a beautiful little fool

Instagram on Blogger.

2012-01-26T14:09:00.003-06:00

I love me some Instagram. As my friend Whitney recently stated "You were born to Instagram." Thanks Whit, I believe you may be right...However I've been trying to find an Instagram feed that is compatible with Blogger. I found one through something called BadgePlz. So now you can see my Instagram feed over on the left of my blog (looks like you'll actually have to click over to see that feature Google Reader readers...). But the feed is kind of wonky- I have to take at least 3 Instagram pictures a day for it to work. Does anybody know how to fix it? Or another, better way to add Instagram to blogger?

The end of an era.

2012-01-26T00:09:00.002-06:00

Now that Wizards has ended "the pose" will eventually fade into oblivion. Farewell my oft seen friend.

Who will be the family wizard!?!

2012-01-25T23:05:00.001-06:00

This morning I realized the final episode of Wizards of Waverly Place was finally on Netflix. Scarlett has been dying to see who would become the family wizard, sometimes tearing up that she hasn't seen it yet... So while the girls were gone at school I whipped up an impromptu wizards party:

Complete with sub shop.

And wizards lair.

The kids loved it.

Especially Adam (mostly because he got to eat candy. That boy is obsessed with candy.)

Other notables...

2012-01-25T22:50:00.001-06:00

The girls got their hair cut!

This is notable because they've had long hair forever.

Especially Ruby.

In fact she hasn't had it short since it grew long (since she was like three.)

She looks so grown-up now.

Before.

After.

Only Exactly One Month Late.

2012-01-25T22:42:00.000-06:00

This was the official Russell family Christmas shout-out.

A slight improvement from our Mother's Day portraits.

We're watching you Sid. So-play-nice.

2012-01-25T15:25:00.002-06:00

Last week while watching Toy Story 3 (for like the at least 300th time) I honestly thought to myself "What ever happened to Sid? I'm surprised they've never really mentioned him again, he probably started doing drugs or something...We get to see Andy grow-up and go to college, so what ever happened to Sid?"

Answer: He becomes a garbage man! He's in Toy Story 3 as the garbage man (you can tell by his skull shirt, obviously!) It's even the same actor who played young Sid who gets credited. So fun. I love the Toy Story franchise (just not watching it 5 times a day...)

Good stuff.

2012-01-22T22:29:00.001-06:00

FYI I was trying to make myself look like this guy. But my webcam doesn't have a timer so I could never get my eyes big and creepy enough in time.

Darn, because I was a dead ringer (you can't see in the picture but I'm wearing Nike shoes and a mock turtleneck.)

I also put flour on my lips to make them look dry and ashy like his.

I should've hung up a sheet behind me.

I love me the Internets.

It's how I stay connected to home. It's how I take stupid pictures of myself. It's how I contact teachers/neighbors/church peeps/etc. It's how I figure out how to do/make/find almost everything. I have thousands of pictures and documents saved online. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, JDate, Instagram. I have 3 blogs (2 of which I update regularly.) I think most things are better/easier and more useful in digital format. But I'm sad my kids will be missing out on a couple of the tangible things I grew up with, most noteworthy:

Newspapers! Now, I get that I'm a total news nerd. I remember reading the newspaper religiously from the time I was at least in 4th grade and not just the comic strips, I read it all, even the boring finance section. As a grade-schooler I remember reading about the Oklahoma City bombing and the Hale-Bopp comet cult (still creeps me out.) I also remember the day I realized how much I despised the mysteriously unfunny Family Circus. Yet, I never missed it. Curse you Billy and P.J.

Nowadays I'm probably as up-to-date on current events as a human could possibly be. I mean we all are. We can get news almost instantaneously, it's amazing. But I still miss ink-and-paper newspapers. You can't cut out funny articles from the internet and tape them on your mirror (I know you can print stuff off, but who does that?) The kids can't (because I won't let them) sit around the computer with a bowl of cereal and read the comics. And how are people in the future going to protect their sidewalks while spray painting stuff?

It's not like I want to go back to Amish times* (And yes, I do know for the Amish those times are now.) It's sad to say it but getting a hard copy of the news just seems like an unnecessary luxury in a world-brimming with free digital news, even my parents haven't gotten the newspaper in 5 years.

I'm not the kind of girl who wants pricey shoes or a fancy car, but when/if I'm ever filthy rich I'll spring for a newspaper subscription just for nostalgia. It may seem frivolous or redundant but for William Randolph Hearst sake that is how I will know I've finally made it big.

*Speaking of the Amish: You must read this. Isn't her story fascinating? I want to know more about her journey.

Please forgive me Internet, I don't want to fall out of your good graces. Xoxo Amanda

High of 14.

2012-01-19T09:51:00.001-06:00

It's chilly outside.
Today's high reaching 14 degrees, if we're lucky.
But no snow!
Which I always count at pure luck in the Wintertime (and this Winter has been lucky indeed!)
So we shall stay in today.
I think Adam is getting sick or getting a tooth (who can tell?)
He's warm and hasn't moved off the couch for 45 minutes (a record for him...)
Perhaps I will make some soup, or something.
Because today we're hibernating.

A Very Amanda Fairy Tale

2012-01-18T23:55:00.001-06:00

Once upon a time, about a year ago I re-found my First State Quarters of the United States Collector's Map, which I had received for Christmas in 1999. It only had one quarter in it (Delaware), although some of the slots had been stretched out like they had once held quarters, but said quarters had apparently been removed for more important purposes (ex. buying candy.)

So if nothing else 2011 can be remembered as the year I re-started collecting state quarters. We aren't exactly cash/change people around here so my days as a curator weren't exactly bustling, but exciting none-the-less. And it's true what they say- if you put your mind to it something, eventually you will have collected 21 state quarters after 11 years and 10 months of trying.

I once told Nic (totally seriously) "I would rather have all of the state quarters than a diamond ring."
To which he replied "You'd rather have twelve-dollars over a diamond ring?"
Forget that I could sell my diamond ring and buy a number of First State Quarters of the United States Collector's Maps, I just really wanted my collection completed at all costs (or for $12.50 to be exact.)
I just like silly things I guess. Nobody ever said I was high maintenance.

Nic was both supportive and incredulous when it came to my quarter collecting- I mean he would occasionally look through his stash of car coins for me. But needless to say, he thought it was kind of weird that an adult woman actually pined after a collection of novelty quarters.

Like I said after 11 years and 10 months of collecting I was holding frustratingly steady at 21 state quarters.

But here is where things get sweet...

I've often shared my general distaste for cliche romantic gestures (like buying your adult significant other a stuffed animal???) And Nic isn't really a romantic gestures kind-of husband. Which is good, because generally speaking I like to pick out my own stuff anyway (seriously.) Like I said I'm low maintenance.

So when Nic returned home with my First State Quarters of the United State Collectors's Map 47/50ths full (that's all the bank had in the vault) I was happier than a girl whose husband surprised her with a surprise diamond ring (seriously.) Or something else as equally exciting and thoughtful.

It was amazing. Nic had won 47/50ths of my heart.

And they lived happily ever after.

The End.

Epilogue.
When Nic was at the bank he was too embarrassed to say the quarters were for his wife's collection and told them was doing it for his daughter's upcoming Birthday

Today I spotted a National Park Quarters Collector's Map, I think I know what I want for Valentine's Day...

Oops.

2012-01-15T23:14:00.000-06:00

Umm, don't you hate it when you pack up all of your Christmas decorations and then realize a week later that you left an entire Nativity set out?

Not High School Sweethearts.

2012-01-15T22:49:00.000-06:00

Amanda circa 2002

FYI- I dressed like that as a joke. I never went through a goth stage.

That outfit was ridiculous.

I couldn't let the photographer know it was a joke or they wouldn't take the picture-

but that was the closest I could come to a not smile without laughing.

Nic circa 2002

Now that it is 2012 I'm marching toward a milestone- this spring will mark ten years since I graduated from High School. I loved High School. I know a lot of people wouldn't go back for anything, and I probably wouldn't either, but even then I loved it for what it was. I look back on the girl I was ten-years-ago and I'm proud she's me. Despite all of my kookiness back then I was confident, smart and fun. I can't always say I feel those things about myself today but 2002 Amanda did (and was) and I still love her despite her naive innocence. Is it weird that I see myself from ten-years-ago as almost an entirely different person? Or would it be weird not to?

Whenever people find out Nic and I went to the same High School we always get the inevitable "Ohhhh, were you High School sweethearts!?!" To which we always respond with a resounding "Eww. No." (Yes, we did get married at nineteen but at least we aren't like those weirdos who find a soulmate at sixteen, I mean come on we've got three whole years on those Bozo's.)

On the other hand I know some classmates from school were shocked we knew each other, let alone got married. So no, High School sweethearts we were not.

After High School we're supposed to grow-up, evolve and move-on. I wonder what it is like for kids graduating in 2012 will it be harder for them to shed their High School selves? Thanks to Facebook the idea of a ten-year reunion seems redundant even to me. But what about the kids who never had a break from it? They graduated with those digital connections and preconceived notions already in place. I mean it's always harder to move on from something you've never really left behind.

In a sense Facebook and High School Reunions serve a lot of the same superficial purposes. Unless I do something extremely shocking like become a man or gain 500lbs, I would seem like essentially the same person to many of my classmates. Even if you knew specific details-like how I got pregnant, or that Nic has seizures, or that I've had three kids or that we live in Nebraska- it's impossible for anyone to know how much I've changed inside. Honestly I'm probably equally kooky on the outside that I was ten-years ago. But there just isn't a status update or small-talk with a girl from your AP English class that quite covers all of that inward growth in an acceptable manner. Honestly we all just want to see pictures of your Hawaiian honeymoon! Or your ugly baby! Ultimately we just want to compare how much better/worse you look ten-years later!

This is probably why Nic has vowed not to attend our High School reunion, even if we're are in town. He's doesn't even want to be on Facebook why would he want to hang-out in the real life version of it?

I told him it would be funny to wear either matching "High School Sweethearts" or "Not High School Sweethearts" T-shirts. He still declined. Who knows, maybe in another ten-years?

Year of the Tiger?

2012-01-06T23:08:00.001-06:00

Today at the zoo we practically high-fived a tiger.

It was awesome.

I hoped that 2012 was the Year of the Tiger.

I figured getting some face-time with a real tiger the first week of the New Year would be a good omen.

But alas 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.

Which is also fitting because I've been feeling like I want this year to be especially mystical for me.

Adam was born in the Year of the Tiger (2010.)

Nic and I are Rats.

Ruby's a monkey.

And Scarlie a Rooster.

We're practically a family zoo.

'Graming.

2012-01-05T22:47:00.000-06:00

Here is our Christmas.

Well the Instagram version at least.

More to come, eventually.

The End (possibly) (probably)

2011-12-18T22:57:00.001-06:00

I told them to stand in front of the tree for this picture, not realizing that Nic is bigger than our tree. Oh well...

Yesterday we took the kids out to look at Omaha's various light displays...

It's no Temple Square, I'll tell you that much. But it was fun to get out none-the-less.

We walked around Nic's campus-

I enjoyed the lights and the reflections bouncing out of the cathedrals stained-glass windows.

I like that Nic goes to a religious school, even if it's not our religion.

The essence of all religion is spirituality and inspiration and that's something we can all relate to.

I liked watching the girls run around empty fountains and strike poses near lit-up trees.

I realize the girls memories are becoming more concrete, they will remember nights like that when they look back on their childhood.

At least I hope they will.

Not necessarily the itinerary, but definitely the emotions.

