My Mother, My Mentor, My Friend - My First Interview of the new Getting To Know You Series

Beginning TODAY, I am turning the tables on my family and friends. Periodically, I will be posting interviews that I have conducted with various individuals important to me in my life. And given that my Mother's Day post was nonexistent because my Mother's Day was THAT bad, I thought the best person I could think of to start with is my Mom.

Now my Mom may or may not read this blog. She won't admit it to me directly but she seems to know stuff before I have the chance to tell her. She was surprisingly very candid and happy to be interviewed. My Mom is private, thoughtful and introspective. Just like me. Ha! Sometimes I don't think it's possible for a mother and daughter to be more different but then just when I think that, I find myself doing or saying something exactly like her. So without further adieu... here is the interview I did with my Mom.
Me: Hi Mom. What are you doing?
Mom: Trying to figure out this paperwork.
Me: You know my blog?
Mom: yeah
Me: Well, I want to interview you for it. I'm going to interview people cool huh? Can I interview you?
Mom: Sure!
Me: Really?
Mom: Sure! Yeah...go ahead!
Me: Oh okay, okay, let's start with this. Are you glad to talk to me on my blog?
Mom: Oh Sure.
Me: What do you think people would want to know about the mother of Amy Meeker?
Mom: How she [the mother] survived!
Me: Good one Mom! You mean how you survived?
Mom: Yep
Me: What do you think people that know you would be surprised about you?
Mom: That I hoard socks. I can't ever throw them away.
Me: Ha ha...even the ones that you can't wear because they have seams?
Mom: Yep, I can't throw them away.
Me: Who is your favorite person in the whole world?
Mom: Jessica and Katie. They are tied for first place.
Me: Why didn't you say me?
Mom: Because they make my heart sing and don't criticize me.
Me: When I was in junior high/high school and I used to steal your clothes and wear them were you really mad or just trying to teach me a good lesson?
Mom: Both. I was trying to teach you a lesson about respecting other people's property because you weren't very good at that and I was mad because you stained them.
Me: Do you think I wasn't good at respecting other people's property because I was an only child and I never had to share?
Mom: No, absolutely not. I just think you weren't good at it.
Me: I think it was because I didn't have a sibling to borrow stuff from.
Mom: I don't think so.
Me: When you were a Mom and I was 5 and starting kindergarten,what were your hopes for me for when I was a Mom and my kids were getting ready to start kindergarten?
Mom: That you would become a good reader. That's why I read to you a lot. I hoped you would stay sweet because you were really sweet. That you would learn to speak more quietly because I couldn't figure out how to teach you that. (laughing) But reading was the most important.
Me: Do you think I'm a good reader?
Mom: Yes, I think you are a very good reader.
Me: What's your favorite movie of all time?
Mom: Casablanca
Me: Why?
Mom: It's just such a great story. I laugh and cry no matter how many times I've seen it.
Me: Would you have gone with Humphrey Bogart at the end?
Mom: Oh yes. For sure.
Me: What is something that you hate doing in your every day life?
Mom: Combing my hair. I hate combing my hair.
Me: Do you like your son in law?
Mom: Yes. I love him.
Me: Why?
Mom: Because he’s a decent person, a good man, he understands commitment, doing a good job and he puts up with you and I really don’t want you back. (Laughs again)
Me: Do you like me better than Mike?
Mom: Yes of course. You are mine.
Me: Since your mother is 90, has Alzheimer's and has no chance of ever reading this blog, I'd like to ask you some questions about what it's like to be a primary care giver to a parent. I have some friends and people who have mentioned they read this blog that are getting ready to begin that phase of life and I think they would be interested in what it is like to be a care giver to a parent.
Mom: Well, it’s a pleasure, it’s a heartache, it’s hard work, it’s emotional. It is something that I don’t take lightly. I made a commitment to my Dad to take care of my Mom and it is something I take seriously. More times than not it is a pleasure. I feel lucky.
Me: What have you found to be the biggest challenge?
Mom: To be patient and understanding and realize that she is changing so rapidly. Her mind is getting worse and she’s getting worse quickly.
Me: What is the greatest joy about being Grammie's care giver?
Mom: The time I get to spend with her. That I can do things she did for us. She was a good Mom and I can do those things for her.
Me: What advice would you give someone who is getting ready to take on this role? What do you wish someone would have told you or what do you wish you would have known?
Mom: I wish I would have paid more attention and learned more about the aging process. Because if I had I would have been more patient. Sometimes I wasn't patient with Papa and I wish I would have known more and been more patient. The whole thing is, it is a joy. When I can make her life a little bit easier I feel good about it.
Me: What can extended family members like me, Mike, your sisters and Grammie's other grandchildren do to help you in your role as the primary person? Do you think it should be a whole family effort or do you think it works best when there's one person as the primary caregiver?
Mom: I think every person can take an interest in what's going on and what is being done. People can help out when they are available. My two sisters live far away and they always help when they can. Family members and friends should try and contact the older person as much as they are able. The older person lives for the phone calls and visits and they mean a lot to them. Share your family successes and happy news and don't share your troubles and problems. Their minds can't take it anymore. Remind them of happy times they can remember. It cheers them up a lot. If you can call or visit them on a regular schedule (like once per week) so that they get used to looking forward to the call or visit coming at the same time. That sort of consistency is important to them. They really enjoy the contact. I don't think people can call or visit an older person too much, because they forget so much of what has just happened.
Me: Do you think that is universal for all old people?
Mom: Absolutely. I see a whole bunch of people just like Grandma at the Meadows. (Grammie's assisted living community) They all are just looking forward to the next visit or phone call from their family members. I'm really lucky I have a couple of sisters who really understand and call her everyday or often times even more than once per day.
Me: I think that's really good advice. I think it can really help people. I have been surprised about email that I get or when I run into people and they mention this blog. You'd be surprised that you just probably helped somebody think about or pick up the phone and call their Grandma or have more patience with their mother. Okay moving on. Who is the best band of all time?
Mom: The best band?
Me: Yeah, band.
Mom: Journey. Probably Journey. Followed by Chicago and Styx.
Me: What is your biggest vice or bad habit?
Mom: That I waste time in the mornings. I should be more rushy.
Me: Because you are playing computer backgammon against the Russians?
Mom: No, not because I am playing computer backgammon against a Russian. I just waste too much time. Like I think about all this stuff I have to do and before I know it the morning is gone. Me: But isn't that a perk of being retired? That you don't have to rush anymore?
Mom: Well yeah, but you can really over do it. You can take retirement over the top and to new heights and sometimes I take it over the top. (laughing)
Me: Do you have plans to quit and start rushing?
Mom: No. (ha ha)
Me: Okay, thanks Mom. Is there anything else you'd like us to know or that you'd like to say on my blog.
Mom: No. Oh yeah there is. I don't like how you sometimes say words like "crap" and words that make it look like you don't have use of expanded grammar.
Me: You mean like bad words?
Mom: No, just stupid words. You use them too much. And you over share.
Me: But Mom, sometimes crap is the only word that describes my day. Sometimes certain words just fit into how I'm feeling.
Mom: Oh!!! And you talk too much about yourself. I think they call it narcissistic or something. You always write about yourself and not enough about other stuff.
Me: (laughing) Like what should I write about?
Mom: Like when you read a good book or do something with the girls you should talk more about the book instead of yourself and how you don't read this in June but you read that in September.
Me: (laughing harder) Do you read any other blogs?
Mom: No
Me: Do you see in my profile where I admit that I am narcissistic and bored and too engrossed in myself and that's why I even have a blog.
Mom: Yes I've seen that.
Me: Did you know I like talking about myself so much?
Mom: You sure do. (whew...with an exhausted voice)
Me: Well thanks Mom. I think this was a good first interview.
Mom: Oh one more thing.
Me: Yes?
Mom: On May 26th I will have been sober for 20 years.
Me: Really?
Mom: Yes, 20 years.
Me: And you quit cold turkey?
Mom: I haven't touched a drink in 20 years.
Me: Do you miss it?
Mom: Not a bit.
Me: That's really awesome.
Mom: May 26th. Twenty years.
Me: Hmmmm....that's about the same time I graduated from high school and was on my way out of the house.
Mom: Yep, my stress went away. (laughing) No you didn't have a thing to do with it.
Me: Well, good job. Lot's of people have tried to quit something they are addicted to and very few succeed over the long run. That's pretty awesome.
Mom: Thanks.
Me: Okay, bye.
Mom: Bye.

