Kinda preoccupied with the details of life right now...

...catch up with ya later.

Rise and Shout!!

It's Holy War Day!!

Do you know where your BYU Cougars are?

The #19 Cougars are in Provo

taking on the Utes of the University of Utah.

May the best team win.

...and they did

Cougars win!!

BYU 26 Utah 23

This post was featured on the blog

if i were really skinny...

for Thanksgiving traditions week

For our final guest post in the Thanksgiving series, please welcome TruBluBYU.

If you read her blog, you know that she is a masterful traditionista (yep, I just said that), and I was pretty darn excited to see what she had to say about Thanksgiving traditions.

Enjoy!

Welcome, TruBluBYU!

Traditions are my life-blood.

I had an enchanted childhood, full of Tradition and excitement. And now that I have my own little family, those magical traditions I enjoyed as a young girl continue with my children. And I can see reflected in their eyes the same joy Tradition brought me.

Do you know the secret about Tradition? Anyone at any time can begin a new tradition- even when there is not a holiday in sight. If that’s not magic, I don’t know what is. So, I find myself using any excuse I can to fashion a new tradition at my house. And the children are mystified by every one.

It seems, though, that Tradition is most abundant during the Holiday Season. That’s what makes the holidays so magical.

In my family, we share a few Thanksgiving traditions that I enjoy.

There are seven children in the family of my birth. Add spouses and children, and the number has exploded to 37 people in all. We all love to be together and play together.

On Thanksgiving Day, we typically invite another large family that we grew up with to a morning kickball challenge. Because, in Arizona you can play kickball outside on Thanksgiving Day and break a sweat. It’s Awesome! And also because they have a million people in their family, so it makes the match much more funner. (yep, funner)

Mostly we visit and catch up on old times and meet the newest members of each family while all our children run wild. And then when it’s our turn to kick the ball we do our best to kick it as far as we can and try our best to not look old and slow as we round the bases.

After the game, we say our goodbyes to our friends, vow to not wait so long to get together again, load up the kids and equipment and the whole family gathers for dinner. And we eat. Typical, traditional Thanksgiving Day vittles.

As soon as we have had our fill, the girls gather for an afternoon craft. One of us has done all the pre-planning and purchasing of supplies and teaches the rest of us the project. (It just so happens to be my turn to lead the craft this year.)

We holster our glue guns and carefully mold our project, each of us adding our individual touch to make our project unique. We chat and swap stories and offer advice and opinions. And when we’re done, we step back and ooh and ahh over our creations. And then we require the husbands to ooh and ahh over the loveliness we have created to beautify our homes. They do a pretty good job ooh-ing and ahh-ing. And then they return to their football game.

And then, we all load up our families and make our way to the local movie theatre to catch the latest holiday release. Movie theatres on Thanksgiving Day with popcorn and your little ones tucked close beside you are truly magical.

It’s always a really good day.

But, the best tradition is that we are together as a family. Yes, family is the best tradition. The real life-blood in my veins.

Just hook me up to an IV of that Tradition and I could thrive.

Tune In Tuesday

Tune in Tuesday

over at Holly's place

for a guest post from moi.

All about Thanksgiving Tradition.

Thanks to Holly for inviting me to add my 2 cents.

Rise and Shout!!

It's Game Day!!

Do you know where your BYU Cougars are?

Click here for link to Cougars season schedule

The #22 Cougars are in Provo

taking on the Falcons of Air Force.

Cougars win!!

BYU 38 Air Force 21

Poetry Lessons and Sea Weed Picking

Among oldest daughter's greatest concerns is that she might possibly have a mother whose Junie B. proficiency does not meet industry standards.

As we prepared for bed this evening she reminded me that I am three volumes behind. (She passes each book to me once she has completed them) In order to appease the second grade cutie, I sidled up near the husband and cracked the spine of Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants once the children were in bed.

Believing that the husband should be well-versed in all things Junie B., I read aloud as he gave me a nice back rub and massaged my feet. Good trade, no?