I don't know if I'll have anymore time to write this year.

And let me tell you this year has felt laborious in a kind-of defeating way-

but I'm looking at it with a heart full of gratitude.

Because we really, really, really have been blessed.

Blessed with healthy kids, well-fed bellies and happy hearts and why bother with anything more?

Good-night 2011- I bid you adieu.

Christmas Goodies: Phase 1

2011-12-13T22:57:00.001-06:00

Do you have lots of neighbors/school friends/church friends/co-workers/etc. that you have to exchange seasonal goodies with? Well I do, I'm very popular (popularity is being measured in the amount of time I spend baking to keep my friends.) So popular in fact I've had to break my treat baking into two different days/phases.

My concept for phase one was to make teeny, tiny, elf sized cookies.

Those may appear to be regular sized Hersey Kisses, but no they are just regular sized chocolate chips a top a tiny cookie.

But did you know that making hundreds of mini-sized cookies takes like a hundred, million times longer than making a couple dozen regular sized cookies? Well it does. Rolling out all of those tiny balls is time consuming, even for little fingers like mine. So in the end I compromised on the size and did them slightly bigger than I had originally planned. Sorry elves.

If nothing else Scarlett was highly impressed. And I guess she is half elf. So mission accomplished.

The Chronicles of Minivan: A Christmas Story (mostly)

2011-12-11T20:01:00.001-06:00

Polite smiles for "fake" Santa.

Part VII

I've always wanted to watch an odometer turn over to 100,000 miles. That has always seemed like a realistic ambition for me. It requires very little effort on my part, in fact mere observation is the only requirement for such a feat.

In August just a few miles outside of Lincoln, Nebraska we observed that milestone with our storied Minivan. The moment was celebrated with a quick tweet and an even quicker photo-op. Although we were less than an hour away from home, we'd already been in the car for over 12-hours and those last minutes were dragging on indefinitely...Eventually we pulled up to our townhouse and into our second year in Omaha.

After climbing hills and trekking across the plains our Minivan emitted a slightly burnt odor as we unloaded our Summer vacation. But here's the thing with old cars, you don't ever complain as long as they keep running. Beggars can't be choosers my friends. It could have smelt like smelly, old ladies or garbage sandwiches and I'm not allowed to complain because at least she got us home (and back, again.)

(And if my current calculations are correct our $1800 investment has translated to about .06 cents per mile. Not bad.)

Part VIII

It has been really cold in Omaha this week. So cold the girls have been wearing their furry hats daily. Every morning we shiver in our ice-box of a Minivan as we wait for the archaic defroster to reach the parts of the windshield my stubby arms can't reach. Sometime around Tuesday our predominantly used sliding door stopped opening. As is the case with a van like ours, I couldn't tell if it was a mechanical problem or an environmental one (like ice) that was causing the jammed door. But such as is the case with a person like me, I didn't do anything to investigate said jamming. Instead we just stopped using that door and started using one of the other 3 available exits.

The cold air has only added to the girls Holiday excitement. They love this time of year! They love giving gifts and making cookies. Sledding, snowmen and Santa Clause! They love our family elf, Ned. Oh and Scarlett will not stop talking about all the things 1/2 elves, like herself, do this time of year. It melts my heart every time she passes out a business card.

Friday night Ruby's friend informed her that the Santa at the ward party was a "fake." Now, I know the time is coming that the girls will soon no longer believe in Jolly Old Saint Nick. They have friends, cousins and peers that no longer believe in the magic. They're smart girls, they see the signs that the magic is missing some logistics. But you can tell right now, despite what they other kids say, they still really want to believe in it all. They still want to live in a world of magic elves and flying reindeer.

As we cruised home from the party along I-80 Scarlett flat out asked me "Mom, do you put the presents under the tree?"

I tried my favorite diversion tacit "What do you think?"

To which she responded "I don't know Mom! Just tell me! Do you put the presents under the tree or not!?!"

Her childhood flashed through my mind as I tried to figure out the right answer- one that wasn't a lie, yet left Christmas magic intact. I drew a blank and started with-

"Weeellll. Do you want to know what the most magical thing about Santa is?" when suddenly- WHOOSHH!!!! ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE VAN TURNED ON AND THE VAN DOOR FLEW OPEN GOING 60MPH!!!!

I screamed!

The girls screamed!

It was a Christmas Miracle!!!!

We were all so terrified as we pulled off at the next exit, that the girls had forgotten all about Santa and the presents. I know that the girls aren't going to believe for much longer- but I would love if they could have just one more sugarplum laced, anticipation-filled Christmas Eve sleep before they have to grow up. And maybe I have my crappy old minivan to thank for that.

Parts I-VI

Killing With Kindness.

2011-12-07T21:44:00.001-06:00

There is something in the air. I wish my life felt ripe with Holiday goodness, as it should, right now, but there is something about Finals Time that does not sit well with me.

Despite the Christmas tree twinkling in the corner, I feel tense energy all around me. That's the thing when your husband is in grad school and gone until midnight many moons in a row. Or the thing about living off student loans that inevitably dwindle as semesters come to an end. Or the thing about just being ready to go home for Christmas. Eventually, you (or rather me) start feeling like a crazy lady who yells at her kids a lot. Said kids start acting like crazy-kid demons, mostly because kids have the most exacting Stress Radar in the world. It's scientifically proven* that kids collect all stress-hormones expelled from their parents souls and instantaneously convert them into either silliness, annoyingness, whinyness or sleeplessness.

During Nic's Summer Finals he has a seizure during a Final and woke up alone on the floor of the library. Not awesome.

During Spring Finals I, like a hobo, had to get a tooth pulled. Then my dentist, like an idiot, left the roots in my gums which later required oral surgery. Not awesome. (Except for the part about my Mom coming out to take care of us, that was pretty awesome.)

And this time last year I just didn't know what to expect. I was lonely for familiarity and didn't expect Finals to feel so intense. I'm the kind of girl/wife that takes care of myself. If I need help I'll ask Nic for a hand, but most the time I've got it. But having Nic so (rightfully) pre-occupied made me realize what a crappy single Mom I'd be.

This time of year last year was also the time I mocked the Salvation Army's "Doing the Most Good" catch-phrase. Remember that? Well I did and it came back to haunt me:

Near the end of Finals last year I got my car stuck in the snow on the way to dropping the kids off for school. Now the thing you need to realize is I NEVER drive in the snow, I have driving-in-snow-phobia. My worst nightmare is being forced to compete on Ice Road Truckers. But living out here I had no choice, and then I got stuck and then I was blocking the entrance to the townhouse complex. The kids were late and Adam was covered in flour (because Scarlett had dumped out a bag for him to play with during breakfast, obviously.) It was horrible and despite my common practice of not crying in front of people I kinda broke down...

A neighbor took the kids to school and some men worked to unstick my car, I was just ready to leave it there until Spring. Suddenly out of nowhere a giant Salvation Army truck pulled up and the people in it magically unglued my car from the ice and drove it home for me.

A half hour later I got a text from my friend Stephanie that went something like "Not to make you feel bad or anything but did you notice who saved you? Maybe they read your blog :)"

It made me laugh and feel a little bit better.

That night the girls came home from school with "These AWESOME new prizes and water bottles!!!!" They were so excited about them and the awesome guys that gave them to them! When I saw all of their new Salvation Army swag I almost died.

I texted Stephanie-

Me: "Oh my gosh! Did you see the water bottles?"

Her: "Yes! I almost died. I was going to say something but didn't want to make you feel worse!"

Me: I'm starting to think they really do read my blog and are trying to kill me with kindness.

(Which by the way would be a much better slogan "The Salvation Army- Killing you with Kindness" I'd donate to that organization any day.)

P.S. When I put things in perspective I do realize how lucky we really are to have the stresses we do. And in that spirit I too am going to start "Killing people with Kindness (for the Holidays!)" Whenever I start feeling stressed and overwhelmed I will bake some cookies for neighbors, or find some old people to help across the street or something. I really do love this time of year and feel so much gratitude for my slice of life.

*It is not scientifically proven. That was a lie.

Good Things Amanda, where the Good Things Are.

2011-12-04T20:02:00.001-06:00

*This is the only thing that has ever made me want a smart phone: Little Printer. You've got to watch the video. It's combining two things I love- mini things and newspapers. I'm smitten.

*You have got to read this article about the UP! House in Utah. An HOA may make them tone down the colors. Oh man it has one of the best quotes I've read in awhile. Go ahead and read it see if you spot it...Did you read it? I'll repeat it here "We see it every morning when we wake up and eat breakfast. We would like to not have to see multi-colors as we look out our windows." I take it back, I hate multi-colors, they're the worst!!!

*Pinterest Find of the Week: Creme Brulee Fudge. Anybody have a spare food torch? I want to make/eat these.

*Did you know that only 2 of the HGTV Dream Home winners have been able to live in the homes? The taxes alone are somewhere around $600,000. Crazy. So I'm not sure what I'll do when I win (Sorry, RaVoe.)

Let it Snow! (Or don't...)

2011-12-03T17:30:00.001-06:00

We have been getting our Christmas on...

For example the girls decorated their own downstairs tree and wanted me to quote "show it to your blog."
So done and done.

Also...

Today was our first big snow. It was fine, my anxiety has been minimal regarding it (only because I didn't have to drive in it.)

I spent the day with a gaggle of neighborhood kids building an igloo outside my window. It was fun for everyone, everyone but Adam, who spent the day inside with me sadly watching them from the window.

But we made cookies and hot cocoa for the kids to eat in their new igloo.

It was pretty sweet.

The End.

Winner! Winner!

2011-12-03T10:54:00.001-06:00

Despite never having won any kind of contest, of any kind, ever- every single time I enter a contest I'm convinced I will win. Like all this week I've been trying to remember to enter Oprah's Favorite Things contest. Mentally I'm already munching on Oprah's favorite cookies and trying to sell all that Dr. Oz crap on Craigslist.

But the prize I really, really want to win is the new HGTV dream home. I mean I always want to win it, but this year I feel like is my year. I mean it's not my favorite of the houses, but it's in Utah! Utah people. And Midway non-the-less a place where Nic dreams of moving. So it's sounds like fate doesn't it? I think soooo.

And I swear I'll have a better reaction than this lady.

Traditional traditions.

2011-12-02T10:41:00.001-06:00

Austin Powers "Arthur", gifted to me from Zach

Last year was the official starting point of the newest Albrecht Family Christmas tradition (we have A LOT of them might I add, ask my bewildered brother-in-law. )

The newest family tradition is unofficially titled "The Ugly Ornament Exchange" (I think we stole it from the Elmer's, but to be fair Granny has been gifting awesome ornaments for much longer.)

We don't draw names or exchange any other meaningful gifts, the only sibling gifts that are allowed to be gifted are Ugly Ornaments- it's the rules, created by me, so I don't feel guilty about not buying real gifts. I can't wait for the day when I have an entire tree worth of ugly ornaments.

Hula Shark?, gifted to me from Annika

Phew!

2011-12-01T11:37:00.001-06:00

One of my biggest fears is serial killers. Seriously.
I hate serial killers, they're the worst!!!
So with each of my children I've anxiously waited for them to show empathy.
Now empathy isn't something that babies are born with.
Okay, they may be born with it, but they don't have the ability to understand or show it until they have matured a little.
If a human has the ability to show empathy there is a much smaller chance that they will be a psychopath or serial killer.
Ruby passed the test with flying colors.
Even Scarlett passed.
All that was left was Adam.
If nothing else in this world I'd be proud to say I didn't rear any serial killers.
Well this week it finally, officially happened!
My baby boy showed empathy (in the form of a reassuring hand pat to my back).
Plus he's finally started smiling for the camera!
Plus he loves puppies!
He's been crawling around and panting like a puppy all week!
Serial killers don't do that!
Serial killers hate puppies!
(And if they don't please don't tell me, I'd rather not know.)