If you know my Mom, you are probably as surprised as me about how candid and open she was. It was awesome! In keeping with the narcissistic nature of my blog, I think it was my superior interviewing skills. I really think I could replace Oprah. Just joking. Thanks Mom for talking to me today. Sorry I called you ten other times and forced you and Dad to meet me and the girls and Grammie Bea for Thai food and that I chose all the dishes we ordered. It was soooo good though. I'll do a review of the restaurant on my food blog and will try to talk about the food and the place instead of me okay?

Last Night At Target

It's been like two months since I've done any shopping at all. We were out of everything. $500 later at Target, the girls had HAD IT. They were bored and wanted a million toys and I was tired of fighting them and saying no. It was one of those moments you know?

So pretty soon I see Katie crying. And I'm all "now what?" And she goes "Jessica wants to play the game where we smell each other's feet and then taste them. And I just don't feeeeeel like tasting feeeeet".

Tasting feet? Really Jessica?

Just when you think they are smart, you find out they are foot tasters.

A Slide Show of My Life

I haven't posted pictures in a long time. It takes so much dang time. So tonight as I watched Lee make American Idol history, I thought I'd put up a few reasons that I sing Hallelujah on a daily basis.

New Chapter of Bossy & The Geek

Alison, thanks for the FB message and encouragement! I posted the next chapter today after almost a year hiatus from my other stupid little blog about my silly little love story with my silly little husband. I didn't know if I would continue to tell our story but I'm so glad I did. If you are checking it out for the first time, please go back to Chapter One or you will just think I am crazy and not get anything.

you can check out the latest installment at www.bossyandthegeek.blogspot.com

Have fun and I stroll down memory lane. And expect that it will not take a year for another post.

The Help

Just finished the book The Help which has been sitting on the Best Seller's List since before Christmas. My Mom got it for me as a Christmas gift and one thing lead to another, like me rereading the Twilight Saga, new books by my favorites like David Baldacci and John Grisham and the great Nora Roberts (don't judge me because I am a romantic). See I have this rule, it's a great rule really if you really think about it. From Labor Day until Memorial Day I don't read ANYTHING that has literary acclaim or value. I am all about romance novels and murder mysteries and spy thrillers and People Magazine. I mean of course I read the scriptures EVERY DAY for hours and hours but other than that, I keep it 100% superficial. The reason is that I am trying to avoid seasonal depression. You heard me. Seasonal depression, look it up. When it's winter and gray outside and raining and cold I find that reading fluff makes me feel happier. I don't have to think too hard about world hunger, racism, war and sadness. My brain hardly ever hurts and I find it lessons the winter blues. During the spring and summer I am by nature a happier creature so I have room in my heart and head for the classics and more difficult pieces. I try and read contemporary literature that has won literary awards. You don't find these books in the romance or mystery shelves at Borders. They are found in the literature racks. I have to force myself to stay out of the thriller aisle and pick up John Updike and Victor Hugo and Louisa May Alcott. Edith Wharton, ugh. It's painful sometimes but like lifting weights, it's supposedly good for you.

Anyhow, a couple of books that technically would have been part of my summer reading slipped in before Labor Day. I read the Thorn Birds this winter for the first time. meh. I don't see what all the fuss was about. Meggie is maybe the most annoying character in any book and Justine possibly the most sociopathic. And Ralph is just sad and might be the greatest argument for Priests being able to marry that there ever was. But then during these infusions I was out of fluff so I turned to the only book on my shelf that was unread. It was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It was one of the best books I have ever read. It is in my top 10 you guys. And that says a lot. It's not my normal genre, it's not the normal type of story I devour. But it was such an amazingly funny and heart warming and sad story that I could not put it down. I literally had to set the book down because I was laughing so hard. When does that happen? If you happen to pick it up, please don't be scared off by the subject matter the setting or time it is set in. Please just buy it, check it out from the library, borrow it from me and read it.

Summary: Read The Help. Please. You won't regret it. Email me and let me know what you thought about it or leave a comment here. I'd love to know if you enjoyed it.

Forgive me Internet, I have sinned.... Friday Confessions

• Let's just get this fire ball from hell rolling by stating that it has been forever since my last Friday confession. I'm not quite sure what happened. I still sinned, big time. I just stopped typing up my sins. I think I stopped doing my visualization of how this whole thing is supposed to go down. Scene: Argentina, it is a hot summer day. A woman enters a small Catholic church. The sun is streaming lights through the stained glass windows casting a stream of dust lights into the front pew. She is dressed in a black satin wrap around dress with a crinoline slip underneath. Black pumps. Her hair is curled at a silky bun at the nape of her neck. She has on pearls, a black pill box hat with a short black fishnet veil that shrouds her face in mystery. Her black satin purse is draped over her forearm and the lace from a white handkerchief is peeking out. She genuflects at the end of the center aisle and kneels in the pew. The sun streaming from the window swaths her image in an ethereal light as she begins her prayers. Soon, an older lady comes out of the confessional. The woman in black, stands, crosses herself again, removes her lace handkerchief and enters the dark wooden confessional. The other parishioners wonder about the lady. They wonder what she will tell the Priest this day. Will she confess unkind thoughts and disobedience to her husband or something far more sinister. Like ....wait for it....murrrrrder! Key dramatic music and end of scene. Oh I feel so much better about these confessions. I am the mysterious lady by the way. And for those of you who are new, I am neither Argentinean, Catholic, have a black dress like that, able to walk in high heels, don't own a handkerchief, can't kneel due to knee surgery and my hair is not long enough to form a bun at the nape of my neck. And I think my neck might be to chubby to even HAVE a nape. Okay, I feel like I can really let it all out now.


