Wednesday, November 28, 2007

I am so completely and utterly self absorbed. As I read my past posts, I am amazed that anyone would even read them. Oh well, here I go again.

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving. Wednesday we went down to Susan's and spent the night. I got to cook with Sue Thanksgiving morning... we made pumpkin and pecan pies. I also made some yams, yummy. I have decided that cooking is an integral part of Thanksgiving for me. If I don't get to cook something, the day is ruined. Then we ate with Richard's family. Very delicious, the food and the decor... Other than upsetting Heidi's plan, we had a great time.

After dinner we quickly loaded up and went down to Vegas where we ate again with E's family. They were kind not to complain about us getting there so late. I forced my yams and pie upon them. They ate the pecan pie right up. It was delicious. Sue and I found a great recipe in her "America's Test Kitchen" cookbook.

Then we got to spend Saturday night at Ticee's house... and we stopped by Janett's on Sunday. Sweet, eh.

We put up our Christmas tree for family home evening. The kids are so excited! It was super fun for one day. Now it is not fun... "Can I open my present now?" "How about now?" Then it snowed yesterday and S was sure it was Christmas. We put them to bed at 7 p.m. last night, just for a little peace and quiet.

The Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah was on the radio today while we were in our van. S started to talk about dancing water, I began searching for any sign of water outside but to no avail. Then I tried to remind her about how this was the song we heard at the Bellagio in Vegas, with the water shooting out... Dancing water.... She had been trying to remind me of the exact same thing. Smarty... S has also started singing "Holly Jolly Christmas" around the house. So unbelievably cute!

Goodness, I went to a WIC appointment today. E went with me for the first part before he went to work. We signed the papers and E was off to work. We weighed the girls and they are now old enough that I don't have to undress them, yipee! Everything was going so well, I was afraid. The girls played well together when we had to wait for the nutritionist. A lady from our ward came in and I had someone to chat with. Spooky. Then it happened. We got called back into the nutritionists office and sat down. L was acting a little fussy and wanted to sit on my lap, then on her own chair, back to my lap, on the floor... which is all pretty normal... but she just kept getting whinier instead of settling down. Then L started to gag and what to my wondering eyes did appear? But a little vomit coming right near. She threw up into my hands! The nutritionist handed me tissues and we ran to the bathroom while she threw up again. Gross. I am amazed that I didn't throw up as well. How embarrassing. I had to was her shirt out in the sink but luckily she had a soft fuzzy jacket that worked well as a top.

WIC, WIC, WIC.... I am so grateful for the help with milk!! And, I am so sorry about the trauma every single appointment. The sadness is that neither S nor L grew enough in the last 6 months and I have to take them in for an extra appointment in January. Grrrr.

Did you all know that Janett has an entire Christmas village? I think that is so great. She even has the perfect spot to put it. I am suffering from a little Janett envy... I am pondering cauterization of the uterus. Anyone want to input their opinions? Jan had it done. Hmmm...

Love to all!

Monday, November 19, 2007

Faux pas!

Why must I always end up putting my foot in my mouth?! It is so challenging being me. I see soft spoken, kind, gentle women and think how much I would like to be like them... but alas... I am loud, often harsh and a little difficult to take.

I walk with Luz every morning and we talk about everything under the sun. Well, she told me that an hermana from the Spanish branch who just had a C-section... Carmen Gloria who is 46 years old... was out raking leaves, vacuuming and cleaning the kitchen. She wouldn't ask for any help from anyone. So, I went to see Carmen Gloria and I told her to shape up and let people help her. The true definition of irony. Her neighbor was there, Hna. Marengo, and she just happened to be the one that told Luz about the raking of the leaves. The neighbor went back to Luz on Sunday and chastised her saying, "If I can't trust to to keep a simple confidence, how will I trust you with something bigger?" Luz comes back to me... wondering why I would tell Carmen Gloria that someone had seen her raking leaves?!

I felt a little chagrined (is that even a word?) but please! Who knew that the raking of leaves was supposed to be a secret? Oh bother. So, I have made quite a mess of things... adding a little more contention to the branch. Just what they needed.

I "threw the back out" again last Sunday. This time my back went into spasms when I sneezed before going to church. It was extremely painful Sunday through Wednesday. ... since then it has been progressively better. Now it only hurts to stand up. I feel like I lost that week... just like Ticee lost her month of October. Like I can understand her month lost because of my little week lost. Yes, I completely understand Ticee... and make sure not to rake leaves.

