You know...

...my husband always bursts out laughing when I pull the 'You know' line..... It is usually accompanied by my hand on my hip and sometimes waving an axe with the other hand.  I start this post with this concept because I am hiding behind the guilt of not posting Christmas or anything associated with Christmas.  Not that I don't like the season of ho ho - I try to be positive.... but then the retail word chokes most of the joy out of the very merry holly jolly.  I love lights, English Toffee, and the smells of the fresh air - minus the red level of the Utah diversion... but I have the most serious hang up about not being able to get simple gifts for my children.  I miss those Little People years - the noise, the listening to the little tiptoeing downstairs WAY too early.... It's hard to see the years change.  I love to see them being so understanding about the gift thing.  We draw names, we buy one gift, we move on, we love time together more than things we can buy for each other.  This year we were 100% massively involved with our Inner City Mission families - I have to say - there were miracles upon miracles there.  I cried most of Christmas day at church because, I didn't see one pair of flip flops in December.  There were shoes on most of the little children that day.  Our home ward, and a wonderful bunch of Mrs. Freeman's E.L.F.'s provided so many gifts it took several trips to deliver them.  I cannot go into many of the details but - it was seriously the most amazing thing I've ever seen.  When my emotions are in order - I may post what I am allowed to post, because some of our families are protected and I have to be careful.  Never the less - Pere Noel made quite an appearance at some heart felt, hard hit homes.  That was my Christmas Memory.  Then.... You know.... my funny kids came over that night - with one of my 3 grandkids in tow... The WA grandbabies arrived Christmas night late and we are ParTaEiNg on Wednesday, and Friday, and Saturday and maybe inbetween there also.  I love the dinner table when my kids are all around it.  We are loud, and we talk about body parts, and movie lines, and random insanity that surrounds most of our lives.  We also love to cheat at board games, which will be another post for another day.  Now - when our family gets together - it's always.... what should we fix to eat??  After so many meals together and so many holidays - there are the usual fixin's.  But sometimes I want to get a little off the beaten trail... I've been getting excited about trying some organic, and some semi vegatarian (that means that I won't eat meat, except for In and Out) dishes - because I like the nutty tastes better than the knarled bloody meat adventures.  I enjoyed my soy nog... yes I did... I love my Christmas Eve Yoga - yes I did.... But with the first mention of "Maybe I'll make that meatless lasagna with vegetables and pumpkin and stuff"  I was informed (and you know which kid you are - punker) about the following information:  "Mom - we all remember when you made that and we ALL hated it!"  AAAAHHHH!!!!!!    I can't believe Santa brought you ANYTHING at all when you were children!  Here I am trying to make you healthy - no green boogers, or snotty noses, or hacking throat issues - and you give me that line?!!!!  Well - beware children - because mom has her hand on her hip and the axe in the other - and I'm learning how to say "You Know..." in several languages!  I love that it took 10 years to finally tell me you didn't like it!  I'm making extra brussel sprouts tomorrow for dinner..... I remember saying, "There are children starving in Africa!"  You know.... just like every single mom has done and will do at some point... but apparently - they wouldn't even want this dish!  whatddeva - So for our family celebration this year - I have had a tee shirt made up with this on it...

Or as Grandma June would say...

Eat it or wear it...

(Which I recall my dad doing several times)

So, you know kids... I just love you.  I love that you have tried so hard over the years to not hurt my feelings. (HA!) That you hauled out napkins full of food in your pockets after meals.  That you Googled a place in Africa I could send food. That you are better cooks that I am, and that no matter what, you'll never know how many times I've sneezed in your dinner.

Merry Christmas!

(and yes - those dang family pictures are tomorrow!)





My Spawns

A mom must take a thousand pictures of their children in their lifetimes.... and yet this is the one I've chosen.  Ryan was fighting for his life in the hospital, and Mandy was trying to shorten it my making him laugh to death.  This pretty much sums up their relationship.  My two youngest - born 2 years and 2 days apart - making quite the 2-some growing up.  This week is their birthday's, Ryan's on the 13th and Mandy's on the 15th.  Both arrived 2-3 weeks early - but have never been on time since for anything.  (ok - unless it involved root beer floats with limited root beer and the necessity to fight for the remaining ice cream)  When they were little we had outrageous parties for their birthday.  Now - I call them up - tell them how freaking much it hurt to deliver them, how I can remember every single night I stayed up while they were sick, crying, or late from a date.... (not particularly in that order).  I'm not a 'I'm going to find you the perfect present for your birthday' mom - I get a gift certificate for them to go out and eat somewhere fun and say - enjoy.  But to me - I celebrate their lives every single day that they exist - because of the joy they have brought into my life.  Mandy was born quiet, and tiny and petite - she's still tiny and petite... oh well - 2 of 3 isn't bad.  Ryan was born quiet and tall.  He's very very tall - but he's starting to noisy up a bit which is a good thing.  Each have made choices that have thrilled me beyond words.  They are close to the church - they have testimonies - they actively attend the temple, they have wonderful goals, Mandy has finished college and Ryan is right on course in college.  Each have served those around them in callings, in the community, and have been encircled by good friends.  They are known to tell each other EXACTLY what they are thinking about each other - making eyebrows raise, and hearts thump faster, and we wonder if they'll punch each other out - but they don't.  They are brutally protective of each other - I like that a lot.  I love watching them when they are together, they are SO FUNNY... my sides ache from laughing at the things they do.  Each one knowing what the other will do and or say in any situation.  They are most frightening when in the same car, when any window is down, and Mandy is in the back seat.  I'm pretty sure there is a warrant out for their arrest.  Sometimes I look at them and I see the most tender moments.  When Ryan was sick - I watched Mandy praying for him.  When Ryan was far away, his e-mails would include how Mandy was feeling.  Those moments that remind me that they have been friends long before even coming to earth.  Their lives have changed from the birthday parties of yesterdays - but there will still be cake, and well maybe root beer floats somewhere in this week.  Mandy is now a mom, and a wife, and a musician and is living her dream.  Ryan is studying hard at school, just completed an amazing mission for the church, and has found a bright little light in his world, he's found joy, and I hope he takes good care of her.  There are actually 4 favorite kids in my line up of children - Lucky me.  I look forward to seeing the events of the year ahead as we continue to grow older as a family.  Mandy and Ryan I hope you have a wonderful birthday - and that you know you are loved by all of us.  I hope Jaffar blesses you in every way... if we can find him... at Disneyland.... again... in It's A Small World....

Oh Happy Day!

Yo Momma Loves Ya.

Taa ina Wiieend

Windy day... wait - 100 mph winds - Hurricane Day in Utah!  I took precautions though... I moved all of my Pepsi to the middle of the house, along with the Oreos.  Can't say that I am not prepared.  Feel bad for those that had damage on their homes.  People are more important than things - but you do need to have a place to sleep.  Everytime the wind blows Mandy and I call each other and say, "Taa ina Wiiend"!  It's from a movie called 'Nell'.  In which a young girl is left to raise herself in the back country of the South or East or some place where they decided to do it.... whatever... When civilization finds her she has her own language - thus Taa ina Wiiend - when the wind blows she explains 'Tree in the wind'.  But it's not any fun unless you say it and sway your arms over your head several times.  Rolling your eyes back into your head also adds to the drama of the quote.   Good times.  I'm going to have to watch Jodie Foster in that movie again someday - and get some more awesome quotes.  I'm now late for what I was actually going to get to as of right now - what's with the freaking squirrels in my life???  Well, I'm off and flying.... Taa ina Wiiend... to you all xoxo