• I have only eaten Thai and Japanese food for like two weeks. And pickles. These infusions make me so nauseous and yellow curry stew with coconut milk or beef sukiyaki are the only things that sound even remotely good to my digestive parts. It's been expensive and my family has had miso soup and teriyaki chicken like every single night.


• I have started to ask my kids to fetch things for me. I hate and I mean hate when Moms do this. I imagine myself in a double wide sitting on a couch with an afghan like they had on the TV show Roseanne saying things like "junior! JUNIOR! Go on an fetch mama a Dr. Pepper baby. Go on now." And I never want to be that lady. But Katie got the stool the other day and opened the fridge and began climbing for something. I said "Katie, honey, what are you after?" She replied "Mama, I am getting you a fresh and icy cold Diet Coke in the gold can because caffeine isn't good for your head and I know you will enjoy this!" And then before I could say, "hooo doggie" a cold can of DC appeared in my hand. And I thought, this is RAD. And then I got the visual of the lady in the double wide. I am conflicted.


• We told the girls they could have one chocolate chip for each area they cleaned up this morning and to surprise us. We did this because Gray's Anatomy was having a rather racy story line with some sexual dialogue and we wanted the cherubs outta the room. So we heard nothing from them for about 20 minutes then they came jumping in announcing they were done and could we "pause the TV so you can come on our tour!" I grabbed the chocolate chips and Mike and we started on the tour. In the past, they clean up their drawing/art area, bedroom, playroom etc. Today however, they brought us into our bedroom where they had made our king sized bed. "Why thank you very much girls, here is a chocolate chip." Then, we were taken over to our walk in closet. No joke you guys. They had put all of our shoes that were on the floor of the closet away and even hung up some of our clothes. Mike and I sheepishly looked at each other as I doled out the chips but our eyes spoke to each other in harmony. "This freakin rocks!" Mike's eyes said to me. "We should feel guilty for sucking so badly as parents..." my eyes replied. And then we high fived and said out loud "no way, this is too cool for school!" It was as though Santa had sent his out of work elves to our little hamlet this summer and instead of working for cookies and hot chocolate, they were happy to work for one chocolate chip per geographic area. We feel badly enough about what lazy losers we must seem that I included this in confessions but I don't feel all that guilty about it. Right now I would totally be trying to make my case with the Priest.
• Even though I have been nauseous and have been taking Motrin on an empty stomach which could cause things like a stomach bleed and stuff that's bad, the Diet Coke is still flowing in full force. When will the day come when I will be free of the silver/gold can of celestial nectar? Damn you Coca Cola! You made me love you.
• I have been feeling so tired, pukey, tired and weak since the whole infusion thing began that I just have accomplished next to nothing. My hair is greasy and things aren't pretty when it comes to any part of me. And I just don't care. But I should.
• My children are going to have identity/seasonal crisis's (is that a word? I am looking for the plural for crisis...crisi?crisises? I have no idea) Anyway, if they look in their closet or drawers they will be given mixed signals about their age, size and what season it is. There are shirts ranging from 4T to 6. Long sleeves, short it's all there. Because I just haven't had the time to clean everything out and organize it all with current selections. I just keep shoving the bigger clothes into the drawers and hope they figure it out. Same with our shoe box. They are in size 11 and 12 shoes and I think there are a pair of red clogs in there that are size 7. I really suck at this part of parenting.
• When I clean out the girl's ears I stick the Q-tip beyond the part of the ear that they say is safe. Because there are ear boogers in there. Yellow waxy gross ear boogers. Especially in Katie's left ear. Gross. And I just can't leave them in there. Even if you can't see them. I know they are there and I have to get them out. It's not safe and not necessary. If I damage her ear drum you will have the evidence to convict me right here.
• I have been so lazy that I have texted Mike from the bedroom to come in from the family room to talk to me. If you look at the last three texts from me on his phone they are these: "I feel like you aren't even trying to listen to meeeeeee" "Can't you just come in here for a liiiiittttleeeeee?" "Come innnnnnnn" These were sent within ten minutes of each other last night.
• I was glad that Aaron kid got kicked off American Idol. He allowed Big Mike to curl him like a bar with weights on it. I think if you want to be the American Idol and you want people to vote for you that you shouldn't allow the competition to curl you. It doesn't say "winner" if you know what I mean. As long as Crystal or Lee wins I'm cool.
• My relationship with Jake from the Bachelor got to an unhealthy level. I fell in love with him (for realz) on the Bachelorette. I was so excited he was going to be the next Bachelor and was positive he was going to be different than all the other Bachelors and was going to have morals and a backbone and really wanted to find love. But no. He chose that hussy Vienna and broke my heart. Then, he went on Dancing With The Stars and every week I was like "what did I EVER see in you?" He just seemed so fake and gross and such a nerdy sell out. So when he got kicked off I actually got up and did a touchdown dance in my living room including cheers and whooping. Totally unhealthy. I was supposed to break up with my TV this summer but I wasn't strong enough. Especially not with the whole Owen, Christina, Teddy thing heating up. And Dell dying? I watch too much TV. I have no plans to stop.
• I accidentally made my Grammie Bea cry on Mother's Day. She's 90 and lives in Assisted Living. She is the awesomest and I guess I scolded her when I was just trying to mediate a misunderstanding. If you ever want a self esteem boost to feel awesome about yourself...get some iron infusions so you are puking and achy, have it be Mother's Day and scold your Grammie who has Alzheimer's so she cries then try and explain and make it okay and make her cry harder. It is a recipe to feel awesome. It's better than a spa.
• I haven't written thank you notes yet for Katie and Jessica's birthday presents. I swear I will do it. I swear. But in case I don't and you got them something, thank you. They love it.
• Don't even get me started on how my house looks. If cleanliness is next to Godliness I am a stinky demon.
• Actually, I've been reading the Old Testament lately and there's A LOT of infertility in Genesis as well as all through the entire thing and every time a new person who is really righteous is infertile I am like all "ooooo, I rock just like Rachael!!" Instead of learning I am high fiving Hannah and Sara and Elizabeth through the pages. I don't think God had celebratory high fives of my righteousness in mind when He gave these wonderful women these challenges nor do I have anything in common with them except my lady parts don't work. Just because Mike owns a football and can throw it with his arm does not make him just like the Manning brothers. It would be like if Mike threw me a pass and I missed it and he thought he was just like Steve Young because sometimes he threw passes and people missed it. It's so not the same. I need to stop high fiving the women in the scriptures because they are obedient and walking through the desert and stuff and I am having my kids pick up my shoes for payment in chocolate chips. We are not the same!

I feel ever so much better!!! Until next week when I'm sure my sin will be as scarlet and I will need to unload it all again.