Propaganda Amanda.

2011-12-01T11:17:00.001-06:00

If you stand at the end of my street you can see Iowa (and a handful of Indian, excuse me, Native American casinos as well.)

Last year I did all of my grocery shopping in Bellevue, Nebraska (the birthplace of Nebraska y'all!) Mostly because the Wal-Mart in Council Bluffs, Iowa (which is closer to my house) is a serious Mutant Factory. But since the start of this school year I have changed my tune and have been making as many decisions as possible in Iowa. Why you ask? Because of political power, obviously.

Iowa is an important state in Presidential elections. Some people consider it a swing-like state (and some people don't...) But the bottom line is politicians spend a lot of time and money in Iowa so that Iowans feel like they have the power to potentially make or break an election. I love that kind of power. When I buy eggs in Nebraska I'm like "Oh these eggs might make a delicious omelet" but when I buy eggs in Iowa I'm like "Damn, these eggs could potentially change the world." Isn't that kind of power intoxicating?

Now I'm obviously not registered to vote in Iowa or Nebraska for that matter. So really the proximity is just a contact high. Even if it's all in my head I love feeling like my opinion holds more weight simply by crossing the Missouri River. The power of my decisions magnified by a simple state border crossing.

And it's only going to get more intense as the elections get closer! Oh I hope I meet some politicians. I'm really good at meeting famous politicians! I can already think of 999 things I'd say to Herman Cain!

And He did.

2011-11-26T21:41:00.001-06:00

I loved Scarlett's Thanksgiving gift to me.
She's such a realist.
I love the turkeys caption "I will get [eaten]".

Thanksgiving Away 2.0

2011-11-26T20:47:00.001-06:00

I spent Thanksgiving morning baking and everything I made was not turning out right.

Why is it when you're cooking for a deadline/purpose everything goes wrong? I was so worried about my cooking jinx that I defrosted some Rhodes rolls as a backup to the homemade ones. The Rhodes did not rise, luckily the homemade ones did. Phew!

Too bad my Aunt Cid Chex Mix tasted like wood chips (I guess that's what too much almond flavoring will do to it?)

My cooking may have flopped but I was very pleased with the new packaging detail on the Karo syrup. I love when I don't have to get measuring cups dirty.

Also a cute detail? That "Tear Here to Make Sweet Memories" detail on the chocolate chips bag. So cute. I love stuff like that. Good work designer who designed that.

Adam spent the morning with a cup of Fruit Loops and some Curious George, because that's how he rolls.

The girls spent the morning assembling their "Give Thanks" banners and fighting over a glue stick, because that's how they roll.

***

This summer Ruby told my Mom she hated last Thanksgiving "Because my Mom burnt the turkey and there weren't lots of people there." To be fair I didn't burn the turkey, I didn't cook the turkey long enough- that is the reason it was inedible, get your facts straight Ruby.

So this year I tried to remedy the situation-

First, by not being on turkey duty,

Second, by eating with lots of people.

Mission accomplished.

Our family wasn't able to make it out...

But it was a very Farley Thanksgiving!

It's nice to have friends that will let you come and crash (literally) their house.

I forgot to bring my camera out which stinks-

but let the record show that the turkey was NOT burnt, there WERE lots of people and we had a great time.

Ruby declared it "the best Omaha Thanksgiving ever!"

So thanks for letting us come over, it was awesome.

***

Oh and this is Nic rocking a sweater V-neck on Thanksgiving, because, yes, that's how he rolls.

Seriously, this is it.

2011-11-22T09:35:00.001-06:00

I know I claimed my last post would be my last post on gingerbread, but I lied. Or didn't know that last nights FHE would be a trip to the gingerbread exhibit...

Ruby was digging that there Candyland themed exhibit.

Oh and there the girls are in front of our wards contribution, they were delighted to know that their Halloween candy made it possible.

I found this exhibit amusing. I loved that the one talking about "foundations" had a house with a questionably structured one.
[Post edit: I guess I'm dumb. I later realized it must be some kind of statement on the wise man and the foolish man. Sorry for not realizing you meant to do it that way.]

I only include this picture as proof that Adam was there too.

Best moment of the night? Realizing the 3 Russell girls all had bows on our shoes. Some moments are priceless.

Retiring

2011-11-19T19:23:00.001-06:00

Well my days as a gingerbread specialist are coming to an end! Oh the lessons learned!

Important lessons like "screw royal icing I'm using a hot glue gun to assemble these babies, then I'm covering up the hot glue with royal icing so nobody knows." I've said it once and I'll say it again- I'm so Ma-thug Stewart.

My gingerbread houses looked totally insane after that Super Saturday. They were not the cute simple houses I'd envisioned. They also weren't the gingerbread mansions I'd been instructed to make. They asked for mansions they got cottages. It just wasn't in the budget.

I figured it would be fine until I walked in to set up my gingerbread display and noticed the below pictured houses. They were immaculate, like tiny skilled elves had made them. And you can't tell from the photo but they were pretty big as well.

My houses were not made my elfin craftsmen. One house looked so bad we ended up using the back as the front. After the disaster of Super Saturday I had another gingerbread specialist whip up a house that became our town square (it was a bigger house and used all of the colors of the rainbow.) She did an amazing job the house turned out so cute and tied everything together. As I left the tabernacle I said I don't care if they collapse the moment I walk out the door- I'm just glad to be done with them.

The End (I hope.)

Books on my desk.

2011-11-19T11:20:00.001-06:00

Once when I was little my Mom let me ride one of those mechanical, mini-amusement rides inside the local Fred Meyer. Fred Meyer wasn't a place we shopped at frequently but when we did I always wanted to ride on one of those amazing rides. The best one was an Arabian Elephant, bejeweled saddle, trunk shooting high into the sky. I remember it being gigantic (approx. 8 feet tall). It was so big your Mom would have to heave you on top of the frozen, mechanical beast. Insert a quarter (or don't, sometimes kids don't even notice) and you're in for the ride of your life. I cannot stress to you how enormous this mechanical elephant was. Even it's immobile trunk was at least 6-feet long.

A few years later they replaced the elephant with a smaller less majestic version than the original. In it's place stood a dinky little elephant that was only about 2-feet tall. My Mom assured me that was the same elephant it had always been. I remember thinking "No, no, no. There's no way that is the same elephant! The other one was like ten feet tall. Seriously I remember it, it was huge! And it was amazing! That is NOT the same elephant."

But it obviously was. The elephant hadn't shrunk, I'd just grown.

Which brings me to the books on my desk. See a common theme? Answers like: Coming of Age tales! Books you read in High School! And Emo Lit! Are all appropriate answers. I'm curious to see how I've grown. Will these books seem as majestic as an adult? Which will stand the test of growing up? Will I read them and think "Yeah, I still get that" or will I be all "Grow-up and finish high school you whiny baby!"

So there.

2011-11-18T10:52:00.001-06:00

Soon enough I'll be spouting-out piles of gratitude (Idiot. Why do I always want to spell it graditude? Add that to the spelling list.) So first I want to make of list of things I don't like.

*Tutorial. I just hate that word. I hate the way it sounds when I say it. And don't get me started on the things some people are defining as a "tutorial." It's getting ridiculous bloggers. I'm going to start a segment where I do basic tasks and call them tutorials. Like later I might make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich tutorial. I just need to charge the battery on my fancy camera first. Fancy photography is an essential element of a useless tutorial.

*I hate when I don't wear my glasses to my local Hy-vee grocery store. I always think the employees are missionaries. I just see young men in church clothes with name tags and get ready to introduce myself (something I feel obligated to do when I see missionaries out in the wild) but then I realize they are employees and immediately advert my eyes.

*LOL. Did you know I hate that? I text it occasionally but I usually substitute it with a "ha ha". It has become such a normal thing to see that my dislike has definitely faded. I have general disdain for most short-text but LOL is one that I will never fully embrace. Maybe it's because I don't personally Laugh OUT LOUD very often, even if I think something is super funny. I'm more of a CIMH (chuckle in my head) kind of person.

*Laundry. Hate it. I'm actually avoiding it right now. But it's not going anywhere (trust me, I've tested this theory extensively.)

Awwww.

2011-11-15T23:00:00.001-06:00

I just found an old SD card full of old pictures.
It was like finding a mini-time capsule.
Took me back to 2006.
Remember how crazy curly Ruby's hair used to be?
She was so tiny! And curly!
I miss 2006 Ruby.
I want a Ruby in every model year.

11.11.11 11:11

2011-11-15T21:39:00.001-06:00

My cool older cousin Lindsay taught me about "11:11 make a wish!" She used to do all of these cool things like tape Luann comic strips on her mirror and read her scriptures every night. She was pretty much the coolest person I knew so I've always taken my 11:11 wishes seriously, because I thought she did.

Needless to say I was very excited for my 11.11.11, 11:11 wishes. I had grand plans for such a novel day. First I was going to check the girls out of school about 15 minutes before 11:11 then we were going to write wishes on balloons and set them free at exactly 11:11! After that I was going to take them to McDonald's to get a happy meal, because they always "wish we could eat there." But I didn't.

I spent my AM 11:11 wish trying to take a picture of the simultaneous 11's on my computer clock/calendar. But my camera wouldn't focus and then it died.

So I thought maybe I could do something fun for the PM 11:11. Something like buy glow-in-the-dark balloons to send wishes off into the night sky. But I never made it out to the store to find balloons. Then the kids came home from school grumpy and I knew I didn't want them staying up that late prolonging the grumpies.

After school I made the girls some "magic wishing dust" which was really just sugar-dyed with food coloring. I made them play with it outside. They had a great time dumping it on neighbor kids heads= mission accomplished!

Unfortunately that was the only wish related thing we did all day. I was unintentionally asleep on the couch before 11:11PM. Now I've got to wait another hundred years! Which means I certainly hope somebody used one of their wishes to make me live to be at least 127.

Read it.

2011-11-15T13:37:00.001-06:00

I'm on the hunt for the best elements of "great commencement speeches" (I'm currently in the process of writing one, just in case anyone ever asks me. Just kidding. Mostly.)

I know this one is nearly 4-years-old but have you ever read J.K. Rowling's 2008 address? I never had. I probably discounted it solely because I'm not into Harry Potter. But you should read it! It's funny, timeless and beautiful. I absolutely loved it. I wish I'd read it before now. I even teared up, I just thought it was perfect. Thus far it's the best celebrity one I've read.

Here is the link: The Fringe Benefits of Failure,and the Importance of Imagination

Some of my favorite lines:

Poverty entails fear, and stress, and sometimes depression; it means a thousand petty humiliations and hardships. Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts, that is indeed something on which to pride yourself, but poverty itself is romanticized only by fools.

I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realised, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.

Unlike any other creature on this planet, humans can learn and understand, without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people’s places.

I also enjoyed Ellen's, Stephen Colbert's, and cliche as it is right now Steve Jobs'.
I like commencement speeches I think they are like personal essays. Funny, touching, inspiring moments that define our lives, summed up in 20 minutes or less.

Any other commencement adressess should I read?

"That's Amanda!"

2011-11-13T21:18:00.001-06:00

Today I had to take Adam to the doctor, things were just really bad.

We left with 3 prescriptions and a little less pride- I told the doctor about Adam's suspected case of "chicken nuggets" (I meant chicken pox...) multiple times.

