her for solace I try to pre-figure out what she is going to tell me so that I can tell her that I've already done it.  This may be for my children in the future, so I don't forget. It means the world to me that my mother takes the time to listen and to really understand what I am saying.  I want my children to always feel they can call me to talk, just like I feel about my mother.

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She usually listens to me tell her what is wrong, as long as it takes--which is usually 10-20 minutes; more if I need it.  If you don't have access to a relationship like this, I suggest writing it all out in a journal, every detail, then if you feel like the drama of the day is over and you don't want your family to read all your seethings and dread then take it out, get it wet and twist and rip it to shreds--but not until you feel like you're capable of handling it on your own--and don't leave it in the open--hide it. 

Go through this list and breathe deeply. You can do this!!! You're a child of God and He loves you!  You may feel very alone, but you are not!  Be patient with yourself. God doesn't expect you to be perfect today!

1. Have you eaten? Do you feel hungry?  

This is huge for me.  Hungry M=Grouchy M.  I find this is true for almost every other person I have met.  When people are rude to me on the street, I sometimes think--they must be having a bad day or they're really hungry.  

2. Did you get ready and turn on peppy music?

This was my parent's motto growing up. Get up, get ready and blare some great tunes because they'll get you going. The tunes I listened to were not the popular ones of the day--it was the classics from the 1940's and 1950's and musicals (I love musicals). 

3. Did you take your vitamins?  Magnesium? Iron? Potassium? 

This is another biggie. Turns out the older I get the more my body craves supplements and when I'm very dedicated to taking them--I don't get sick. Yay!  The problem is consistency. . . it's a work in progress and I usually take them right before I call my mom.

4. Did you exercise?

When I work out I feel happier and more focused.  Also, I feel more attractive.

5. Have you eaten anything that does not agree with you?

Junk food is starting to have a negative affect when I eat it. It makes me all moody and . . . it's not pretty.  

6. Is it close to that time of the month? (Sorry mom, I know we don't like talking about this in public, but this is for my posterity and I can't forget it.)  Or, are you pregnant? (I am not pregnant. . . just for the record).

When it is that time of the month I let my husband know in advance so he won't be as offended when I start grouchily berating things and people and . . . everything.   I get headaches and my patience level is severely stymied when mother nature pays her monthly punch in the gut. 

6. What can you do about your problem?

My mother is a really good listener.  When I talk to her I know she is paying attention and that means the world to me.  She asks a question like this and I try to tell her what I think I could do--which almost always begins with "Well, I could come and see you.  Can I come now?"  Even now at 25 (not my real age) she still takes me on her lap when I'm there and says, "It's all going to be okay." I don't care if it looks silly to some, it is her way of letting me know I'm still her little girl.

7. Sometimes people just say what they need to say to get it out of their system.  They're not mad at you, most likely, they are probably mad about something else and accidentally spilling some of their upsettedness on you.  

If it is something someone said that has me in tears, she goes through possible examples, because she believes the best in people and wants me to as well. 

8. I love you profusely!!! I am so glad you are my daughter.

My mother always says this to me, and it gives me great comfort.  That's what I want my children to know all the time!!!

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If you have done all these things some other things my mother and my husband suggests are to (as my sweetheart reminds me) "sharpen the saw." A dull saw can't work but a saw that is sharpened can so much faster and more efficiently.

A. Take a nice hot shower/bath and relax with a good book or movie--let the cartoons watch the kidlets for a few minutes.

B.  Call a friend to go do something.

C.  Get out of the house, you may have cabin fever.

D.  Go do yoga (seriously, this helps a lot) or Zumba--the dancing and the tunes blare the worries away-ish.

What helps you feel happy when you feel blue?  What does your mother or friend suggest?

Spring Break Botanic Gardens

 Family pictures from http://kidsinnyc.blogspot.com/. :)  Enjoy!

Low Spirits, as Jane Austen Would Say

Some days, I just feel like I need a hug of Heavenly origin.

In October of 2009 I wrote about getting a wave and a smile from God. I read it today and it seemed to be just what I needed to read. Maybe you'll enjoy it too! :)

Motherhood/wifehood can be extremely challenging. Calming the storms, kissing ouchies, dishes, cleaning, cooking, playing with the kids, mediating, listening, turning away from something you promised yourself you'd get done to help out; it all adds up.

There are days that I feel like running to a corner of my house, locking any door possible to keep people out, cover myself with a blanket and cry--from sheer emotional and physical exhaustion.  I look at my life and my head seems to say, "What do you have to cry about? What have you accomplished today? Why are you acting like you work so hard--your house looks . . ., your children are shouting and fighting, your husband is starving and drained completely from work, come on brave up and get back in there, wimp."

This of course just makes me want to kick myself and cry more.

What is a girl to do? Well, I pray really hard, read the scriptures, and breathe deeply. Other times, I just need a good, jolting reminder that it will all be okay. So I go to my pinboard and I look at all my inspiring quotes.

Also, I repeat over and over in my head, "I can do this! I can do this! I can do this!!!!"

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And if all else fails, I call my Mom!

Bay Ridge 5th Ave. Festival

Since it was Sunday and we don't shop or buy thing on Sunday, unless it is an emergency we did not purchase anything in the festival. By the end, the kids really wanted to get something and we went home.

The festival was so fun and the kids want to send Senator Golden a letter requesting the festival take place on Saturday so they can purchase things next time. :)

S and R are reading a poster-ish thing I had made.  What is your opinion?

I think for future things I'll have them answer questions and tell me what they think should be brought the place they are going.  My goal is to make a lot of little movies this summer. :)  We'll see how it goes. I also may have them do a voice over recording of what they think--I'm going to look at other video bloggers with kids and see what they do!

Thanks!

M

P.S. If you can't see it go to this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWuhNlum4G0&feature=youtu.be