To Brag or Not To Brag? A question.

Whenever I have something happy to report, something delightful to my soul that has happened within the blah white colored walls of our abode, I hesitate. The pause I take is enormous and accompanied by sweaty hands and angst. Heartfelt angst. Because so many, and by so many I mean almost all and by almost all I mean all Mommy Blogs run heavy on the whole tooting of the own horn thing that the bragfest seems never ending. Mine included. Did you hear the funny thing Katie said? Did I mention how many lives Mike saved today? Did you guys know Jessica is a freakin genius? It's gross right? And I love the Mom's that are all...I'm not bragging, it's just this blog is my journal and I want to document how cute it was that McKenzie went poo poo for the first time while singing her ABC's and talking to Obama on the cell about the problems in Chechnya. Chechnya. Chechnyaaaaah. (name that movie) Anyhoo, it gets a little bit thick out there. There are only certain blogs of my friends and family that I post over on the side. These blogs are not what I'm referring to. These people don't really brag in that braggy braggerson sort of way you know? They share their lives yes. But they share the good, the beautiful, the embarrassing and the ugly. They are real. Well maybe not all of them. ha ha. Are you wondering if it's you? It's not. Or is IT? wahahahamehaha. (that's an evil laugh)

The whole point of this senseless rambling is I think I am getting to the point in my blogging where it's okay if I feel like bragging one day. It's okay if I want to shout my joy from the rooftops of the Internet. I'm getting more comfortable sharing my successes in life and not just my confessions. Although Friday confessions....? What the HELL happened to you? You are coming back this week. I promise.

So on that note I would like to tell you of the kick-A Mother's Day Mike provided that I got to enjoy this past Sunday. I'm trying out a new nickname for the husband by the by. Mikey, Meeks, Meeker, Miguline and Major Mike Meeker Mormon Missionary have all been tried and seem well old. I'm thinking of using Meek and then a word that describes what I'm describing. Like if we go see Iron Man this weekend I might say Meekdowneyjunior or if we are watching TV (Grays) I might say I watched it sitting next to meekgeeky. Get it? I don't think it's going to catch on. I'll just still call him Mike Meeker like I have since seventh grade.

On to Mother's Day! So Mike Meeker asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day. Since I am iron poor these days I responded in these exact words. "Mike Meeker. Pay Attention. Are you paying attention? Okay. I want one thing only. I want a big thick bone in rib eye steak cooked on the grill, seasoned by me. It needs to be rare to medium rare. MIKE. Quit playing the computer and pay attention. Okay. Steak. Get the butcher to cut it. You don't need to do any vegetables, no potatoes, no salad. Just a big rare steak. Cut the horns off and wipe it's butt and send it in. ( ha ha. I really didn't say that part. ) " But I continued..."Seriously Mike. I don't want anything else. Just a steak. Please, you know how you get ADD and you burn the steak if you try to do vegetables and multiple cuts of meat. Just the steak man." Did he listen? Well. He is awesomer than that. He got the girls up and did breakfast in bed with oven cooked bacon just like I like it. Then he dressed the girls in their fancy dresses and took them to the Meadows so my Grammie Bea would have cards and a visit to go with her flowers I sent her. Then he took the girls to church with his parents so his mom could get cards to go with the flowers I got her. Then he came home and we all took a long nap. Then they got up and he cooked my steak perfectly...along with roasted potatoes and asparagus. Dinner was ready at 9:25 p.m. But it was perfect. Soooooo....that Mike Meeker. He might not be quick and it may take him a long time to get something done but here's the point...he can go all day, he listens to what I want, he exceeds expectations and he delivers it perfectly. If you know what I mean ladies. And in case you don't know what I mean I am referring to Mother's Day. What were you thinking about you dirty dirty dirty girls.

So today, I am bragging about my super star husband who has been being Mr. Mom these days as well as doing his normal job and he still tells me he appreciates me for all I do and am and all I can think is today I took a nap, puked, took some zofran and percocet and took another nap then watched American Idol and went to bed. I'm thinking nobody is worried about whether or not to brag about me or not. You can't brag about a non moving object that sleeps and eats Thai food.

Tomorrow, I will be bragging about what my sister in law Amber did on Mother's Day because I'm sorry it just needs to be shared.

Seacrest Out.

Yesteryear

I remember the Spring of my childhood,
when I was the one in the Easter bonnet.
I liked Now & Laters and Laverne and Shirley.
There was no car to clean out or floor to sweep.
Just tin foil baseball in Grandma and Papa's backyard with Bo.
And my barbies and playing school, always being the teacher.
I should have known pretending to be a grown up was a waste of time.
I'd have plenty of time to be a grown up, why was I in such a hurry?
Now I wish I could pretend to be a kid. I wish I could pretend to be Snow White,
and attend a tea party and eat cookies with pink frosting and sprinkles.
I wish I could watch Strawberry Shortcake and laugh over made up songs about rainbows.
Oh wait a minute...I did all that tonight.
Because I am a mother. I live with five year olds. They are girls.
And life is sweeter this Spring than any Spring of my childhood.
It is good even though it's not sometimes.
I just wanted anyone who cares to know that.

Are You Ready For Some Naughty?

At preschool there is a chair. It's called the ready chair. It's for kids who are being naughty. The girl's teacher gives them a warning and if they continue being naughty they have to sit in the chair until they are "ready" to join the class. Get it?

So. Miss Jessica went her whole three year old and four year old time at preschool with zero sits in the ready chair. All of a sudden she was ready to turn five and it was ready chair visit after ready chair visit. We have heard of marbles being spit at the boys, giggling when told to be quiet, laying on Katie and other children and dancing when it is not time to dance. We have been talking our heads off about following directions and listening and the sort of behavior we used to brag about. We thought she was nervous about Mike going to Afghanistan and we thought his announcement last week would cure our household of the plague of the ready chair. It is not so.

Today, we had another ready chair visit. For dancing when it was not time to dance. And the continuation of said dance when told to please stop.

When we asked Katie if she had to sit in the ready chair (as Jessica was shouting all her reasons and explanations why she shouldn't have had to sit there) Katie said that indeed, she had NOT had to sit in the chair. "Nope. Only Jessica" was the answer we received.

We continued to "talk" to Jessica about all the reasons it was not fair to her teacher to take up class time by being naughty.

We then heard a little voice from across the room where Katie had been playing. "Well see, Miss Hannah ASKED me if I wanted to sit in the ready chair but I said NO THANK YOU."

So basically I have two juvenile delinquents as children when I thought I only had one.

One Down...

Just got home from infusion #1. I don't know how I forgot the taste that comes into your mouth. yucko. The next few weeks are going to suck, but I'm still on a high from finding out Mike isn't going to deploy that it just can't be as bad as it was last time when he was gone. At least I know to expect that as of midnight I will be curled into a ball with muscle charlie horses and puking my guts out. It's good to know what's coming next right? Good news is this will make me stronger and happier and will end up imparting lots of energy for shopping and parties and fashion shows and Hollywood premiers and being interviewed by Oprah...oh wait. I got carried away for a sec. A girl can dream though right?