He thought I was stupid. But he don't know me! (say in your best Maury Show guest voice.)

Owl be back.

2011-11-13T20:54:00.001-06:00

I know a lot of people are "over" owls (or birds in general.) But I am not one of those people, in fact I'm wearing an owl necklace right now. I mean, I could probably start another blog where I just talk about all the owl stuff I've got. You see I've loved owls since I was a little girl, they remind me of my Great Grandma (aka Granny Granny.) I've been doing the owl thing since the early 90's when G.G. gave me a ceramic owl. So I guess I'm kind of snobby- I want other people to stop loving owls so owls can be my thing again. I wonder if one day the people who love owls will be like the people who love cats. Like crazy cat ladies. Am I one day going to be a crazy owl lady? One can dream.

The good thing about all of these other owl lovers is all of the awesome owl stuff floating around- like that make your own owl calendar (click on picture below for link.) Trust me it's a really cute printable, and designed really well. I can't wait to buy more ink so I can print it off. You should totally make one for yo self.

Smile.

2011-11-13T12:37:00.001-06:00

This week Scarlett fell out of bed and lost her front tooth. Later that night Ruby ripped a tooth out too. Scarlett was mad Ruby stole her thunder. Good thing the tooth fairy had enough quarters to go around.

Baby Z!

2011-11-12T20:00:00.001-06:00

My favorite niece is a one-year-old baby sitting in gravy today.

Dear Zo-bean,

Scarlett made you a card and bag full of cereal.
Ruby asked to see pictures of you.
We love you "Za Za", as Adam says.
We wish we could have seen you eat your 1st B-day cake-
but luckily we get to know you for all of your birthday's and eventually we'll get to party together.

Love,
The Cousins

Celebrate!

2011-11-12T19:32:00.001-06:00

You should watch this. I love all these people. A talent show is such an awesome B-day tradition. Again sorry about my contribution. Those dogs were a lot harder to train than you imagine (now imagine me training dogs to ride bikes and cha cha.) Mary put the whole thing (and video together) for our beloved Whit Joy. Such a great night, watching it makes me feel like I was there.

Here's our contribution last year.

Infected.

2011-11-12T19:12:00.001-06:00

If you are hankering for a nasty stomach flu, come to my house! And bring some spare electrolytes with you!

Also (and this is exciting people!!!) if you are dying to be infected with chicken pox, stop on by!
I didn't even know chicken pox was still "a thing." But even in this day and age in AMERICA, it is.
Good thing my baby boy is one of the 15-20% that can still get it despite immunization.

So the bad news is some of us may be MIA at church tomorrow. Again. Or maybe not, maybe I"ll teach those people who bring their sick kids to church a lesson. Give them a taste of their own illness (did you see what I just did there? Classic. )

The good news is I am starting a new business! Try and stop me Obama. Man, I don't want him gone, because I just love blaming things on him.

No fear.

2011-11-05T22:45:00.000-05:00

Yeeshh!
To all my self-proclaimed blog stalkers out there. My blog is back and not private anymore. I was just trying to fix something. Don't worry if I ever do go private, you'll all be invited and know so.
Thanks for the love. I mean it.

Gingspiration!

2011-11-05T22:34:00.000-05:00

My favorite detail was the edible frosting on the red house's roof.

It just looked so swirly and cute and fun. Why couldn't I have found it in all the colors?

My kitchen looks like a gingerbread factory exploded.

I've got royal icing cemented to every imaginable surface.

I've spent the last week in a haze- baking, burning and assembling houses.

I've seen the houses so much that I basically hate them.

I see every demented corner and every imperfect angle.

Today I loaded them all up in Nic's tiny car and drove on over to Super Saturday.

The plan was that I would bring the pre-assembled houses to be decorated by the ward.

In the LDS church everyone is given jobs- those jobs are called callings.

Callings are given to each person by the Bishop, who is the spiritual leader of each congregation.

Ideally callings are inspired duties- something that could potentially make a person stronger, wiser or better in some way. Needless to say I've been very skeptical of the inspired nature of my gingerbread calling- I mean come on- it's gingerbread.

I drove home from the Super Saturday kind-of upset. The houses looked insane.

Instead of the perfectly placed, color-coordinated, completed, candy houses I had in mind- I was stuck with a bunch of unfinished, imperfect, candy-gobbed houses.

"After all that work and they don't look perfect" I kept thinking.

And I continued to think that all day.

"After all that work and they don't look perfect."

After hours of internal wallowing I realized that's often how I feel about myself-

After all this work, still not perfect.

I'm trying to be better at being okay with the things that are me.

My oven may not be clean and my carpet may have marker stains on it.

I may not have the nicest things or look awesome in a swim suit.

I'm not a perfect Mom or a perfect wife or a perfect friend/sister/daughter or even a perfect gingerbread specialist.

I may not be happy about things in my life I can't control.

I may not be happy about some things in my life I do control.

But it's okay.

I'm not perfect and I'm not the only one.

Pretzels.

2011-11-05T21:45:00.001-05:00

I love pretzels. Aren't they delectable?
I like them with a good sprinkling of salt and even a hint of butter.

Here is a short list of my favorite pretzel snacks.
1. Mall soft pretzel.
Fresh made ones, not those nasty gas station ones.

2. Cabela's pretzel rods.
Salty, twisty, buttery, yum! Now you can buy your pretzels at the same place you shop for ammo! They've made the canister smaller and charge twice as much (boo!) Not acceptable, even in this economy. If they weren't so delicious I'd boycott.

3. Trader Joe's pretzel soft sticks.
They are only a dollar! And it's the perfect chew toy for a toddler.

4. Flip Sides Pretzel Crackers.
These are pretzels you can eat with cheese (like a cracker, but tastes like a pretzel!) They are also pretty salty, which I enjoy.

5. Pretzel Balls (AKA Popcorn style pretzel balls)
I've long mourned these babies. They are my very favorite pretzels, but for awhile they disappeared. Occasionally they pop up again and make my snack world complete- most recently from my brother's girlfriend. She's a keeper- and not just because she found me my favorite pretzels.

Halloween Festivities

2011-11-05T21:33:00.000-05:00

Early in the week Nic took the girls trick-or-treating at his school. The only people there were "all the other Mormons" probably because they are the only students with kids.

But the girls love going to Nic's school. They even told me they saw his "detention."

On Saturday we went to the Zoo's Spooktacular- which ended up being a nightmare. But the kids looked cute.

This was the girls school parade. Good times. There was one Dad where I wasn't sure if he was dressed like a pirate or not. I saw him wearing the same outfit again this week- so no, he was not dressed like a pirate. Sometimes it's hard to tell.

Adam hates dressing up (I've learned.) After school we walked down to the Botanical Gardens. We took pictures in the exact same place last year (it will be fun to see how they grow from year to year. )

We capped the night off with some extreme trick-or-treating.

As you can see we took a million pictures-

the only one I forgot was the "dump your candy on the floor" shot.

Well until next year...Happy Halloweeeeeeeeennnnnn!

Monday: Fall Break

2011-11-05T20:59:00.001-05:00

Monday.

Theme of the Day: Last day in Utah :(

The only picture I took of the day was of Adam plugging his ears to the Birthday song at Texas Roadhouse. He was not a fan. We said our good byes to Grandmas. We packed our bags and prayed that everyone would feel better (and be good) for the plane ride home.

Fall Break: Sunday.

2011-11-05T20:55:00.003-05:00

Most everyone was sick. No photos were taken to commemorate.

Fall Break: Saturday

2011-11-05T20:54:00.001-05:00

Adam's reaction to seeing Buzz.

Saturday.

Theme of the Day: A Halloween Party and the stomach flu

All day Saturday we prepped for the Halloween party. All day Saturday I was sick. No fun. But the party was. Costumes, Grandma running around scaring kids, chocolate fountain. What's not to love?

Itinerary:

*PARTY!!!

Fall Break: Friday

2011-11-05T20:39:00.003-05:00

Friday.

Theme of the Day: The Price is Wright (and other things...)

Itinerary:

*Traditional breakfast at Kneaders.

*A stop at the Draper temple (which may be my favorite BTW) for the girls temple books.

*A trip to Alpine's famous candy store. How famous is it? Dogs come in sweaters!

*A Birthday dinner at China Lily. Which was delicious, but it is under new management. I'm taking it pretty hard. The old owner didn't even have to ask our order she'd just bring out "the regular", like a movie.

*Then to my second Price is Wright party of the day. I loved having them pause and tell us what everyone was thinking. I've never loved watching, people I love, lose 50k worth of stuff more. At least we solved the mystery of the Wright's lost beach towels (that's the same as a sailboat right???)

Fall break: Thursday

2011-11-05T20:15:00.000-05:00

Thursday.

Theme of the day: Fall fun (featuring cousins!!!)

Isn't Utah gorgeous in the fall? Look at them there mountains outside my parents house. The leaves are so colorful. It's such a good time to be in town. The weather has been perfect (sweaters optional, kind-of weather.) We're are trying to pack our vacation days full of fun. I'm determined to document every moment. I'm even taking pictures of us watching tv, that's how dedicated I am to this task. In the last year the kids have like doubled their cousins. Double the cousins is double the fun. We got to see most all the cousins, from both sides of the family in one day (we missed you Matt!) it was really fun.

Itinerary:

*The girls 4-wheeled up the canyon (looked at leaves and even played in snow.)

*Adam played with cousin Zoe. Who "attackled" him for his candy.

*The girls and cousin Braiden raked leaves off the ground (and the trees.)

*Scarlie scootered. And scootered around.

*We got to meet new baby Mason! He's so soft and cuddly and cute.

*Adam and cousin Carson played in a basket.

Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T22:41:00.000-05:00

I have a bazillion more pictures and some spooky tales to tell.

But I've come down from my sugar high, so I'm going to bed.

Maybe some time soon I'll get around to it.

Happy Halloween to all and to all a good night!

Mwhahahaha!

2011-10-31T22:33:00.001-05:00

Remember my goal to blog everyday in October? Well I failed. But I went on vacation and had sick offspring. So maybe next month? We'll see.

The Price is Wright.

2011-10-20T15:18:00.000-05:00

I live tweeted Steven's Price is Right, excuse me Wright episode.

I can't wait to watch it tomorrow with everyone.

I was tweeting so fast, some of my Tweets never came up.

You can read some here.

If only you knew more about wine cooler rooms...

This could have been our friends. So sad.

White Girl Problem of the Day

2011-10-19T23:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I flew to Utah with the kids. Look how excited they are. Did you know that a can of Pringles cost like five bucks at the airport? Well they do. We know because the kids were after-school-snack hungry and besides a bar that was the only thing to eat near our gate.

But it gets worse than a $5 can of Pringles. Much worse...

Like 3 hours of that face (and 3 hours of screaming to match it.) They say you can tell the true character of person based on how they act under times of great stress. I say say you can tell the true character of a person based on how the treat the Mother of screaming baby on a flight.

When I first got to our seats I jokingly said to the people around me "Well it looks like you all lost the seating chart lottery." It was true (and why do I say stuff like that to strangers?)

It was so horrible and I got so many dirty looks and comments (but to the angels who treated us with understanding- a million thanks!)

I felt like such a jerk but there was nothing I could do to quiet him down.

I had timed his naps so he'd fall asleep on the plane.

I even planned for him to be a little upset and packed a new toy and lots of treats to distract him.

All worse case scenarios came to pass-

He screamed the entire time.

By the end of the flight I was covered in applesauce, Sprite and had a sucker stuck to my back.