The two of us read as oldest daughter lay in her bed, listening to Pachelbel's Canon in D. Until she couldn't sleep and traipsed into our room to alert us to her non-slumber status. (no surprise, just part of our nightly routine) The husband reminded her to lie on her back, arm raised and let it sway as she "picked sea weed". (also part of the nightly routine) (proper lay / lie usage? I think so. Holly, can you verify?)

Just as we began to read about Mr. Scary explaining the rules of the cinquain to Room One, little son awoke crying. Legs aching. Inconsolable. Oldest daughter still sea weed picking. Middle daughter long into dreamland.

Once all the leg issues were addressed, little son cuddled, rocked (as in: rocking chair) and serenaded and we were ensured the sea weed picking was progressing swimmingly, we eagerly returned to Junie B. and the cheater pants cinquain lesson.

It occurred to me, in between giggles, I might want to try my hand at a little cinquain.

We finished the book. It was delightful. Gotta love that little Junie B.

And the sea weed picker. Who had finally fallen asleep.

Oh, yeah, that cinquain. Here goes:

Moonies

Obsessed, Excited

Loving, Re-reading, Buzzing

I'm staying home tonight

Twilight

Did you see New Moon? What did you think?

Tune In Tuesday

Welcome to

Tune in Tuesday!

We're just 9 days from a whole lotta feastin'.

Can't wait.

Little son was asking his friend today,

"What are you going to be for Thanksgiving?"

It made me smile.

Today, just one little order of business to take care of.

The winner of last week's Tune in Tuesday

elf giveaway is

Melody!!

Melody is the author of Life is a Bowl of Wedgies.

I promise, the competition was not rigged!

I do not favor wedgie bloggers.

Nor do I favor bloggers with wedgies.

Nor do I condone giving wedgies.

Even if you have no blog/wedgie connection,

you had a fair shot!

If you have never been over to Melody's blog,

you should go visit.

Like right now.

Yay Melody!

Happy Tuesday to you!

And, for all of you who wondered where this cute little elf can be purchased,

head on over to your neighborhood Kirkland's store.

Like right now.

Before they are all gone.

Rise and Shout!!

It's Game Day!!

Do you know where your BYU Cougars are?

Click here for link to Cougars season schedule

The #22 Cougars are in Albuquerque

taking on the Lobos of (women's soccer fame) New Mexico.

Cougars Win!!

BYU 24 New Mexico 19

Lotsa 'Postrophes (exclamation points, really, but 'postrophes goes better with 'lotsa')

You wanna know what that wonderful man of mine got me for my birthday?

A leaf blower-vac!

I know.

Best. Husband. Ever.

Ever!

And I'm serious about that. He had plans to get me something really nice. Like, really nice. I had to put the kibosh on that, cause all I really wanted was a leaf blower.

A leaf blower!!

And I got it. Plus a vac!!

BONUS!!!

Again, I know.

Totally! Spoiled! Rotten!

Rotten!!!!

Now, if you haven't entered yesterday's giveaway----- what are you doing lingering here? Get your little cutie booty on down to yesterday's post and enter your cute little self! So you can win the elf!!

And, thank you to all those who have served this country to protect our freedoms. I could get you a leaf blower-vac, but somehow that just doesn't seem like a sufficient thank-you gift. Plus, I'd have to get a lot of those blower-vacs, and I'm not made of money, yo.

post-edit:

the husband brought it to my attention that this post has a sarcastic tone. oops. in all sincerity- i wanted a leaf blower. really. and i am thrilled he listened and got me one. and i love him.

Tune In Tuesday Giveaway

So glad you decided to

Tune in Tuesday!

In honor of my birthday yesterday AND the thousands of RVs and NASCAR fans that are rolling in to my town with their window flags flying for the big race this weekend, I am pleased to announce a giveaway!!! (If you are one of those race fans in the RV, hopefully you have internet access so that you don't miss out on this one!)