Good News - Let's Try Not To Jinx It!

We found out today that as of now, right this instant, Mike has not been tasked to go to Afghanistan or anywhere else in this next cycle of deployments. We had been prepared for him to deploy again in June. Thankfully, the Air Force needed to fill less slots than they had thought and there were other doctors who either had not deployed or who had been skipped in their last rotation that are being deployed instead.

Obviously, we are very happy for this news. However, we realize that there are a bunch of other people who will deploy in this next cycle and will leave their families. We are mindful of them in our prayers every day and are so thankful for their service.

We are relieved that our family will not have to separate again more than you can ever know. We believe that God puts us where He needs us the most in the world if we are willing to serve Him. We found out tonight from our Stake President that Mike will be working will the Marshallese branch of our church that we mentioned in my last post. He'll be going to their branch for church and serving as a missionary again among the Marshallese. He's so excited. I am going to continue to go to our ward near our house for now but plan on discussing the whole thing with our Bishop and maybe our whole family will be going to the Marshallese branch soon.

Whatever happens in regards to this, I'm just so happy we'll be together in the same house and he'll be going to work at his clinic and we'll be together. I'm the most happy for Jessica. She had a rough go of it last time Mike deployed and has been having a lot of nervousness and anxiety about summer coming because we told her back in January 2009 that she didn't need to worry about Dad going back to Afghanistan until after she turned 5 in the Summer. Of course, she remembers everything and has been feeling nervous about it since her birthday. I never thought we were doing a bad thing by telling her that. We were just trying to reassure her. When we told her tonight that Daddy had talked to his big big big boss and that they didn't need him to go away like we thought, the relief and joy and nervousness on her face was heartbreaking. I am so happy for her tonight. We made sure she knew that going away is part of Dad's job and that things can always change but that for now, he is not going away like we had talked about and planned for.

Please Air Force, don't make us eat our words.

Our house is a happy home tonight. Full of gratitude, feeling undeserving of our many blessings. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We love you!

HELLO Hello hello hellohhhhh.... hello?

Is there an echo in here? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

I've been gone for a while haven't I? Well, I've been busy and tired simultaneously and I have made a discovery. Being tired and busy does not lend itself well to blogging. Either does your husband's computer going kaput so he's on yours all the dang time. So I've got a lot of ground to cover. We left you at Easter and we were down and out. But we rebounded, well sorta. My iron levels are in the toilet and I have to get infusions again which suck but I don't have to start them until this Thursday and our parents, my Grandma and girls from church are volunteering for various things as I will be out of commission. I forgot how tired I get when I have anemia. It's like if you go to reach for the milk and you look at it way up on the top shelf of the fridge and it's just too high to reach and too heavy to carry and too much to pour and put back all the way on the top shelf that your arm is shaking by the time you are done. So basically, anemia makes cereal not even worth it. In other words, anemia is of the devil.

But some great things have happened over the past few weeks that I truly don't want to forget so endulge me won't you? Well, ahem, um, do you really have a choice?

The most important thing is that my babies turned 5. FIVE. I can't believe they are five. Mike took the day off work and we hit Fairy Tale Town and Funderland and of course they picked Osaka for dinner that night. This all happened on Thursday the 15th which is their "actual" birthday. Then, on Saturday, some kids from preschool, grandparents and their two Great Grandmas that live in the area all came over a BBQ and party. There was a big pink princess castle bouncy house and a pink, yellow and silver pinata. The kids had a ball. I've never seen Katie and Jessica that excited and happy. And the kids played so well together I was amazed. They took turns and bounced and ate their lunches on the grass and had the best time. I will post some pictures ASAP. I really will. I know I always say that. But I will.

My sister in law Heather had a birthday. And I forgot to call her. No it's even worse than that. I talked her that day and forgot her birthday all together. It's not because I don't love her because you guys who know me know I love her tons and I have no good excuse other than I suck at remembering stuff right now. I had to remind myself all week long not to forget my own kids birthdays. I'm sorry Heather. Your I'm Sorry gift is coming soon. If I remember. Heather's husband, Mike's brother, is getting ready to deploy for the military. This makes me very sad and scared. I'm not scared for Heather so much because she's like super duper stronger than me. But it's just so hard on kids and their daughter is Katie and Jessica's age and their little boy is the same age the girls were when Mike went and I just feel badly for that whole situation. And it makes me scared for us for Mike to get his orders because they are coming soon and he'll be gone again in the very near future. War sucks. For a lot of reasons, not just because our husbands are going away. It's just there's nothing good about it. It's sick really when you think about it. Killing people. But it's okay because it's war? That just doesn't make sense. Peace is awesome. Let's try it world!

Our stake just founded an official Marshallese branch of our church here in Sacramento. Our church is organized by geographic regions. Your immediate surrounding area is your ward, then if you go further out it's a stake (comprised of several wards) then district or area. This allows us to get to know our neighbors. We learn to rely on them and serve them. I really like how it's done because there's never a question about where you belong. The only exception is for certain cultures in which a different language is spoken, there will be a branch (a tiny ward) formed that services can be done in that language. There's a Spanish branch in some areas, Korean branches, Tongan branches etc. Well, our stake just formed a Marshallese branch. This is significant to us because Mike served his mission on the tiny Pacific island of Majuro in the Marshall Islands. Our Stake President invited us to this first sacrament meeting of the Marshallese branch and we were so excited to go. Mike served his mission from 1990-1992 and he's never been back to visit the island he grew to love so much. It's super expensive to fly there and he's been in school/residency pretty much the whole time. When we got there, it was just as they were welcoming people for coming out. We quickly found a pew and sat down. We sang the opening hymn and Mike cried. Then an older man got up to say the opening prayer. Mike tapped me and whispered..."I know that man, he lived in Rita when I was there." (Rita is a small village on the island) I got all choked up and as he prayed in Marshallese it was so moving and I was so happy for Mike. In our Stake President's remarks, he had us stand up and mentioned that Mike was a missionary in the Marshall Islands and that the members could test him on his vocabulary during the luncheon following the services. chuckle chuckle. During the time in which the sacrament was being passed this little boy (maybe 18 mos) was climbing like a monkey all over our pew. He climbed up me, then across the back of the pew, over to his mother who was obviously of island descent. Now this branch is 1/2 Marshallese and 1/2 Fijian. I didn't know if the family next to us was from the Marshall Islands or from Fiji, but their little boy was so cute and I enjoyed playing with him when I was supposed to be paying attention. After church was done, I noticed the mother of the boy was talking to Mike. I was trying to keep the girls occupied. They needed to go potty. So we went and came back to find Mike still talking to this family. I approached him so I could say hello and urge Mike into the gym where they were getting ready to eat. He explained that the mother that was SITTING NEXT TO ME was the daughter of a family he baptised 19 years ago. She was only 11 or 12 at the time so he didn't recognize her. But she recognized him as the missionary that baptised her and also her Mom had a photo album with the names and she's always known Elder Meeker as the person who baptised her. It was in the smallest village on the whole island called Laura and was Mike's favorite area he served. She came here to live with relatives that moved here for better jobs and education. I couldn't believe it. It was so cool. Mike was really choked up. I am so grateful that our Stake President took time in his super dooper uber busy schedule to think of us and be inspired that it would mean a lot to us to come to this church service. And the luncheon after? BoyOH! My family is from Hawaii so I'm not a stranger to how islanders cook but I've never seen so much food in my life. It was so good and Mike was so happy visiting with the people, singing Marshallese songs and speaking Marshallese again. He was in heaven! We are so happy the Marshallese people have this branch to fellowship together, it's awesome.

