The 10 Best Gifts I've Received

Today I received a two gifts that made the list. These are in no particular order.

1. My dear friend asked me to be at her house at 9:30 this morning. She didn't tell me why. If she would have, I certainly would have tried to stop her. She dropped me off at a fantastic spa for a massage and took me to lunch.

2. When leaving my parent's house after a nasty snow storm I went out to my car. My step-dad had been there first. He scraped it and warmed it up for me. This is my least favorite chore. I felt very grateful.

3. Logan's first real smile was on Mother's Day.

4. Once when I was out of the house for the day (and very pregnant), Topher cleaned the whole house (oven, microwave, did all laundry, scrubbed showers, etc.) and made dinner.

5. When I was six I got an electric keyboard.

6. The Christmas after my dad died, someone left a little Christmas Mouse on our front porch with $100 in it. My mom gave my brother and I each $20.

7. My friend made us a hand crafted Settlers of Catan game. Any Settlers fans out there? You've GOT to see this!

8. On my 26th birthday my sister-in-law wrote a list of reasons why she loved me.

9. My mom has spent her whole life sacrificing for me.

10. This one is under the tree. I'm reserving a slot for it. I think it is going to be fantastic. I'll be posting about it if it is everything I hope it to be.

Another Bedtime Negotiation

My aunt with 6 kids has been giving me some parenting advice.  One of her great secrets is to teach her children to chew gum from a very young age.  She thinks it helps them be quiet in church.  We've tried this a few times with Logan.  He will now chew for about 30 seconds before swallowing.  He continually opens his mouth  to show us that it is still in there.  We haven't done chewing practice for weeks. 

Last night after bath, jammies, brushing, reading a story, and hugs:

Mama: "Logan, it is time to go night night."

Logan: (Starts gnashing his teeth...pause...thinking) "Piece of gum?  I'll chew it?"

Mama: Laughing hard (I always try very hard not to do this.  I know.  It reinforces.  Sorry, sometimes you can't help it!)

Who Needs Disneyland? Costco is Just Around the Corner!

I went to Costco last Saturday afternoon.  Whoa!  For anyone planning a trip to an amusement park soon, you may want to try Costco instead.  A weekend December trip to the warehouse includes crying children who are in serious need of naps, very long lines, and at least a $100 bill.

Costco also has the added benefit of closer parking and free food samples from smiling elderly folks in aprons.  Honestly, I'd way rather have free food than an autographed notebook from mute caricatures.   

Our Beach

My favorite holiday tradition is going camping on the beach between Christmas and New Year. Since before my infancy aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins have all packed up the day after Christmas, and taken off for the sandy, sometimes sunny, shores of California. 

Spectacular sunsets

Long sandy beaches perfect for a friendly football game

Caving for the brave

Tide pools for exploring

Only 23 more days!

  

Bedtime Negotiations From a 1 Year-Old

Mama: "Logan, it is time to go night night."
Logan: "One more minute?"

Mama: "Logan, it is time to go night night."
Logan: "Hold you?"

Mama: "Logan, it is time to go night night."
Logan: "No. Playing with toys."

Mama: "Logan, it is time to go night night."
Logan: "Rocking in the chair?"

Mama: "Logan, it is time to go night night."
Logan: "Crackers? Yogurt? Strawberries?"

Mama: "Logan, it is time to night night."
Logan: "Daddy's pillow?"

Mama: "Logan, it is time to go night night."
Logan: "Mommy and Logan cuddles?"

Yogurt?

Good News Bad News

Thanks to the time change, the clock in my car now displays the correct time.

Unfortunately, Logan didn't get the memo about the time change. He is still getting up very early.

Thanks Grandma

Perhaps it was teaching on Halloween that made me dislike it. I loved teaching most days of the year. The big exceptions were Halloween and Valentine's Day. Anyway, even though it has been two Halloweens since leaving the classroom... I still haven't recovered.

Poor Logan. While all of his friends' and cousins' mommies were purchasing darling costumes weeks ago, I did nothing of the sort. I was going to put him in a cowboy hat, give him a plastic gun, and call it good.

Grandma vetoed. Logan got a cute little pumpkin suit. Please notice the sucker slobber on the collar. It is my favorite part.

Likes

1.  Eating hawaiian pizza

2.  Camping on the beach at Christmastime

3.  Painting my toenails

4.  Walks on summer mornings (Curse the dreadful season approaching!)

5.  Talking to Logan about animals, bugs, toys, and tools

6.  Evening outings with my girlfriends

7.  Helping small struggling students with their math

8.  Having a warm rice bag in bed with me

9.  Brownies on Sunday

10. Great jeans

What are yours?