And not just any giveaway. A holiday giveaway. You know, a giveaway to get your holidays off to a great start. A holiday giveaway that just might inspire the beginning of a new tradition in your household. Because, the great thing about traditions is that any time is a great time to start a tradition. Any time.

But, there are a few conditions if you win this holiday giveaway. (Is it okay to have conditions with giveaways?) (I suspect that even if you can't abide the conditions, you could still win the giveaway)

Conditions / Suggestions:

1. Welcome this little guy into your home, give him a name and make sure that he appears in a conspicuous place the day after Thanksgiving.
2. Inform your children that this little guy is here to whisper to Santa all the good deeds of the children.
3. Every night when the children are asleep, move this cute little elf to a new location.
4. On Christmas Eve day, the elf should be placed on the Christmas tree to wait for Santa to come and to whisper all those good deeds to Saint Nick.
5. The elf goes back to the North Pole with Santa after he helps Santa deliver the gifts and goodies to your home.
6. Be sure the elf returns next year on the same day.

Fun new tradition, no?

How do you win? Just leave a comment. And if you want another entry, be sure to send your friends and family members over to enter themselves. If they mention that you sent them, you will receive an additional entry.

Contest closes Saturday, November 14 at 11:59 pm.

also...

Thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes. I truly had a wonderful day yesterday. My family made sure of that. I am so blessed. You'll know exactly what I mean if you happened to read the husband's beautiful words to me yesterday.

I love that man.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE

Image used without permission, but ain't it great?

Today is my beautiful wife's birthday. For those of you who know her, you know that beautiful has many connotations:

- Beautiful looks (woot woo!)

- Beautiful personality

- Beautiful spirit

- Beautiful in how she develops her talents

- Beautiful in her thoughts

- Beautiful legs (she has great legs, have you seen them?)

- Beautiful in how she uses words

- Beautiful mothering skills

- Beautiful hair (grrr!)

- Beautiful how she loves me

- Beautiful in her tenderness to our family

- Beautiful in her sexiness

- Beautiful in her tastes

- Beautiful in her emotional expressions

- Beautiful in how she decorates our home

- Beautiful in sharing sacred, intimate moments with her husband

- Beautiful ideas

- Beautiful in her spontaneity

- Beautiful hook shot (she is a tough basketball competitor)

- Beautiful in her passions

- Beautiful in her virtue

- Beautiful in her service of others

Basically, she is the best thing that has ever happened to me; the best decision I ever made was to marry her. She makes my world beautiful. I love her in a way that would fill the emptiness of space, and make it feel warm and cozy.

The kids got up this morning, got dressed (I, the hubby, did the hair as best I could), and presented mom with the gifts they each individually chose for her. What a tender moment to watch my beautiful wife as her children dote over her, wanting to express their love to the woman who makes our house a home.

Now, for a little story time. My daughter was ill a few months ago, and I took her to an after hours urgent care, where she was given a prescription - and we filled it at a nearby Walgreens. While in line, the following display caught my attention.

Now, while some employees at Walgreens, and maybe some of you, may think that Theraflu, Tylenol or a three-pack of Carmex may be the best item in Avondale (that was the only sign on this entire display, we still have no idea which it refers to), they obviously have never met my beautiful wife. She is not only the best item in Avondale, but in the world.

As I always say: My wife is the ideal woman of every man's dreams (sorry ladies). I feel privileged to be hers forever. Dear, I passionately love you. May all your birthday dreams come true.

Please join with me in wishing my wife a happy birthday!

I love you dear!

(Tune in tomorrow for another riveting Tune in Tuesday! I promise I'm not the guest blogger!)

Rise and Shout!!

It's Game Day!!

(for reals)

Do you know where your BYU Cougars are?

Click here for link to Cougars season schedule

The Cougars are in Laramie

taking on the Cowboys of Wyoming.

BYU Wins!!!

BYU 52 Wyoming 0

Answers and Random and Questions

Some of you may be on the edge of your seat, waiting for me to tell you what the husband and I were for Halloween. We were, in fact, a Split P.