I tried everything and it was so embarrassing.

We even spent a good portion of the flight locked in the bathroom to stifle his cries.

At one point I thought about the girl sitting next to me, "This girl must think I'm a horrible Mother. I can't get him to quiet down and I'm force feeding my kid candy to shut him up."

Even consoling myself with "Well at least they are all strangers who don't know who I am."

By the end of the flight the girl next to me was no longer a stranger, she just happens to be in Nic's Trusts & Estates class.

Awesome, hope she doesn't call CPS.

I don't think we are going to go home. Planes just aren't our thing.

Packing.

2011-10-18T21:59:00.001-05:00

Getting ready to fly to Utah.

Went to Costco, stocked Nic up with a bunch of convenient food/treats (aka not healthy food) to eat while I'm gone.

I've got a lot to do tonight- so much so it's distracting me from my excitement.

So off I go!

Goodnight Omaha!

Printable fun.

2011-10-17T21:29:00.000-05:00

Just a little FYI, I haven't just been doing daily updates on one blog! I've been updating two! It's insane. But if you need a Halloween banner you should look through my Halloween posts. I'm a sucker for holiday banners.

October

2011-10-16T19:54:00.000-05:00

Boy I miss our Highland house.

I miss our tree swings and how little and content the girls were.

That was the first year they were really into Halloween.

That was one of the best Octobers I've ever had.

Looking back our lives seemed so simple then---

I'm sure in the future I'll think the same thing about now.

October is a good month.

Very calming.

busy bee, crazy me.

2011-10-15T20:55:00.002-05:00

This picture has nothing to do with this post. These have just been hanging around my SD card-I must have commandeered my Dad's SD card at some point.

I had the craziest, busiest day today. I had a to-do list a mile long. Yet I only got three things done on the list. It was one of those days that snowballed out of control.

Weirdest thing that happened? The sister missionaries stopped by at 2:45 and invited themselves over for a 4pm dinner. It was the straw that broke this camels back. I fake-out cleaned my house (like hid dirty dishes in the oven=oh so, so shameful.) Then I took a quick shower---as I got out I grabbed a towel and turned to see Adam dive into the water fully clothed. Then I cried because I had a migraine, and I'd been up since 3AM, and uninvited dinner guest were coming back in 20 minutes, and I had no food for them to eat. Then Adam laughed and splashed around because he thought it was hilarious how his shoes squished around in water. And I laughed too because I didn't know what else I could do.

Two words.

2011-10-14T21:02:00.000-05:00

Remember that game where you sum people up in two phrases?

Example:

Mormon. Hair.

(Answer: Mitt Romney)

Remember now?
It's one of my favorite games.
***

Well here's a repeat:

The Great Gatsby. Shakespeare.

(Answer: Nic)

It'a a big year for Nic- Gatsby and Shakespeare-wise (well at least at the movies.)

Shakespeare.

With a Shakespeare-denier movie coming out: Anonymous (I almost linked to Notorious, which is coincidentally something else Nic has watched in the last year. That's right your secret is out.)
So if you are friends with Nic prepare to hear him rant. I don't think he will like what this movie has to say.

But Shakespeare movies he does love: Romeo + Juliet (the Leonardo DiCaprio version. Did you know Paul Rudd is in it?) and the Ethan Hawke Hamlet.

Favorite play: The Winter's Tale (I think, at least it once was. Correct me if I'm wrong.)

The Great Gatsby.

Nic wouldn't admit it but I introduced him to Jay Gatsby and crew.

He collects different covers of The Great Gatsby (isn't that one pictured above a beauty, I'd love to find it for him.) You should also look at these designers Re-Covering the Great Gatsby book- so amazing I wish they were for sale.

His wedding ring even has a passage engraved on the inside. And FYI the title of my blog is a homage to the book as well.

And Leonardo DiCaprio is going to be starring in a new movie, I hope it's good. He likes the Robert Redford version just fine, but the A&E one is better.

This is also awesome, if you like entire books on one page.

***
Anyway I'm glad it's shaping up to be such a good year for him.

The boy.

2011-10-13T18:21:00.001-05:00

That's my little boy, with his little boy, shaggy hair.

Ain't he a beauty?

Well, my boy does the cutest little things.

One thing he loves is rubbing lotion on his belly and shampoo in his hair.

I give him a little squirt and he goes crazy.

It's great.

Have you ever noticed how similar a squirt of glue and a squirt of lotion look?

Very similar...

So similar you may even want to take a big handful of it and rub it all around your hair!

Well if you were 18-months old and you found a bottle of glue in your big sisters room that's what you would do.

My little boy, now looks like a little boy-man.

The first thing the girls said when they saw him "He looks like Dad now!"

True dat.

He looks so big.

I loved his hair long---I'm in mourning (just a little.)

Hello Dollies!

2011-10-12T19:55:00.001-05:00

This photo is called "the worst childrens portrait ever." I concur.

{Inside Joke Alert: Do you think those children belong to Almonzo/Alfonzo? At least we know Mary isn't the mother, on account of the way she was killed at the end of the movie. Boy was that the most gripping movie we ever made? Even worse? I got an "A" for turning that atrocity in as a psychology assignment. }

One more thing you should read

2011-10-11T21:09:00.002-05:00

I read this yesterday and loved it: Burning Your Diaries
It's really beautifully written, I've thought about it all day.
I can't decide if I love or hate what she did.
That's a lot of memories to burn away.
But I get not wanting to leave that private legacy for others to find.
Anyway I highly recommend it.

Ruby Message

2011-10-11T20:59:00.001-05:00

Those aren't freckles under her eyes they are broken capillaries from barfing! Yay!

This is my daughter Ruby.
She's seven-years-old.
She had to stay home from school sick this week.
It wasn't fun.
She even wrote a story telling me so-

Sick Story By Ruby Russell
It is not fun to be sick. Because all your Mom lets you do is just lay there boring. The End.

After school things got worse. Scarlett was home and every neighborhood friend was playing right outside the house. But I wouldn't let her play (because apparently I just make her lay there bored.)

At some point she wrote Nic this series of notes:

Ruby Message:
Today was a bad, bad day. I miss you SO much. I got a lot better. But still had a bad day. You can ask about if if you [want] to.

But the day only got worse for Ruby...

Dad I have bad news. The day got worser. Mom said I'm rude* when I am sick.

*I said "Even if you're sick, you can't be rude."

Good News: She'll be back at school tomorrow.
Bad News: Adam has the stomach bug now (at least he doesn't know how to write disgruntled notes yet.)

Day 11: Blogging Challenge

2011-10-11T20:19:00.000-05:00

Even photos from Spooky Reading time are spooky! That's how spooky it is!

Wow I've managed to blog for ten days straight. Must be some kind of record (for me.) Remember, I did warn you this would be more about quantity than quality...But I don't know how much longer I can keep this up, I'm not even half way done with the one month blogging challenge.

A friend once told me her sister-in-law literally went to a bakery just so she could blog brag about it (obligatory pictures of self and kids with cupcakes included.) I don't want to resort to doing cool stuff just so I have something to blog about, I'm afraid it's coming down to that though. So if I post pictures of myself doing cute, adorable things at a pumpkin patch tomorrow you'll know why.

I've been trying to carry my camera around to document things better, like the rascal-scootered woman at the deli counter today, who ordered two-pounds of sliced roast beef and was later seen eating fistfuls of meat as she scooted around the aisles (any guesses where I was shopping?) But I can barely keep track of my phone let alone my camera too, if only technology was advanced enough to combine the two...

We did create a new tradition called "Spooky Reading" yesterday. The rules and regulations for Spooky Reading time are pretty simple: Turn off lights, light candles, eat Halloween oreos, wear pj's, read a Halloween book, brush teeth and go to bed AS SOON AS BOOK IS OVER (otherwise Spooky Reading will cease to exist. SPOOOOOOKKYYYYY!) But we really only have two "spooky" books, which means I'll have to go to the library tomorrow. Don't worry I'll bring my camera- I know you're dying to see pictures of me doing cute, adorable things at a library!

fascinations of late

2011-10-10T09:48:00.001-05:00

Most depressing cake ever.

I found this article Ten People Who Observe Birthdays on 9/11 fascinating. It probably really stood out because my Mom is also an unwitting member of the 9/11 B-day club. (Warning: There is some offensive language.)

*****

I'm also fascinated by Edwin Booth you should do a quick read-up on his story. Apparently Edwin was kind-of like the George Clooney of his day. But now he's better know, if know at all, as the brother of John Wilkes Booth. I can't imagine the toll it would take on a person being related to an infamous assassin it would be both humiliating and heart-breaking. I want to know more about the story, the kind of impact it had on Edwin and his life. There are a few books out there I want to read them.

Other interesting twist of fate: Sometime shortly before Lincoln was assassinated Edwin saved the life of Robert Lincoln (Abe's son.)

******

And this book would make either a great White Elephant gift, or the perfect prize for the crazy cat lady in your life: Crafting with Cat Hair. Um gross.

Adam alerts.

2011-10-09T16:20:00.000-05:00

This week, six months after Adam's first B-day, I finally took down his Birthday banner. At one point I was just going to leave it up and switch out the one with a two, then a three and so on...It was just so festive and fun having it hung up.

***

Despite previous declarations of "hating baby geniuses" look what a cute baby genius Adam would make! (And yes glasses=genius, that's why I wear them.)

Scarlett: On Temples

2011-10-08T20:08:00.002-05:00

[The kids were interviewed for the upcoming Primary program. Here are Scarlett's answers. I need to interview her on more subjects.]

Whoose house is the temple?
"Um, Jesus. Jesus Christs. Not another Jesus or anything."

Why do you think God commands us to build temples?
"So we can learn about Jesus. So we can learn about the gospel."

How does the temple bless families?
"So they can be together forever."

When you look at the temple, what do you think about?
"Jesus, Heavenly Father and the gospel. And temples are pretty."

What can you do to prepare to go to the temple someday?
"Prepare to get married. Or do other stuff. Or do dead stuff for people that are dead. Some people are dead still and they didn't make it there someday."

This is why we tweet.

2011-10-07T22:41:00.000-05:00

Have you ever noticed that every single Target bathroom in the world has a Fruity Pebbles scented air freshener? Go sniff for yourself.

Prompt.

2011-10-06T21:48:00.002-05:00

Just to clarify that is a web-cam picture of me writing, NOT my androgynous professor.

[I'm trying to blog every day for a month-I probably won't. I just don't have that interesting of a life. So I'll supplement with writing prompts as needed, or until I give-up/forget...You should take the one month blogging challenge too!]

Random Writing Prompt: Write about a brief but scary encounter with one of your professors.

I once had an androgynous professor. I can't necessarily say that was scary, it was more perplexing than scary. It was my first class, in my first semester, of my first year of college. For some reason I signed-up for a class on the Economic something-or-others of the Soviet Union (that same semester I also took a class dedicated to Nazi's. What was wrong with me?)

Anyway my professor was kind of chubby and always wore a polo shirt with a blazer over it. Had short/mid-length curly hair and wore round Harry Potter glasses and spoke in a mid-range-mono-tone voice. My professors name was Chris or maybe Kris, either way it wasn't a name that helped me decipher gender.

Not that I cared, I was just curious and my curiosity distracted me from learning about the Economic whatevers of the late Soviet Union. So the entire semester I bounced between "Oh definitely a he" to "fo' sure a she."