Language Problems

Logan is experiencing a little confusion.

He is frequently calling Grandma, Grandpa, Daddy, and I by our first names.

My mom got him a big black truck to play in outside.  He loves it.  He calls it his #%$@.  You guess.  We're working very hard on the "tr" sound.

Dear Gelato,

Our relationship has been getting much more serious lately.  I dare say I could hardly live happily without you.  The folks at your shop know me by name and smile when I come by.  Thank you for having so many wonderful flavors and textures.  You are a worthy expense no matter what the economy does.  Don't worry, I'll quit driving my car before I give you up.  This week when I noticed two new flavors in the freezer, my little heart sang with joy.  I also love to mix flavors. The best combinations so far are (in order of excellence):

1.  Coconut Almond and Bon Bon

2.  Coconut and Dark Chocolate 

3.  Coconut and Pineapple.

The best stand alone flavor is a new addition to your case:

1.  Yogurt with Blood Orange and Peach

Thank you for all of the summer evenings.  I promise I won't turn exclusively to hot chocolate as the weather turns cold.  See you tomorrow.

Much love,

Teacher Mama

$ Menu Opinions

If I choose to intoxicate my blood stream with sodium, fat, and preservatives, I don't like to spend a lot to do it.  I also end up with less of a stomach ache if I eat small portions of grease instead of large ones.  For anyone who cares, here is my take on fast food dollar menus.

Wendy's

-Best chicken sandwich.  

-Rip off!  They removed the small frosty.  You can get a child's size for $.50 though.  That is just about the right amount for me.

-Good nuggets.  Logan loves to dip them.

-Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger is a tasty option.  The lettuce always seems to be cold and crispy.

McDonalds (Does this one need an apostrophe?)

-The double cheeseburger is very tasty; however, it is dripping with grease.

-Spicy chicken is gross.  What exactly are the spices they use?  They are bright orange!  

-The fruit yogurt parfait is fabulous!  Give it a few minutes at room temperature before you eat it.  The strawberries need to defrost.

Burger King

-Definitely the king of burgers.  Whopper Jr. is the best $1 option.

-Yuck on the nuggets.  They are the shape of crowns (or chicken feet... I can never tell).

-Wraps are over-rated.  Again, why ruin the chicken with nasty bright orange spices?

-Best fries!  Lots of dip choices.

Arby's (How about here?)

-Please get on the bandwagon.  I do not want to buy 5 things to get a good deal.

-Best commercials.

-An interesting side note... when I was little I thought the Arby's hat was an upright fish.

There you have it.  Please add your likes and dislikes to the list.  Proofreading help would also be appreciated.

Exceptions

I dislike banana flavored things.  Except for Creamies.

I dislike cherry flavored things.  Except for Nibs.

I dislike grape flavored things.  No exceptions.

I dislike squash.  Except if it is buttered and grilled, or served in a curry (Indian style).

I dislike winter.  Except if I am at the cabin with a cup of hot chocolate.

Logan Down South

How Do Small Boys Learn These Things?

1.  Picking up your legs and hanging when adults are holding both of your hands.

2.  Putting rocks in the back of a toy dump truck, "driving" them to a new location, and dumping them.

3.  Swinging on the bar that separates check out stands (often encroaching on the space of the neighboring cashier).

4.  Turning on a power drill and "fixing things".

5.  Putting on his daddy's shirts and shoes and clopping around the house.

6.  Tackling.

7.  Growling.

8.  Taking things apart.

9.  Locking and unlocking the car door (from the outside... he can find the right key on my chain).

10.  Saying "Why?".

Smart Thinking

Maybe all of you have already figured this out. I just did.

My mascara has been running low, and I keep forgetting to get more. Every morning for the last few days I've found myself scraping the sides to get enough black on to look like a person. Then I had a brilliant idea. I ran the mascara tube under hot water. Horray! The remaining mascara in the tube became much more usable.

I'll probably be able to forget to shop for another week.

Cool Grandmas Catch Lizards

This one had a long blue tail.  He was a fast runner.

This one is a little horned toad.  He felt like sandpaper.

This one crawled on my tummy.

$5 Dates

These are great family activities or Friday night dates.