My poor husband has suffered so these past two days! First of all, Jimmy Johnson won the Nextel Cup and left Jeff Gordon in second. That has had him suffering in anticipation. The last race was yesterday. On top of that our RS had Super Saturday and I was gone from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. It didn't last that long, but there was a group of five of us that were determined to finish our project... so we stayed and helped each other finish. We made a pact not to leave until we were all finished. I had a great time! The only thing I need in my new ward is someone who is funny... must find a funny friend.

E was at home taking care of the kids and Steve came up to get some help fixing his car... emergency brake, blinkers, windshield wiper reservoir... E's dad also came by to get help with his car and E worked on our purple Durango. He wanted to take it down to Thanksgiving... but we don't really have the money to get it ready. So, sorry to all those who were holding their breaths, hoping to catch a glimpse of our purple monster.

Sunday E woke up with a cold. That always throws him over the edge. He was sure he couldn't make it to church, but he cowboyed up and went. Sacrament meeting was horrid this week. R used her guttural scream/cry any time anyone got in her way as she moved between E and myself. L kept bursting into tears at random moments. B acted deaf, never responding when we asked him to sit on the bench, move his legs, pick something up, not cause fights, etc. That only leaves S who gets so nervous when R & L don't obey her, she just keeps chanting her instructions over and over, louder and louder. I was determined to sing in the choir, which I did. (I lock the kids in the van with a movie on after church each week to go to a few minutes of choir practice. You 'll see me on the news someday.) We were so glad when church was over!

E's sorrows didn't end there. After counting the tithes he came home to watch the last NASCAR race of the season. A week earlier I had signed up to feed the missionaries at 5 p.m. and then later found out that they had changed Spanish choir practice to Taylorsville and I had to leave at 5 p.m. So, with only 13 laps to go he had to turn off NASCAR and take care of the Elders. Our practice continued into the night... we finally left at 9:45 p.m.! So, E had to put everyone in bed too.

You might think that he would be getting after me or something, until now he has suffered in silence. Being very kind about giving me my time. He truly is fantastic.

I made some super cute things at Super Saturday. Just the fact that I finished everything (9 projects!!) keeps me on a natural high.

Love to all,

Julie

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Howdy! Fair Sabbath to all. We had a great day! We were so ready for church on time, with the time change and all. We had time to go to the hospital and see Carmen Gloria and her new baby. She is the 45 year old that hadn't seen her husband for six years (he was here, she was there). She brought her boys (16 and 14 years old) up from Chile and surprise, she got pregnant. Her tiny is so cute, another boy. She is doing well, too.

Even after visiting her we still got to church early. I fulfilled my calling, got in the VT report. Got to listen to all the classes, bore my testimony (I wanted my kids to remember their mom bearing her testimony), and I even went to the end of choir practice... our ward started a choir today! Bro. W from our Bishopric took care of my kids for me. (E was counting tithes). He took them into the Bishop's office and they danced, sang songs, played hide and seek... So cute!

I fasted for Ticee... pretty much 24 hours, minus two.. much better than last week when I ate at 2 p.m. I am sure things will go well tomorrow with such a long fast out of me! Now, I get to go to Spanish choir practice. Getting ready for the Christmas program, El Regalo de Navidad. Get your tickets on line at www.lds.org. We will be singing in the Tabernacle, thank you very much. That way you will be able to hear all of the altos singing their own alto part. Good times. We only have this month left for practicing! By the way Ana, there was an alto that we liked last year named Vanessa, with long black hair... she helped with something in Layton... maybe the altos... anywho, she is engaged! Hurray for Vanessa.

What if everytime anyone got engaged ( or pregnant or became a teacher or went on a mission) we just started going off on all of the worst parts of that experience. Oh, the stories we could all tell. Yet, we just smile and congratulate and hope that they will be happy. Yes, I am happy... settle down out there.

B is freaking me out. He is having some real issues with "who's the boss." Yesterday he told me that, "You and Papa don't have to be my boss any more. I think you have taught me enough already." Can anyone out there tell me this is a phase? Or is he already pre-teen at five years old? My goal is to help him get a strong testimony so he will be sure to choose the right.. Advice anyone?

All of the cats had croup last week. R and L were the worst... but we are all getting better, thanks for thinking about little ol' me. (Line from Friday Night Lights... a must watch!)

Love to all!