One perfect fall day I was waiting for my shuttle in Presidents Circle. When I saw my professor walking to a car---I hoped this would give me some answers but my shuttle had showed up to wisk me away. So I jumped on and looked out the windows to find Prof. Chris/Kris. Professor was gone. However Professor had to be in one of two cars directly in front of the shuttle 1) a new black VW beetle, 2) an old chevy blazer.

I still don't know what car Professor was in. And I never found out a definitive gender. If I had to guess I go with female though.

730 days.

2011-10-05T22:15:00.001-05:00

These "twinner" pictures were taken exactly two-years ago today.

I love how Scarlett is copying everything Ruby is doing.

I remember this day well- I was just entering my 2nd trimester and still feeling like I would never not feel nauseous again.

***

But everything changes. Time never stops.

The girls may not want to wear matching princess clothes anymore.

But today they had a twinner surprise and both had the same "take home reader" homework book.

It was cute to hear them "popcorn" read (as they called it) cuddled up on the couch together.

I hope they are always twinners, in some way.

Search results - Google Chrome Help

2011-10-05T16:48:00.000-05:00

[Post Edit: It appears that we are looking at Adam's very first blog post. Wow he's so brilliant.]

\xx

/d'?"
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Search results - Google Chrome Help:

'via Blog this'

October 4= Writers Block. So I'll write on Kwin!

2011-10-04T22:31:00.002-05:00

I always say to myself "Self. I would like to blog everyday for a whole month!!!" But usually by this point I've already missed some days. I'm already on October 4th and plum out of ideas. But I guess I'm going for quantity not quality here.

Somehow I got signed up for Oh Life. I kind of like it. They e-mail you a writing prompt like "How's your day going?" And you e-mail them back with your response and they publish it in your secret Oh Life journal. I like the idea of writing prompts, especially when they are about myself. Long time readers of my blog know my greatest vanity is my desire to write my autobiography.

I sometimes wonder who reads my blog. I think it's safe to assume that I've got at least a twice-removed connection to everyone who regularly reads. But did you know when you Google image search "winnie the pooh tattoos white trash" my blog is the fourth thing to come up!?! Thanks to this post featuring my brother Kwin. How American is that pic? Flags! Pooh Bear tats! And frozen corn dogs! Kwin does not know that, that search brings in a very large portion of my random blog views.

Well until tomorrow (or whenever, maybe I'll try the month full of posts in say February.)

I'm a monster!

2011-10-03T11:24:00.000-05:00

I have few things to brag about in life. However one thing is that I liked Arrested Development before it was popular (as in it was still airing on television when I liked it.) Yes, bragging about liking a TV show before others did is very, very lame. But I'll take what I can get. It's all over the Facebooks and the Twitters and the Internet pages of all kinds! Arrested Development is back (with a new season and a movie!?!) If this is a cruel joke somebody is loosing a hand (via seal of course.)

It's like an October miracle! One because it's coming back after five years of being off the air. Two because now that I have a son I think it would be hilarious to dress us like the Balboa Bay magazine cover (shown above) for Halloween. Almost nobody would get it. But I would and I would love it.

Antics.

2011-10-03T10:12:00.001-05:00

I don't really know anymore:
Is it his teeth?
His infected eye?
A bad habit?
All of the above?
Or something else?
Whatever it is Adam (and therefore myself) isn't sleeping well.

When he's good he's great (like 7PM-8AM, not a peep from him.)
But when he's bad he's bad (like awake, screaming from midnight-5AM, for 3 weeks straight.)
I start to keep crabby about two-weeks in.
I also have a lingering migraine that feels like a permanent part of my head/face/eyeball-socket.

After an attempt to lull him to sleep I gave up and we just went down, downstairs...

@1AM

Where we sorted through our Halloween boxes...

@1:47AM and worked on some decorations.

Then we carried the ghosts and goblins up and the owls and other fall items down...

After 2ish (I think).

And yeah his hair is in a tiny ponytail (that was done sometime after midnight.)

Then we played cars in the clubhouse...

Until @ 3:15AM

Finally the night ended with some Curious George...

Sometime after 4AM.

Then he finally went to sleep and it was awesome...

Until Scarlett woke up around seven.

***

*Umm so Adam's clothes, not exactly pj's? True and there was a reason for that. Whatever. But that shirt I swear it is clean! I'm actually looking at it right now and can't see anything on it, but in pictures there is a greasy stain all over it. I think it's A&D.

If I were a good blogger (i.e. the kind that wants you to be totally jealous of my awesome life) I'd hire a photographer to come over and shoot the whole thing, with good lighting, and Adam wearing some custom made pj's from Etsy.

But no Blogger Goggles tonight. I'm way too tired to care.

Awesomeness Sighting.

2011-10-02T19:07:00.000-05:00

Usually when life hands you a Buick Park Avenue you try and make sure nobody notices (or pretend you're borrowing it from your Grandma.)
But nope- not that guy.
He's pimped his 1990 Buick Park Avenue out.
Fancy rims- check.
Custom vinyl decals- check.
Fuzzy dice- check.
Untimely homage to Michael Jordan- Ooohhh yeah.
It's times like this I wish I was single.
I mean honestly how good would I look in the front seat of that baby?

Tacky.

2011-10-02T18:29:00.002-05:00

[This is from a few weeks ago, just cleaning pictures off my camera. Guess I never posted this either.]

So this week I made caramels for the school bake sale. My candy thermometer was off a little (I'd say by approximately 3 degrees. Sigh. Rookie mistake. I should know better. I usually go old school and do the cold water test.) So my candy was a little bit gooey and I like a slightly chewier caramel.

I seriously have nothing more to blog about right now. But participating in a bake sale made me feel like 100% Momish. But who am I fooling? I drive a minivan. I even drive kids to soccer in my minivan. Plus I realized last week I own a pair of Lee's. LEE'S people. Lee's! The most "Mom" pants around.

The bake sale was raising money for the girls school. It was organized by the PTO. "Interesting" tidbit out here in Nebraska it's not called the PTA it's called the PTO. Don't know why, just is....Anyway at the ol' PTO bake sale my girls bought the candy I made. Which was probably really tacky? I don't really know proper bake sale protocol.

Anyway that's all.

Week in Review.

2011-10-02T18:20:00.000-05:00

This week...

Nic and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary.

Adam was called a girl twice in the same hour (despite his blue super hero shirt.)

This week he also learned to climb on the counter and open dum-dum suckers all by himself (Yay?)

Scarlett got her first call from a boy.

I asked her why she gave him her number and she said "So he'd leave me alone."

You could hear his brother coaxing him on.

It was kind of sweet, until she said "I can't understand a word you're saying" and hung up on him.

That's my girl.

We spent the weekend indoors, in pj's and tummies full of treats as we watched General Conference.

And...

Adam eventually came down from his sugar high. Too bad he still might have to get surgery on his eye next week :(

All and all a good week.

The End.

P.S. Did you notice we finally put the chalkboard paint on our beat-up coffee table?

If we like it I may do it on our old fridge too. But maybe in aqua!?!

On to the next six months...

2011-10-01T11:03:00.000-05:00

Page 326

Oh, the novel. I dashed it off at odd moments. It doesn't take long to write things of which you know nothing. When you write of actual things, it takes longer, because you have to live them first.

Well I just finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Beat that reading list.

Nic and I both love books. But we are at complete odds as to the way you should treat a book (he probably even gasped in disgust when he saw that picture above.)

Nic's philosophy (as I'm interpreting it): Books are special. Books are nice. Respect them as such. Don't crack their binding in half. Don't fold/mash/bend the cover. Don't doodle in. Don't leave on floor where children can doodle in. If you take good care of your books, they'll always be around to read and love.

My philosophy: Books are special. Books are nice. Show them that you love them. Sometimes you need to really contort a book so it is comfortable in your hands. Always take a book with you, even if you throw it in your purse and it gets a little bruised in the process. If you love a passage you can say so (in ink, right next to said passage...) A well worn book is a well loved book.

I think most book lovers probably fit in one of those two categories.

But let me try and sway you to my side. Sure you spend money on nice books and sure you would like to keep them looking nice. And sure my books look a little haggard and abused...But the reason we love books is because something in them speaks to us. Somewhere, somebody we don't know, created sentences that meant enough to us that we willfully put those words in our brains. I like to celebrate that. Words really are my favorite art. Putting words together takes talent, skill and imagination. Unlike music or even visual art reading is something that is usually done solo. It's personal and intimate, a little less communal. Like all art, thousands of people can read the same passage and it can mean something different to everyone of them. But something about reading being contained in our own brains makes all of that a little less consequential, a little more personal. Who cares what it means to anyone else? Because how we interpret it, what it meant to me, is all that matters.

When I haven't read a particular book for awhile I want to instantly be able to pick it up and remember what was so special/moving/funny/interesting about it. So- I started writing in my books (a little trick picked up in a high school literature class.) I like to pick out three of my favorite passages, underline them and write their page numbers on the front cover. Then I can pick the book off the shelf at anytime and remember.

And although it contradicts everything I've said about books being intimate and personal. My secret hope is that one day when my kids don't think I understand how they feel, they'll pick a book off the shelf and maybe, just maybe, my underlined words will mean something more coming from somebody else's mouth. And if not, I hope there is something they can underline on their own.

In short books are special. Books are nice. Show them that you love them. Sometimes you need to really contort a book so it is comfortable in your hands. Always take a book with you, even if you throw it in your purse and it gets a little bruised in the process. If you love a passage you can say so (in ink, right next to said passage...)

Because a well worn book is a well loved book.

P.S. I may have solved the mystery of Ruby writing in her books.

Double P.S. I love that Whitney gave me this book and Ruby that book. Whitney's the best.

Sorry, LC.

2011-09-21T17:21:00.000-05:00

Well folks. Do you remember my uber-dramatic post about my missing decorative pillow?
The one where I lamented the loss of a beloved Ikea pillow?
The post where I told you it went missing nearly a year ago?
The post where I first publicly implied that I thought Nic had something to do with the disappearance?
Even as recently as last week I quizzed him about it's whereabouts.
He was so brave, always maintaining his innocence.

Well friends I have a tale for you...
Today at around 1500 hours I picked up a small not oft used pillowcase from a pile of linens- I felt that it was unusually lumpy and/or fluffy. I reached inside to pull out what can only be described as miracle! My long lost pillow. I thought it was gone, never to be seen again!

Announcement!

2011-09-20T23:21:00.000-05:00

I got a new/another calling at church.
This one is great and now I'm officially allowed to tell you what it is...Are you dying to know!?!
Now I'm not here to brag or tell you that I'm more righteous and deserving of this calling than anyone else. Although this is one of those super prestigious, upper-echelon type callings...Are you ready!?!
Are you dying to know how I'm going to touch the lives of other for good!?! And remember folks this is a 100% real, not made-up calling although it sounds like one. Ready? Here it goes...I am the new Gingerbread Specialist of my ward. Yup people that's a thing (well, in Iowa it is.)

That's the reason I've been pinning up so many Gingerbread Houses.
And also the reason I practiced making hard candy diamonds after the kids went to bed.
I wish all callings were seasonal. And I'm strangely excited.

Happy Birthday Madre!

2011-09-11T15:17:00.001-05:00

Today is my Mom's Birthday.

As I addressed in the post below kind of bummer day to be born.

My Mom is the best. I love her mucho!
I'm a really bad daughter. The kind who never gives my Mom actual, real, gifts.
You have no idea how many "free backrub! I'll make dinner! I'll clean the house!" coupon books I've given her over my lifetime.
Unfortunately this year isn't any different.

I probably would have got you a Halloween decoration anyway (and we know how Dad feels about that...)
Plus having to mail something is just one more step that we all know I never get around to doing.
But know that my lack of buying/making things for you is no representation of how much I love you and how much you mean to me.