1. Dollar menu. I prefer Wendy's to McDonald's.
2. Dollar movies.
3. Gelato and a bike ride.
4. Walk to the nearest coffee shop for italian sodas.
5. See who can get the coolest present for the other person at Wal Mart for under $2.
6. Hike a nearby waterfall. (This could cost more than $5 in gasoline to get there.)
7. Redbox and banana splits.
8. Have an SUV? Drive to a remote location, put down the back seat, and watch a movie on a laptop.
9. $5 pizza and a game of H-O-R-S-E at a local elementary school.
10. Visit a museum at a local university. BYU has a cool life science museum and the University of Utah has a great natural history museum.
11. Bake brownies and play a favorite board game. We like Scatergories and Ticket to Ride.
12. Drive to a nearby lake for a picnic. Skip rocks.
13. Snow cones. I recommend coconut syrup.
14. Go on a run. Eat popsicles afterward.
15. Get a yummy treat at from a local chocolate shop and read your favorite children's books.

Please comment and add your favorites to the list.

Chatty Pumpers

We bought a natural gas car in December. It only has a 6 gallon tank, so we have to fill up frequently. It is worth the time. We only pay $.85 per gallon.

Interestingly, folks who drive these economical cars have their own little culture. When buying unleaded gasoline, how often do you visit with the person filling up across from you? Thrice in your life? Never? I have found that nearly 100% of the time, whoever is filling up their CNG vehicle next to me strikes up a conversation. No kidding. They all want to know how long we've been driving on natural gas, or which pump in the valley has the best pressure, or if the station on 90th south will be up and running soon. Sometimes I hear a history of how they converted their car. Sometimes they ask to see the tank in my trunk. Last weekend while filling up early Saturday morning, the man across from me said, "The early bird gets the pressure!"

I find myself becoming part of it. Sometimes when I'm filling up my car that runs on unleaded, I almost slip and start talking to a fellow pumper.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if the culture crossed over to all filler uppers.

Useless Periphery

I have issues with bulletin boards. While volunteering this week, I encountered a teacher who spends an enormous amount of time spacing, analyzing, pinning, re-pinning, and choosing borders for bulletin boards. I know that our classrooms need to be appealing and visually stimulating to students. I also recognize the value of displaying student work and academic aids that support curriculum. However, I do not think enormous amounts of time should be spent antagonizing over which color of butcher paper best matches your ladybug border. Time is limited. Energy is finite. I think there are activities much more worthy of attention.



This got me thinking about my own life. Are there activities I spend time doing that aren't really helping me accomplish my most important objectives?

I'm evaluating.

More Lessons from Broken Vehicles... Those of You Who Know Me Know I've had My Share

Yesterday I was running an errand for my parents.  I was pulling their trailer to the hardware store to pick up cabinets.  As I began to enter a very busy intersection, the car died.  Luckily, I realized what was happening before I blocked traffic.  I called my step-dad, as I have many times in the past, and he came to my rescue.  He brought a tow rope and hooked the car up to my Rodeo, which we used to tow the car and trailer home.

As I very cautiously pulled him home, we had to go through a four-way stop.  I waited my turn and then carefully pulled through the intersection.  Another driver waiting at the intersection couldn't see what I was pulling behind me and angrily waved me on because I was driving slowly.  I watched his expression change from frustration to recognition when the car and trailer came into his line of sight.  

I wonder how many times I have been ignorantly frustrated with someone.  Perhaps if all of us knew the loads others were pulling we would be more considerate and patient. 

A Challenge for the Stout Hearted

Pick a double digit number. Go through your house and donate, sell, or chuck that many things. Today I did 65 (clothing, decor I don't like, DVDs, and toys). You'll probably be surprised how easy it is to do.

What did you get rid of?

Junk Collectors

American culture holds many interesting phenomena.

One is the way we spend our life accumulating junk.

We work to obtain junk, we obtain junk, we fill the space we live with junk, which we keep whether we need it or not.    We obtain more and more junk.  We spend huge portions of time cleaning up our junk. We rationalize keeping our junk. We purchase little clear containers to make us feel better about storing our junk. We buy bigger spaces to hold all of the junk we have obtained.

When we die (or downsize), we toss nearly all of it, except of course the things which our children choose to buy a bigger space to keep until they die. Then their kids toss it. 

I intend to break this mold. I hope one day Logan can report positively to you.

Good Things to do in the Mountains

Playing With Roomies

I love my college roommates. We pulled off a last minute get together last week.  Their friendship and support continues to be a blessing in my life, even though BYU is long gone.  We missed our girls who are out of state.  I think we should all meet at some exotic location in 2010 when hubbies are done with school.

I Used to Live in Paradise

I miss Fiji.  Living there changed me.