My baby brother in law Stevie (or Steve, whatever) graduated from COLLEGE on Friday. It's painful to me that I'm so old. He was 3 years old when I started dating Mike. I love Steve so much. He recently competed for a job with a bunch of interns and won the job. They gave them like 4 months to do various projects and then they would offer one person an actual job with their firm at the end. And Steve got the job! I'm so proud of him. And he's single. And so cute! I can't say he's hawt or fiiiine because ewww, he's just a baby. But if he wasn't my baby brother and will forever be about seven years old in my mind, I would be able to tell you he's not just a smart brain if ya catch my drift. He's a CATCH! Photos, resumes and bribes can be sent to email address on the side.

I'm going to do Happy Birthday letters to the girls in separate posts so I'll fill ya in on what they are up to in those posts coming up. Mike is busy at work but loves his job and we are praying that he'll go to the safest possible place when he deploys again. I ache just thinking about him being gone. We work as a team and when you live with someone for 18 years, having them gone feels like a physical part of your body is missing. It is painful and horrible. I can't explain it other than that. The idea of him leaving makes me sick in the deepest part of myself. And yes, I know we signed up for this life. And yes, I know it's what we are supposed to do. But I had no idea the impact it would have on my children and for that, I will always feel guilty and wonder if I am being all of the mother they need me to be.

The next few weeks are going to be spotty around here because of the infusion schedule and all the feeling like crap and sleeping that will be going on. I hope it goes smoother than last time. I am thankful that Mike is here this time. I am grateful for the offers of help and service.

The Easter That Never Was Or...Tangible Proof I Am A LOSER!

We lied. We told the girls the Easter bunny would come hide eggs outside for them on Easter. Then, we got the rainfall of all rainfalls, the windstorm of all windstorms. It was drenched outside. And cold. And we have all been or are currently sick. So when those little cherubs woke up from their nap, eagerly anticipating eggs hidden to and fro in their magical backyard, we showed them a note. It said the following:

Dear Katie and Jessica,

Hop Hop! You guessed it girls, it's ME, the Easter bunny!!! I have eggs all ready for you with nifty treats inside. I know I was going to hide them today but because of the rain storm, you couldn't go outside and find them. SOOOO, I tell ya what... I am going to come back to your house on Wednesday when it is sunny and hide all the eggs I have for you PLUS TWO SPECIAL EGGS that will have an extra surprise inside that you are going to love. Thanks for being patient and I'll see ya soon.

Love,
EB

Okay Internet, how pathetic is that? Seriously? It's bad. We could have hid the eggs inside but I didn't load them with candy and I didn't feel like it because my throat hurt and I just was not in the mood. So I didn't. Instead I forged a note from the Easter Bunny. Just like I used to forge notes from my Mom to get out of Senorita Almas' Spanish class freshman year. My karma is in the toilet isn't it? It is. Oh how badly I SUCK.

The only excuse I have is I have a wicked sore throat and I am so tired and dizzy. I went to urgent care today and I tested positive for strep throat AND my iron deficient anemia is out of control and I have to get iron infusions again. For those of you who were here the last time my anemia came back, you know the depth of my grief. Iron infusions are given at the UCD Cancer Center. It is much like chemo therapy in how it makes you feel afterwards. You are fine for about 24 hours, then you beg for death to come for about 48 hours then you are fine until the next week when you have to do it all over again. Lather rinse repeat, six times! And the worst part of the whole mess is that you sit next to these amazingly brave individuals who are getting actual chemotherapy and as you can imagine, some of these folks look very very sick. And you sit there, feeling horrible about yourself because you are so grateful that the substance pumping into your veins will cure what is wrong with you while the substance being pumped into their veins might not. Your substance, life affirming and strength giving iron. Their substance, poisonous toxins designed to come as close as possible to killing them so it can actually kill the cancer. It is not a good time. And I leave feeling like a horrible person but also so incredibly grateful. But the guilt consumes me and each week my anxiety level goes up because I know all I will do for the three hours it takes to get my infusion is self reflect about how glad I am for my life and I wonder what goes through the mind of the little old lady that sits next to me all by herself bald and frail. I doubt that she is thinking the same thoughts as me. And that makes me feel even worse.

So on that happy note, I'd just like to say that "I am officially a hot mess". My throat has blisters all the way down it and the next eight weeks are going to bite and as soon as they are done (most likely) Mike will deploy to the desert for six months. Yaaaaay Meeee!

And just when you think it couldn't get any worse, I have this little confession for you regarding Easter. We were all sick. Mike was at the end of his rope because he's sick but not as sick as me and Jessica so kid duty went to him this weekend. He can't cook and I just couldn't cook yesterday. So for EASTER DINNER, we ordered Round Table. On a Sunday you guys. And we, like the losers we are, got ham and pineapple pizza because then it would at least have something on it that people eat at Easter...ham. I can't believe I just told you guys that. It was an all time parenting and human existence low point.

So my pita pocket Passover Shout Out never happened. Heart shaped waffles never materialized. Salmon for Easter dinner? Nope nope nope. Cupcakes for Grandma Meeker? Not a chance. Peanut butter and jelly, cold cereal, canned soups, Easter Pizza and a forged note from the Easter Bunny is what I will remember from Easter y2K10. So all you moms out there that think you suck? You don't. You really really don't.

Traditions...

As I've mentioned before, I love Easter. It is my very favorite holiday. But this year, nobody in my neck of the woods seems to be in the mood to go all out for a celebration, including me. Our church is broadcasting a global general conference that we do twice/year. Normally, this conference doesn't hit on Easter weekend. The glorious thing about conference weekend is getting to stay home in your PJs with your family, veg out on the sofa together, tickle backs and have pillows and blankets. I always, ALWAYS make blueberry pancakes one morning and we enjoy a really mellow weekend. But with it falling on Easter, it just has me all confused and jumbled. Last Sunday, I had my family over for brunch and the menu was very Spring/Easter themed. We even did an Easter egg hunt for the girls. So now, this weekend, I feel sort of like I already did Easter. And given there aren't church services actually taking place, there's no place to showcase Easter dresses, bonnets and such. What to do? Add the colds and fevers we have all had and you can see why I am not downloading and testing new recipes for an Easter feast.