I miss you. I wish we could be there to celebrate with you today!
Lots-o-love from Omaha!

Hope Remains

2011-09-11T15:16:00.000-05:00

My Mom's Birthday is today. September 11th. Kind of a bummer day in the Birthday lottery.

I was a senior in High School on September 11, 2001. I drove to school like I did every morning with my little brother and neighbor friend Nicole in tow. Driving my white jeep with the top down we were savoring one of the last few mornings before my Dad put the hard top on for Winter. We listened to news of the first plane hit, not knowing if it was an accident or not, it was still instantly sobering. I had been to the Trade Center less than two weeks before and Nicole's Dad was a pilot, somehow making it all the more alarming.

Your senior year of High School is generally a time where you expect pending changes. You know that your entire life will soon be up to you. You will soon choose where to go to college (or not to), and where to live and how to live, and those choices will lead you to officially start becoming who you want to be.

Despite the school principals announcement to "turn off the TV and proceed with your normal curriculum" we watched the entire saga unfold. We watched on live TV as the second plane hit. I can still hear my English teacher shriek "OH MY GOD!! NO!!!" at the moment of impact. By the time the towers crumbled she was silent. Sobbing from her chair in the middle of the room. We were all silent. Although we didn't entirely understand what it meant for our future, our world had irrevocably changed before our eyes. Pandora's box opened, our innocence stolen.

Ten years later I watch footage from that day and somehow it haunts me more. Instead of fading with time I find it scarier, more horrific, and more unsettling than I did ten years ago. I don't know if it's the maturity of age or the effects of motherhood, but somehow I have a better understanding of the magnitude of loss. There is complete comprehension of the destruction, the sorrow, and the lives evaporated.

Tuesday's were my short day at school. As I drove home I didn't pass a single other car. The world was eerily still. I switched between the pre-sets on my radio, every last one reporting on the destruction. I got home and walked in the door. When I'd left the house that morning it was just my Mom's Birthday, but by now it was "9/11". I could see the light from the TV wafting out of my parents room as the door shut behind me. I walked a few steps and then just stopped and waited. Within seconds my Mom rounded the corner walked toward me and gave me a long, wordless, reaffirming hug.

A few years ago I asked my Mom when she hears "September 11th" does she still think of her Birthday, or has that been replaced by the new "September 11" the 9/11 terrorist version? She basically told me "although the day belongs to everyone now, it was mine before it was theirs (the terrorist) and despite everything they can't ever take that from me."

Unfortunately my Mother's Birthday will always be linked to those horrible events. But like the legend of Pandora when all the evils of the world escaped only one thing remained in the box: hope. So for the last ten years we've still celebrated my Mother's Birthday. We feel sorrow for the things lost, the things that can't be undone. But like her reassuring hug ten years ago, hope remains.

A crappy B&A: Lessons in saying "No"

2011-09-08T22:01:00.000-05:00

So in the history of Before & After shots this kind of goes in the "Meh. I think they're both kinda ugly category." And that's totally cool with me. Because that weird, crappy dresser was free.

The story was this:
One day Nic went on a walk. On that same day and same walk he ran into a strange Stranger who was giving away free crap (as is usually the nature of free things given away by strange strangers.) For whatever reason Nic thought he remembered me saying I wanted a dresser for something. So he called me to see which of this guys two crappy dressers I wanted. So I came to look at them. I did not want either crappy dresser. But I thought it was sweet Nic thought I wanted one and I really didn't want to hurt Strangers feelings by not wanting to own his crap (mind you the crap he cared about so little he was giving it away- for free!) So I got the dresser as a memento of my inability to say "No, I think we're good."

And so we lugged the piece of crap dresser home.

It was gross. And I hated it. Even having it sit in my messy, out-of-the-way, out-of-sight storage room was giving me anxiety. I've got issues with strange germs and strange hairs and a dresser seems to be breeding grounds for just those types of things. Why didn't I just say "No, I think that is very ugly. I do not want to own it, I don't know where it's been."

But I didn't. And we don't own a truck. So until we move I'm stuck with the stupid thing.

I wanted to fix the situation, but I didn't want to invest a lot of actual time or money into it. So I cleaned it out and found that ironic little gem above under one of the drawers. I removed the knobs and painted them with metallic spray paint. I also picked up a can of mis-dyed, therefore inexpensive, paint and went to town. I thought the color was more of a quarky coral, but Sweet Grapefruit was deceptively pinker in actuality. So it's still ugly, but just a different kind of ugly.

Lesson here: You live, you learn (and hopefully learn to say no next time.)

Light.

2011-09-04T22:05:00.000-05:00

I spent some time in the ER this week.

You know, the usual:
Blood clots!?!
Stroke!?!

I have a tendency to babble when I'm nervous.
ER doctors make me nervous.
Especially when I could possibly be dying.

I think of any potential symptom, or clue, that might help them diagnosis me sooner.
Example: "I know you're not supposed to do this but I did eat about a spoonful of raw cookie dough about a week ago. I'm not really sure how long the incubation period for that sort of thing would be? I just thought that maybe it would be pertinent." [It wasn't.]

Last time I had a stroke Steve Young's brother was the ER doctor!
So I imagined Dr. Wood's brother was famous too, like Woody Wood Pecker or something.

I was there for hours and hours and hours.
Some of it with Adam= One-year-olds and ER's don't mix.
Then Nic picked him up and left.
My phone died.
The tv didn't work.
The girl taking my blood dropped the needle.
I didn't have a book, or a magazine.
Or paper. Or pen.
Or even a watch (on account of my dead phone and swollen hand.)
And I was hungry and thirsty and although I know you are not supposed to, I did swallow some chewing gum.
So I sat there for hours, wondering how long until I would die.
Afraid my lasting impression on Earth would be the house I'd left a disaster that morning.

So I obviously didn't die.
And I'm so thankful (my house was seriously a mess.)

The emotional roller coaster of a day spent in ER solitary confinement hit me on the way home and I teared up a little.
I would just hate to miss watching my children grow-up.
I'd hate not to see them open their gifts on Christmas mornings.
Or even listening to them talk about their boring days at school.
I'd even miss the drama of raising two girls 20 months apart.

If I had died Adam would never even remembered me as his Mom.
I know it's such a Mommy Blogger thing to say but I really, really love being their Mom.

I'm glad I'm still here. Even if I was never, even-really, close to dying, it feels good to know I'll be around for awhile.

Foreigners!

2011-09-02T10:19:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back I read this article.
I'm all for being cautious and checking out suspicious behavior but if I was staying at ECHO RESORT (their caps, not mine) I would laugh if I found this on my car.

My favorite part: THEY WERE ALL FROM A FOREIGN COUNTY.
I also like: They will try something.

Their concerns could have been totally legit, but this flyer makes them sound stupid. It reminds me of that episode of 30 Rock where Liz reports her neighbor to Homeland security for his suspicious behavior (he was actually making an audition tape for The Amazing Race.)

Don't Stare.

2011-08-31T10:36:00.001-05:00

This hairdo defied gravity.
It was insane.
I don't even understand what she was going for. Or why her loved ones let her do it.
I was so enthralled, she was very majestic.
At one point Ruby even chastised me "Don't stare Mom."
So I pretended I was taking a picture of the girls and snapped that gem.
It looked even more insane in person. I can't even describe it. It was seriously at least six inches tall.

She's Scarlie, she's six.

2011-08-29T22:18:00.001-05:00

Despite ruining not one but two of Scarlett's Birthday cakes (I forgot vinegar for the purple velvet cake and my geode cupcake idea was a bust.) Today was pretty awesome. Store bought cake and all.

I sure do love her.

Elfin Magic.

2011-08-29T22:12:00.000-05:00

Scarlett talked to 90% of the people she knows on the phone today. She excitedly told people about her "new Birthday room" and to "check my Mom's blog to see it."

So without further ado here is the tour:

Before

Scarlie is kind of a hoarder.
She wants to keep and collect every sparkly, shiny and interesting object she sees. It drives me nuts the way she heaps and pack-rats piles of weird things. In fact the reason I turned her bookshelf over was so she could learn to organize rather than just keep filling her shelves up as high as she possibly could. So less staking piles of junk more putting things where they should go- you know-a cubby for blankets, a cubby for stuffed animals, a cubby for dolls, etc.

Ever since we vamped Ruby's room Scarlett has been begging for a re-do of her own. She was a much more demanding client than Ruby though...She wanted it to be "an Alex room" with "lots of diamonds" and "a chandelier", "some candyish things" and "a tv or something."

After

So it kind of ended up looking like the inside of a genie's lamp. When I realized this Nic said "It's perfect, do you know who would love to live inside a genie's lamp? Scarlett that's who." And it's true. The room is kinda crazy, colorful, busy and sparkly but it's totally Scarlett.

How much do you love her watercolor self-portrait? She did it last year at school. I think it is one of my favorite things in the room.

Other notables:
She helped plant those zinnia's (she's always begging for flowers in her room.) It was fun to pick them for her special day.

Those white vases belonged to her great-great-grandma.

To help corral her treasures Grandma and Grandpa Rawlings had Scarlett draw a picture of the shelf of her dreams and they brought it to life. It's the perfect place to keep all of her "collectibles" on display. She loves it.

This area was created in order to keep the bedazzled/sparkly/diamond quota up to par. It's a little intense. (FYI don't throw away old little perfume bottles. Fill them with water and send them to Scarlett, she's starting a collection...)

Shhhhh! This is Scarlie's super secret book nook on the far left side of her bed. Don't tell anyone it's a secret book nook.

Sooo her closet doors kept falling off. I gave up and replaced them with curtains. I believe this addition is what finally swung us into "genies bottle" territory.

Thanks for "donating" your chandelier Mom. Scarlett said she's "always wanted one just like that!"

Thanks for all the help getting it ready. Thanks for the ideas. Thanks for the well-wishes.
It was totally worth it. She's smitten.

Happy 6th B-day baby girl.

A New York slice.

2011-08-26T16:30:00.003-05:00

This is a true story.

I've only told it one other time in a public forum.

However I told it on September 12, 2001. It did not go over well.

The Details

What: My senior vacation

Who: Myself, my Grandma Karen, my brother Zach

Where: New York City, New York

When: August 2001 (it was a simpler time, people. A simpler time.)

'Twas the last day of our wild New York City adventure. We were flying out of Laguardia that night and only had time for one last adventure. Despite the fact that we stayed right next to the World Trade Center (so close you couldn't even see the top of the building from our 30th floor Marriott hotel room) we never ventured to the observation deck.

Sure, we entered the building daily to take us, via subway, on our adventures (side note: Do you have any idea how "suburban" a couple of middle class, white folks, from Utah look on a New York City subway look? Answer: Very suburban. Like there isn't enough FUBU or break-dancing on Earth to unsuburbanize us.)

But never in the weeks we were there did we ever venture to the top of the Twin Towers.

So hours before we were due on a plane we were left with two options. One- go to the top of the Trade Center and look down around the city. Two- go to Times Square and eat pizza at the same place we'd eaten at a dozen times that week (No, it wasn't Sabarro.)

Mind you we only had time for one of these activities-

Grandma: Well what do you guys want to do? Go to the top of the Trade Center or go get pizza?

Zach: I don't care, it's your trip Amanda. You choose.

Me [without much hesitation, I'm sure]: Oh there's probably a line. Let's go get pizza.

Grandma: Are you sure? [talking slowly] You, want, to, go, get, pizza? You want, to go, and get pizza? Instead of going to the top of the towers which we haven't seen yet?