Nearly everything was simple there.

I swam in this waterfall with some of the locals from the village one hot day.

I sat outside and enjoyed sunsets.  I could hear myself think.  I walked slowly.

I didn't need much.  Actually, I found that I was able to be very happy, even though I had very little.  In a consumer driven materialistic society, that is a hard truth to remember sometimes.  I am recommitting myself to be a Fijian again.  

Moving Mama

My parents sold their house.  They are downsizing.  My mom decided to gut the house they are moving into and pack and clean the house she is living in... all at the same time... in one week.  She is the hardest working lady I've ever met.  

Neither she nor I are very attached to things like houses and the stuff we fill them with.  We've gotten rid of lots and lots.  More will probably go before the week is over.  The memories that bring meaning to the space she lives in will follow wherever she goes.  There are a few things I'm going to miss about "home" though.

1.  The pine tree we planted when my dad passed away

2.  The wisteria vines that grow behind the detached garage and the virginia creeper that shades the back deck

3.  Neighbors

4.  The view of the mountains out the window of my old bedroom

5.  The perfect running route that I used to jog (and still do occasionally)

6.  Big family gatherings 

7.  Being able to walk to the cemetery where my dad is buried

8.  Having my in-laws and my parents walking distance from each other (convenience)

9.  Seeing how beautiful the yard I helped put in has become

10. The door going to the basement where my mom records everyone's heights.  My name is on there several times.  She likes to check and see if I've grown.

Logan is in to:

1.  Taking things apart and putting them back together

2.  Going "night night" in his bed

3.  Singing (5 speckled frogs, 5 monkies in the bed)

4.  Grandma

5.  Dancing 

6.  Wearing "bracelets" of any kind (including mason jar rings)

7.  Swimming

8.  Reading animal books with the appropriate sounds

9.  Blueberries

10. Independence

Logan is not in to...

1. Sitting quietly in church

2. T.V. or movies

3. Watermelon

4. Hugs and kisses for more than 2 seconds

5. Cuddling

6. Being fed (he wants to do it)

7. Sleeping soundly when there is any noise

8. Leaving his grandma's house

9. Exceeding long car rides

10. Missing naps... look out!

Summer Photo Update

This summer has been an adventure. Logan was particularly brave to watch fireworks, learn how to ride a two wheeler with Grandma, and go bear hunting in Yellowstone.  He also went on his first long hike on his daddy's back.

High School Reunions

I married the senior class president of my high school. He didn't plan a 5 year reunion. Three years later, I still get occasional complaints. I tell people that they didn't elect me. Talk to him.

Personally, I didn't miss the 5. The officers met recently to start planning our 10. It should be good.

Are 5 year reunions important?

Fruit is One of the Best Things About Summer

My personal favorites are:

Logan loves blueberries.  I have an aunt prefers green apricots.  Topher isn't much of a fruit guy.  He likes the corn on the cob. 

What are your favorites?

Delayed Gratification

If I had to choose one thing that symbolizes society and culture in the United States in 2008, I would choose a microwave.  

As a society, we are obsessed with instant gratification.  We want whatever our appetites tell us we want without having to work or wait.  We live on credit, eat fast food, and avoid hard work.  This trend is particularly evident in classrooms across the country.  Children want to be entertained instead of playing creatively.  They want McDonalds and Lunchables instead of a sandwich on homemade bread.  They want to watch movies and play video games instead of reading books.  As I have watched this plague spread among the children and families I work with as an educator, I am concerned for my son.  I hope he doesn't grow up to feel entitled.  I hope he is frugal, unselfish, and hard-working.  These are truly becoming rare qualities.

S'more Solution

The big problem with s'mores is that the chocolate never melts. The marshmallow just doesn't stay hot long enough to melt a hershey bar. I've been dealing with this disappointing fact every summer since my early childhood. Over the years I've experimented with many mediocre solutions.  Among them:

1. Keebler fudge dipped cookies (poor chocolate to mallow ratio)

2. Chocolate chips (hard to keep on the graham)

3. Place the graham and the chocolate near the fire to melt (uneven melting and burned fingers)

4. Balance the graham and the chocolate with roasting sticks over the coals (bottom of graham gets burned)

5. Microwave chocolate and graham (oh wait... no microwave... attention all people who have a microwave on camping trips: You aren't really camping!)

Finally in my 26th summer camping, through a stroke of genius, I found the ultimate s'more solution:

I recommend everyone heads up to the canyon this weekend to give it a try.  Let me know how is goes.