Here's what I think we'll do instead. Friday night, we'll do rotisserie chicken pita pockets for Passover. Ever since I taught New Testament for early morning seminary, I have always done something to mark Passover. Sometimes it's just reading about it, sometimes I've just thrown some pita and herb spread on the table to remind us it's Passover. I've always wanted to do the whole nine yards with the brisket and the kugel and the salt water and on and on. But I've never gotten up the motivation to really research how to hold a proper Seder and I wouldn't want to do anything to offend my Jewish friends so I've just sort of done my version of a Passover Shout Out and called it that. So rotisserie chicken, stuffed in a pita with an herb and mustard sauce and veggies ought to do the trick to give props to Passover for this year. I think the girls will like to hear the story because they are super into all of the stories and traditions this year.

Saturday, we'll just chillax around the TV, watching conference. I am baking some cupcakes for Grandma Meeker and for us. We'll eat leftovers for dinner of tonight's meal which was pork chops stuffed with apricots, celery, peas and cornbread stuffing. We will dye eggs on Saturday.

Sunday, I'll have Mike's parents over for brunch in between conference sessions. I'll just make a simple meal of heart shaped waffles with strawberries and cream, bacon, scrambled eggs and OJ. Then, they are leaving to go visit Grandma Meeker and I'll send the cupcakes and Easter card for her with them. I would plan on us going with them but we've been sick with this virus and Mike and Jessica are in the coming down with it stage and Grandma Meeker is 96 so taking a chance that she might get sick from us just isn't worth the risk. If we are all completely better, maybe we'll take the ride up anyway and join them for dessert. We'll play it by ear. If we don't go up, I'll take whoever is well enough over to the Meadows to pick up Grandma Bea after the last session of conference on Sunday. It ends at 3pm. So we'll get her and bring her back here maybe and have my Mom and Dad join us. I think I'll make salmon, roasted asparagus, rice and a green salad for dinner. That is a really easy meal that takes next to no work. I have the best sauce for salmon that is from my Grammie Bea that I'll make to go with the fish. It's butter, ketchup, dry mustard, soy sauce, sherry and garlic. It sounds like it would not be good but it is amazing. We'll have the cupcakes we baked on Saturday for dessert. At some point we'll hide eggs and let the girls go look for them and we'll do Easter baskets.

Whew...just typing all that made me tired. I am feeling quite a bit better than yesterday but still not at 100%. I'll need to be careful on Friday and Saturday not to over-do it so I can have plenty of energy on Sunday to make Easter at least somewhat memorable for the girls.

I love to hear about what other people are doing and their traditions. My SIL Amber's family has a big Easter egg hunt on Saturday where her Mom hides tons of eggs filled with money. I think one of the eggs is a golden egg and has like a fifty in it and the others go down from there. All the grown ups and kids hunt for the eggs together. Doesn't that sound fun? They have a big family so I think that would be a blast. I wish we had more family that lived close by so we could organize some gigantic, cool Easter egg hunt for all the kids. I guess it's no big deal. Growing up, I hunted eggs all by myself at my Oliver grandparents because I was the only grandchild and then just Bo and I hunted for eggs together at my Santos grandparents because everyone else lived far away. I never felt sad about it growing up so I guess my girls won't either. I think it's all about how excited the adults get and if we try to make it special for the kids, then they'll feel that it's a special day. If we just say "whatever...we aren't doing anything because it's just us" then the holiday won't be a special time for them either. Who knew this parenting thing came with all this responsibility? You have to keep them alive, get them shots, buy cute hair accessories AND give them warm and loving holiday memories to boot! It's a lot for a Mom to keep up with. But it's so worth it.

Today, my Dad called and asked for Jessica. He told her that there was this big red thing in the sky and she should go to the window and look. So she took the phone and ran to the window and looked and looked and then he announced "APRIL FOOLS"! She was so excited because then she got to be the one to go do the same trick to Katie. So we've been doing April Fools Day jokes all day. Katie called my Mom and said "Grammie, Oh NO! My mom and dad left and I'm all alone in my house." pause "April Fools!" And then they told their Dad they saw a zebra in the living room. But mostly, they would hide and as I walked by their hiding place they'd jump out and yell APRIL FOOLS as loudly as they could. I tried to explain that hiding wasn't really an April Fools joke but they didn't get it. Whenever I think about April Fools I always think about the time Marilyn told me that Grandma Huntsman played a trick on Grandpa Huntsman one year. She crumbled crackers (I think) into his shoes. If you knew Grandma and Grandpa, they were pretty by the book, no nonsense type of folks, even though they were amazingly loving and fun. She said as a kid they got so excited that their Mom played a joke on their Dad. It's funny the stuff we remember as a kid. I hope my kids remember all the little traditions we are trying to implement into our family history and memories. While I am thinking about it, I'm just going to list some of our traditions we've started so far so I can be sure never to forget them.

New Years: We play beauty parlor, we bang pots and pans, we toast with sparkling cider and drop balloons from the ceiling.

Valentines: We have something red for dinner and we hand make old fashioned Valentines for others with paper doilies, glitter, stickers and handwritten messages of love.

St. Patricks Day: Leprechauns invade our home! They turn our milk green and put gold dollar coins in our shoes. We have grasshopper pie for dessert.

Easter: We will always from now on do the resurrection eggs. We dye and hide regular eggs the day of Easter. We do Easter baskets but instead of candy it has a new outfit including shoes and a special Easter accessory like a hat or purse.

Birthday: We go for manicures and pedicures and the girls get to pick where we go out for dinner.

Mothers/Fathers Day: Girls make breakfast in bed for mom/dad and pick out or make cards and give presents that they pick out from Target.

4th of July: we don't really have traditions except for a BBQ and fireworks and we wear red,white and blue.

Halloween: We always go to a ward Halloween party, girls go trick or treating and they get to pick what they want to be.

Thanksgiving: we make dream catchers for everyone who will be at Thanksgiving dinner with us.

Tree trimming at Christmas: We set out cheese, meats, crackers, cheetos and sparkling cider. (we are very specific in our menu) The engraved silver bell is the first thing to be placed on the tree, even before the lights. We lift the girls up together to put the star on the top of the tree. That night, Santa leaves a snow globe and a letter for each girl on their pillow. They are able to communicate with the North Pole through their snow globes so they can let Santa know the "nice" things they do in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Christmas Eve: we read the Christmas story out of the Bible and we put the pieces of the nativity in place as we read about them. We only eat appetizers for dinner but we have a huge variety of food that we spread out and snack on all night. We decorate graham cracker gingerbread houses and Christmas cookies. We leave cookies, milk, carrots, celery and apples for Santa and the reindeer. We open new pajamas and wear them to bed that night. The girls must be asleep by midnight in order for Santa to come. Mike always hears Santa's bells ringing at about 11:30 as a warning to get to bed.