And you may be wondering how the pigeon chase is progressing. I am happy to report that we have had a 100% drop in the pigeon population on our winter grass. Seriously- zero pigeons. Glorious to behold, especially since there were right around 50 pigeons (no exaggeration) feasting on grass seed when I awoke on Monday morning. Devastating. And they kept coming back.

I sent the vicious canine out to scare them away, but the poor little skin and bones doggie couldn't handle these arctic Arizona mornings, so I had a little compassion and welcomed her back inside.

So, I ran scenarios in my head- trying to come up with something to prevent our every lawn seed from being consumed by these hungry little pigeons. I knew we couldn't get a net to cover the whole lawn, so I had to find an alternative. And it was then I recalled someone telling me a few years ago that they used mylar balloons to scare away those pesky pidgies. (pidgies= pigeons) It's awesome. A moving scarecrow.

I voted yesterday.

Also, yesterday I baked Amish friendship bread. Yummy stuff, but so high maintenance that I don't usually encourage anyone giving me any of their Amish friendship bread starts. My sister brought over a loaf and a start last week and my kids loved the bread. And they committed me to babysitting that silly start all these past 10 days. So, for the past 10 days, I have been faithfully mushing the bag. And letting the air out. And yesterday was baking day. We added chocolate chips. Yum.

So now I have 4 starts sitting on my kitchen counter. Anyone want one?

Also, it was jackpot day yesterday. Last night as I was tucking little son into bed, he was unglued because we could only find one of his blankets. He likes to sleep with two identical blankets. So, I pulled the spare blanket down from his closet.

Tangent (Nathan-style)

When little son was born, he truly was attached to a blue satin blanket he was given. It was imperative that he have it when falling asleep.

One Sunday we accidentally left it at Grandma's. Oh, the pain. So the next day I went to the store and bought two additional blankets- for such an occasion if one were lost or left or laundered.

End Tangent

As I was retrieving the spare blanket, I found gold. A red Superman shirt. Pretty sure it came from a friend a year or so ago- and way too big for little son then. So, I think I put it up there for a rainy future day. And last night was that rainy future day. Little son was so upset about the whole blanket thing- and that shirt calmed him down so fast. And he couldn't wait to put it on this morning. And he looks pretty cute in that little hero shirt. And there really is more to the whole Superman fascination at our house than what I have just shared. I'll fill the rest in later.

That is the end.

Any other questions? I'm prepared to answer any and all of them.

P.S. Thank you for all the guest blogger suggestions- I'm going to get right on that and see who is willing.

P.P.S. Nice job, Maine.

Tune In Tuesday

It's Tune in Tuesday!

Honestly, I got nothing. Not a single thing.

So, all I can offer is a quick little anecdote from my yesterday.

It goes like this:

Little son and I had been chasing pigeons from our newly winter-seeded back lawn all morning. Such a crying shame. They thought we had laid out a breakfast spread for their little greedy beaks.

This is an instance where a mom realizes she must take a stand for her children. I knew that I would have to call in reinforcements if my little ones were to have a green velvety carpet of grass to play on all winter. And I had to stand up to those pigeons.

First thing after visiting teaching, little son and I headed out to purchase the perfect pigeon chaser. It can be found at the Dollar Store.

As we pulled into the shopping center, little son directed that we should first go to Target to sift through any Halloween remnants that would be imperative for purchase. Namely a pirate sword. Important.

We most certainly found the perfect sword.

And on to the Dollar Store for pigeon chasers. We picked out five perfectly pre-filled mylar balloons- two happy birthday butterflies, one green star, a wedding bell and a get well soon- because who knows what those silly pigeons might be celebrating at any given moment. And we had plans to stake them (the balloons, not the pigeons. K, PETA?) in the yard as soon as we arrived home. Perfect pigeon chasers. I tell you.

As we loaded them up into the little Smart car, little son told me that now that I had gotten the balloons, he would take care of writing the "get lost" letter. (I had no idea we were including a letter) And it would go like this:

Dear Pigeons,

You need to get scared A.WAY.