Me: Yeah. I bet there is a line.

Grandma: Okay? You're sure? You never know if you'll ever be able to do this again. You can have pizza anytime. But you never know if you'll be able to visit the Twin Towers again. You may never see them again. You're sure?

Me: Um yeah, I'd rather go get pizza.

So we did.

And she was right because in a matter of days the towers were gone.

True Story.

Number 8: Tiger's Blood!!!!!!!!!!

2011-08-20T22:28:00.000-05:00

Counting down the memorable moments of summer vacation two thousand eleven, in no particular order...Number 8: Tiger's Blood!!!!!!!!!!

I love snow cones. Ohh how I love them.

I used to be a U.S.A. snow cone kind of girl, but now I'm straight up coconut, all the time, every time.

Plus snow cones are like $1, which only elevates their awesomeness.

I frequented Alpine's much hyped "Snoasis" on several occasions- which I enjoyed thoroughly.

I just hate how they're pushing this whole "shaved ice", "add cream", or "ice cream" thing.

You aren't in Hawaii Snoasis, they're called snow cones in these parts!

The best trips to the snow shack were the 9:45 texts "Meet me for snow cones before they close!"

Like the above pictured incident.

My hypothesis: After ingesting said "Tiger's Blood" said baby will go insane. Said baby will from that point on want to eat tasty flavored snow cones (and nothing else.)

I wish the picture had sound. She went nuts. She squawked and talked and chattered for 20 minutes then rapidly wound down like a wind-up toy.

I need to find an Omaha snow shack. Why aren't snow cones everywhere people!?!

Number 9: America is coming

2011-08-20T21:51:00.000-05:00

Counting down the memorable moments of summer vacation two thousand eleven, in no particular order...Number 9: America is coming

Ahhh da Fourth of July!
My Grandma once told me that come the Fourth of July summer is 1/2 over, which used to make me sad as a kid, because I've always been a summer lover.

My kids had an amazing 4th this year.
They started the day in a tent at one Grandma's house and finished it doing fireworks at another- with no shortage of fun in-between.

The girls loved camping at their Grandparents. This year they lasted the whole night in the tent! Which is kind of a big deal. They ate s'mores, had pancakes for breakfast and hunted for treasures left by fairies in the backyard. Maybe next time Adam will be old enough to spend the night as well.

Because we were gone for Easter, the little Albrecht cousins did a simple 4th of July scavenger hunt. We tried to take some pictures with cousin Zoë, but she was the only one cooperating. Again maybe, next year.

Well until next year---Let Freedom Ring!!!!!!!!!!

zzzz's

2011-08-19T09:20:00.000-05:00

I saw a couple of links to this today:
Where Children Sleep -it is fascinating
The American children's rooms are the easiest to spot.
Like most photojournalism I'm left wanting to know more. More about these kids and their lives. A picture can say a thousand words but they don't necessarily tell you the whole story.
There is also a book (with a glow-in-the-dark cover!)
I just thought it was really interesting.

Tales from The Net and beyond.

2011-08-19T01:58:00.000-05:00

I have migraine insomnia right now.

So you know I've been "surfing the web" (do people still say that?) Or prowling The Net (I'm definitely going to start calling it that.) I've returned some e-mails. Ogled some pins. Read some blogs. Submitted some words to Urban Dictionary. And done more than my fair share of witty Facebook commentary (j/k I hate that place. j/k-j/k I totally blabbed my digital voice on FB tonight.) I guess all that is left is some useless Tweets. Oh and telling you this amusing story I just remembered:

Nic once worked with this really stupid guy. Once said fellow got overpaid on his paycheck like $7,000 dollars. He knew it was an error. I mean people aren't getting paid 7g's a month working in the plumbing supply industry.

But like I said this guy was stupid. So he and his wife went to the bank that day and got all of the money out. Then they went to Wal-Mart and spent it all on TV's and other crap (probably like golden NASCAR figurines and Family Guy boxers.) Well within a couple days the company realized the error and asked for the money back. But it was all gone, having been spent on the aforementioned crap. So the company started taking a portion of his paycheck every month to pay back the debt.

The company was going through a rough financial patch and was cutting the hours of all of it's employees. Everyone but the stupid guy that is. Oh and not only was this guy stupid he was also lazy. He didn't want to pay back the money, he just wanted to be fired so he'd be off the hook (and so he could collect unemployment.)

So he wants to be fired and the company wants to fire him but they need to be repaid and they know this Bozo is never going to pay them any other way. So they continued to cut the hours of good employees to get their share back from this horrible one, essentially guaranteeing this idiot four to six years of employment.

Epilogue:
Shockingly this branch of this particular plumbing supply store is now out of business.

Number 10:A little friend time

2011-08-16T21:15:00.001-05:00

Counting down the memorable moments of summer vacation two thousand eleven, in no particular order...Number 10: A little friend time.

The biggest bummer about a vacation is you can't see everybody as much as you'd like to. Which is really a bummer because I really love my friends. But these pictures sum up how much fun it is to be amongst them all: I love the Orton's back deck, it's one of my favorite places on Earth.

I love that Whitney is NEVER jumping in jumping pictures, even on a trampoline.

I love Mary's sassy picture and Devon's dancing (talk about a match made in Heaven.)

I loved Mary's party. Swimming! Pizza! Quidditch? (Is that spelled right?) It was all Harry Potter and goldfish in a pool. It was great I was not, I probably would be if I read the books though...

It was fantastic Summertime fun.

Worst thing though?

Missing the moment below.

The Price is Right! I missed it!

I don't want to spoil it but in October one of the following people make it to the final Showcase Showdown...

Intro.

2011-08-16T21:13:00.000-05:00

Summer was awesome. And amazing. And oh so fun!
I have so many pictures I just can't show them all.
So I think I'll do a top ten of Summer 2011 list, or something.

But first let me introduce you to this guy:

It's not a great picture.
I was trying to take a picture of him but not let him know I was taking a picture of him.
He was driving all old and hunched over, super, super close to the steering wheel.
But driving really, really fast. I mean he kept passing us. And then we'd laugh and want him to do it again.

If you don't quite get the image here is a picture of Nic reenacting it for me, this is something I ask him to do a lot:

Let the summer count down begin...

Wanted: Green Thumbs.

2011-08-16T21:11:00.003-05:00

Before: My zinnias were just starting to bloom...

After: Six weeks later my zinnias had exploded!
Like this picture doesn't even show

how menacing and lurching they looked.

I got 30+ mosquito bites thinning them out and they still look awful.

Guess I'll have to cut them all down?

A day. Moan. Whine. Bam! Pow! That'

2011-08-16T21:11:00.000-05:00

Today.
Today was the day that Adam colored on my walls with a crayon.
The day that Ruby missed most of her 2nd day of 2nd grade (because she's got a fever y'all.)
It's also the day that Scarlett threw a gigantic screaming fit because "Ruby got to be sick!?!?! It's SO NOT FAIR." (Insert whining and stomping around for hours here.)
The dinner I made tonight tasted like crap. Not literally, but almost.
So tonight was the night Nic went to get Ruby a fruit smoothie.
It was also the night he had a seizure outside of our house.
Luckily he didn't wreck our car, that was sooo last month's seizure.

But he's still kind of out of it.
He could barely walk in the house. Or understand English, or read, or remember how long we've been back in Omaha. You know the usual post-seizure haze.
I just tucked Adam in, and JUST realized we didn't say prayers. Oops.
Ruby's currently sleeping again. For now.
And Scarlett is still up watching Super Why! on the couch, I just don't have it in me to hear her bedtime screams and whines.

But all is good.
It's soon tomorrow.
And tomorrow could be totally amazing.
Nic's going to the doctor.
Ruby will be one day closer to feeling better.
Adam will have neither crayons nor red lipstick within climbs reach.
Scarlett will probably still be Scarlett, but that's not always a bad thing.
And I, I won't make something so nasty for dinner.

Our problems are pretty tame in comparison.
And for that I'm forever grateful and eternally optimistic.
Because seriously, tomorrow could be totally awesome!
And seriously, I'm just glad it will no longer be today.
The End (I hope...)

First Day!

2011-08-15T09:48:00.000-05:00

Last night was "Family Feast" where the family feasts and gives good wishes for a new school year. It's really just Sunday dinner with an extravagant name (just don't tell the girls...) After said "feast" we painted the girls nails and curled their hair, per their requests. Next it was time for blessings and good night prayers. Finally it was time for the final bedtime tuck-in of Summer vacation.

After a morning of breakfast, backpacks and pictures the girls were ready to go.

They are currently sitting in their new classrooms (I hope.)
My house is suspiciously quiet, well at least 2/3 quieter than it's been in months.

I need to clean-up but I'm kind of reveling in the peacefulness.

My phone died so I wasn't able to send any first day of school pictures out.
So I thought I'd better post these (mostly for you Mom, but others go ahead and look on.)

(Fun feature: Look how much they've grown in the last year.)

Anyway home life isn't all peace and quiet. In fact Adam just ate a tube of red lipstick.
Yup. Red. Lip. Stick. Everywhere.
Does anybody know what gets red lipstick off of little boy?

Little Miss Halloween

2011-08-13T22:03:00.001-05:00

Have you ever seen Toddlers & Tiaras?

Oh my gosh it is so terrible.

If watching it doesn't make you shutter than you may very well be a horrible human being.
Yet it's awfulness mesmerizes me.

BUT seriously being a creepy, child beauty pageant contestant would be the BEST adult Halloween costume.

Oh man I would love it. Fake teeth, fake tan, fake eye lashes, trophies and ruffles.

I think it would be fun to have an entire (adult)Child Beauty Pageant themed party.

I wish I were going to be home for Halloween.

I'm afraid if I dressed like that here my neighbors would think I was trying to be "pretty" not funny.

Before:

2011-08-13T21:50:00.000-05:00

We've trimmed Baby A's hair.
It's still shaggy.

Questions:
Do we keep it that way?
Or officially give him a real, little boy haircut?

Parenting is so hard.

A little sweet & a little sour.

2011-08-13T21:48:00.000-05:00

Year 2: Of our Midwestern Adventure
So it begins---

It's back to school time.
I can't believe it's already here.
I'll really miss having all this time with the girlies.

But those first couple weeks of summer vacation were Rough (with a capital R.)
We were so out of the routine of all being home all of the time- that we were driving each other crazy.
Plus we were all just anxiously waiting for Nic to finish his summer semester so we could finally go home to visit our families in our beloved Beehive State.

Six weeks nesting in the mountains and suddenly we are already back here starting another year.
I'm nervous and excited at the same time.

326

2011-08-01T00:58:00.000-05:00

I have 326 unread items in my Google Reader.
Delete All?
Or Read?

A thousand July's.

2011-07-31T23:53:00.001-05:00

July is my favorite month.

Mostly because it's my B-day month a people give me stuff.

Just kidding.

I really just love July.

Historically my blog has always suffered in July.

This year was no different.

This is only my second post all month.

I'm getting anxious (in a bad way) to return to Omaha.

I love Utah and home and family and summer and July.

I'm sad to see it all go.

But routine and structure are good too- they make me long for Fall (and scarves and soup.)

I love Fall as well, just in a different way than I love a good July.

So here's a goodbye to this July.

You were ripe with all the things I needed you for.

Besides the girls were starting to get the Summertime/July Crazies-
If you've ever wondered what would happen if you dumped a bottle of shampoo in a tub and turned on the jets- then look at them in the tub this morning and you'll understand.
That just looks like a little too much fun.