Christmas Day: we do stockings first. We open presents and when we are 1/2 way done, we stop and make breakfast that always includes freshly baked croissants from Williams Sonoma. Then, after breakfast we finish opening presents. We try and go really slowly so we enjoy it and we open one gift at a time and everyone watches the person opening the gift.

Our non holiday traditions are "Nobody Cooks on Friday" is where we always, ALWAYS ALWAYS either go to a restaurant or get take out on Friday nights. It's the end of the week, we are all tired and nobody should ever have to cook on Friday. "Family Slumber Party and Movie Nights" is where once/month, we have a pizza party on our bed and we watch a movie in the dark like a movie theater but we are all four in our big bed together. We eat popcorn during the movie and when it's time to go to bed, the girls jump into their sleeping bags on our floor. Grandma Meeker's two handed wave. Mike's mom always comes out of her house when we are driving away and waves goodbye to the girls with two hands up and down like her mother used to. The girls wait for it and then wave wildly back at her with their two hands. Grammie's secret. My Mom always tells the girls she needs to tell them a secret. She whispers "I love you in their ear" and then they and Grammie scream "Ahhhhhhh!!!!" with delight. I have no idea how this one started. Also, when it's sleepover time at Grammie and Papa's the girls sleep with Grammie period. They will take naps with Papa but at night time they will announce "NO BOYS ALLOWED" and the three of them stay up very late telling stories and tickling backs and arms. And the last one is our cheer. Whenever we need the girls to focus in a busy place or whenever they get scared and need our attention, someone in the family will call for "MEEKER HANDS IN!" Then, you have to put your hands into the middle on top of each others and Mike will say "Meekers on 3. 1, 2 3" and then we all yell "GOOOOOOO MEEKERS!" It's so cheesy and dumb but if the girls aren't behaving in public or running around, we can do this cheer and before we say "break" and go our own ways we are able to have their full attention and remind them of the rules and behavior we expect. So we use it more to get their attention in a way they like.

I guess we are a really tradition filled group. And we are a lot more nerdy and cheesy than I realized. But I'm glad. Maybe the girls will pass some of these down to their kids. Some of them came from our growing up homes for sure. I never realized how many there were though. I guess I shouldn't worry so much about whether or not we are raising the girls to have traditions. I think we have it covered.

Seacrest Out. (oh, and we all four of us, always vote for American Idol and Dancing with the Stars)

Weekend In Review

Last weekend was a blast. We all got bad head colds though by Monday. We've all had fevers and sore throats. And when I say all of us, I mean all of us. My parents, us, cousins, Grandma Houlie. We are waiting to find out if Grammie Bea will get sick or anyone else. Baby Luke is in the hospital and we are praying so hard for him. I'm glad the doctors are taking it seriously and seem to be taking a lot of diagnostic measures to figure out what exactly is wrong with the little guy. We feel so badly for their family. Luke is the baby of my cousins Jeff & Ali and the brother of Emi, who my girls adore and played with all weekend. We are waiting for updates on Luke and just pray he'll be perfect. He is the cutest and sweetest baby you've ever seen.

Everyone got into town on Friday and we all went out for sushi/Japanese food on Friday night at Mikuni's. Bens Crab Shack Roll...mmmmm, it's my favorite sushi I have ever had and I am a fan of the sushi. My girl's favorite type of food is Japanese. They love miso soup with extra tofu and edamame. They always get shrimp tempura and share a sunomono salad with me. I love that my kids like more than nuggets and pizza. Don't get me wrong, they love chicken nuggets and love to go out for pizza. But they also like seafood, vegetables, brie cheese, all Asian food as well as Mexican and Italian. Jessica doesn't like spicy foods but Katie does. The next day we got up and I made heart shaped waffles with strawberries and fresh cream. Jeff, Jut, Mike and I took the three girls and Luke to the park to feed the ducks. The girls made up a version of duck duck goose but played it with real ducks and geese. Katie would go up to sleeping or unaware ducks and tag them on the head saying "DUCK" then they'd try and sneak up on the geese to yell "GOOSE". But the geese at EG park are really big and aggressive so I don't think they actually got too close to any. But they fed them all the bread and we had a nice picnic lunch of sandwiches, fruit and vitamin water in the park. Then, we all came home and got gussied up for Grammie Bea's 90th birthday party at Cafe Vinotecca. Most of our family was there. All four of my Grandma's daughters, all of her grandchildren and all of her great grandchildren except for Jut's kids. They live so far away and tickets were really expensive to Sacramento so Jut's wife Tara and their kids couldn't come out. We missed them tons and wished they were with us but totally understand the cost was prohibitive. I am sad when I think that we'll be moving away in a year and will miss family gatherings. I have gotten used to attending all of them. Anyway, my cousin John and his family came from Idaho, all of our family from Portland came. Aunt Jayni came from Tacoma (we missed Uncle Tom too) and Jeff and Ali brought their family down from Southern Oregon. Everyone else is local. Grammie's one remaining sibling, my Auntie Sue came as well as Grammie's sister in law, Auntie Madeline. It was a really nice party and Cafe Vinotecca did an amazing job with both service and food. It was great to see my cousins. As we were taking the "grandchildren" picture, Bo gave me a wedgie just as the camera went off. It made me nostalgic for the old days when I could count on wedgies and rabbit ears or Bo's finger in my nose just as any camera took our picture. It was fun to see everyone but we are all so old!

The next morning dawned earlier than I would have liked and I rushed around to get everything ready for a brunch in honor of my Mom's birthday. All of our out of town family came to my house along with my Mom and Grammie Bea and Grandma Houlie. It was fun. We did the resurrection eggs with the little girls and gave a lesson about Easter. It was really touching and I was shocked at how good all three girls did paying attention and following the lesson. It was fun to hunt for eggs. Katie is just like me when I was little. I couldn't find eggs to save my life. Every adult would be yelling for me to "look up" "right there!" "it's pink Amy, LOOK FOR PINK!" And just as I would finally go to grab it, Bo would zoom in and grab it from it's hiding place. Katie was awful at egg finding. She found three eggs and Jessica found six. I never really cared and Katie seemed to handle it just fine. Brunch was yummy and the best part is I bought most everything already premade from Nugget or Honeybaked ham or Williams Sonoma. It sure makes entertaining easier! It was so fun to sit around and laugh with my family. I love the people in my family. We all have really good senses of humor and we love to laugh. My cousin Jeff is the funniest person on the planet and he tells the best stories. At one point in time I looked over at Mike and he was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe and he got a cramp in his side and was all "Owwwww...haaaaa haaaaaa owwwww." I think those are the best moments when you laugh so hard it hurts.

Too soon it was time to say goodbye to everyone. I hate that it was so short. But by Monday, we had fevers and stuffy noses so I didn't care as much. I am happy how it all turned out except for little Luke being so sick. Pray for him okay? Even if you don't know any of these people...pray for Luke anyway! Thanks.