Because you eat our grass seed.

I think that should do it. Because I just don't have time to stand outside all day, shooing away pigeons.

****Now, I know that you all know many amazing people. Can you help me out and tell me who you would like to see as a guest blogger here on this little space? Pretty please? Don't be shy- leave me a word, won't you? Because I can't read your mind and I know you are thinking of someone. I think.

A Little Weekend Miscellany

Remember that Halloween donuts are a tradition in my family? They are. And this year was no different. The husband and I loaded the children (and the canine) in the car and traveled on over to Grandma and Grandpa's casa (after two small stops- the first at Sonic for slushes and the second at the Crocs store) where we enjoyed soup that was too good (in the words of one adorable niece) and donuts that can't be beat.

As we all consumed unreasonable amounts of donuts and soup, ooh's and ahh's were in plentiful supply as each family arrived and we marveled at the ingenious costumes that each family assembled.

emo, emo, pumpkin, Wolverine, Arizona Cardinal

Oldest daughter proved her commitment to piano and was rewarded with the Cleopatra costume she had been working to earn all month. She was on cloud nine, swimming laps in the Nile, if you will.

The family gathered for a Halloween portrait. Complete with goofy faces and zero percent loveliness.

Can you guess what the husband and I were?

As we were trick-or-treating with all the cousins, my sister was recalling how three years ago this very holiday, she was receiving a precious little bundle into her home as they were adopting my adorable little nephew. She recounted how emotional the holiday was as she was waiting for that little boy and hoping and praying that the birth mother would decide to go through with the adoption and not cancel it. My very own little middle daughter was listening to the whole story and predicted that through the whole process that cute little baby was probably thinking,

"Yay! New parents!"

I think she is right.

That does it for the Halloween recap. How about a little Miscellany?

First of all, huge thanks to Megan who notified me of my erroneous BYU Football post. For some reason I thought the Cougars were matching up with the Cowboys this past Saturday. Even though I read the date of the game, it just didn't register. So I posted a football post. And sweet cousin Megan (or was it Eph?) alerted me that I had been a little trigger happy. Look for a correct post on Saturday. K?

Middle daughter is pretty motivated by the Internet. Anything we have a question about, she replies with a, "just go to ________dot com!" For instance, we were wondering a bit about Cleopatra's history- since she has been something of an anomaly in our household of late. So, that brilliant middle daughter told us to go to Cleopatra dot com. Got a leg ache? Check out leg ache dot com, won't you?

Plus, she is pretty astute about passwords. She knows that my password for everything is dot dot dot dot. (maybe you already saw that on the husband's twitter feed- he scoops me on everything with that silly tweeting of his)

You will be happy to know that my OB/GYN is pleased to report a normal mammogram. Also pleased? The husband.

Some of you may recall my escapades regarding one Barta Heiner. I have a new visiting teaching partner. Her maiden name is Heiner. I was chuckling when I found out. And of course I regaled her with the entire Barta saga- after inquiring if she knew Barta and if she were a relative. She is not. Not gonna lie- a little bummed.

Today during fast and testimony meeting, oldest daughter asked why I wasn't bearing my testimony. So I told her I would if she would. We waited for the person who was at the mic to finish and then I stood up to take my turn. Oldest daughter didn't follow. Middle daughter did. So, I was duped and had to bear my testimony without oldest daughter. It was ok, though, because little son was sitting on my lap and kept trying to lick me- bearing my testimony was a great way to escape the licking. Thank you oldest daughter.

Finally, our evening was spent swapping riddles. Two hours of made-up riddles with the children. It was enchanting. I highly recommend doing it with your own little offspring. They are pretty clever. And the husband has discovered that he is riddly-gifted. Who knew?

Woo Hoo!!! Bring on the holidays! This is such a brilliant time of year- so. many. traditions. I hope you can handle traditions. I've got a bundle to share. Look for them throughout the next couple of months. And also, Tune In Tuesday for I don't know what yet, but I'm sure I'll come up with something. Suggestions?