What're the odds?

You know it been a depressing month, book-wise, when the best thing you read was a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, aimed at the middle-school set.

I was pledged to her for worse or better

If Jeff and Lora are that couple that have been married forever, then James and I are that couple who have been married forever plus one year. :P

This picture was taken at a wedding shortly after we got engaged.


At the Orlando Temple, shortly after we were married.


It's hard for me to believe that tomorrow will mark our 12th Anniversary. Looking back, we were definitely too young and too stupid to get married, but who isn't? Can you ever *really* be ready? I don't think so. ;)

If I were to sit down and make a Top-Ten-Reasons-Why-I-Love-James type of list, Numbers 1-5 would be because he makes me laugh: Inside jokes. Wry observations. The penchant for getting himself into wacky situations. Rolling-on-the-floor-crying-real-tears kind of laughter. He just has the best sense of humor.

Number Six would be his cooking.

Number Seven would be his mad cleaning skillz. The Navy taught that man right!

Number Seven would be his way with children. He should have been the father of at least a dozen kids (okay, maybe not a dozen- let's say four or so) but it hasn't worked out that way. So he's content with being an amazing father to our girlies, the best uncle to our nieces and nephews, and the man at church who is known for soothing fussy babies.

Number Eight would be his handy man skills. He knows a little about almost every household need, enough to keep us from having to call Dad everytime something breaks. And when he doesn't know something, he's not afraid to ask for help.

Number Nine would be his bravery.

And Number Ten would be his humility. He is a constant example to be, a person who is not-so-humble. (But that's only because I'm made of awesome, and it's really hard to be humble when you are made of awesome. It's a burden, really.)

No Witty Title, Just Unrestrained Excitment

Today is a very special day.

THE NEW FALL TV SEASON IS STARTING!!!!!

Last year I decided that there was no point in pretending that I don't enjoy watching TV, because I do, and I feel no shame in that. What's more, our entire family likes watching TV! (You know what Madeline wanted to do on her birthday? She wanted to eat homemade pizza for dinner, have chocolate-chocolate cake for dessert, open presents, and then watch the Season One Doctor Who DVDs we got from the library as a family. For the record, we are now on Season Two!)

I figure that we lead a pretty well-rounded life, and I spend almost as much time reading as I do watching TV, so all those people who think they are so superior because they don't watch TV or don't even have a TV can just sod off.

*smiles*

Those of you who received our 2007 Christmas newsletter know what a difference the DVR has made in our lives. (Seriously- it was life changing, much in the manner of a religious conversion.) So with the DVR all set and ready to go, here is what our TV viewing schedule looks like. This list includes time, program and channel.

MONDAY
8:00- Top Gear (BBCA) (Super funny British car show, *highly* enjoyable even if you don't care about cars)
8:30- How I Met Your Mother (CBS) (It's gonna be legen....wait for it...dary!)
9:00- Dirty Jobs (Discovery) (Mike Rowe. Rawr)
10:00- Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Travel)

TUESDAY
8:40- Gavin and Stacey (BBCA) (A very funny British sitcom, currently running one series behind here in the US)

WEDNESDAY
9:00- Mythbusters (Discovery) (They make science fun!)

THURSDAY
8:00- Ugly Betty (ABC) (America Ferrera=LOVE)
9:00- Grey's Anatomy (ABC) (Oh Grey's. How you mess with me! The last half of Season 3 and first half of Season 4 were TERRIBLE. The last half of Season 4 was good, but not great. Might have to give you up if you don't improve tout suite.)
9:30- 30 Rock (NBC) (This show is the funniest thing on TV. I *heart* Tina Fey. She's awesome. And she has great glasses.)
10:00- Ace of Cakes (Food Network) (Duff and his bakery crew are so hilarious and random, all at the same time.)

FRIDAY
9:00- Friday Night Lights

*pause*

Forgive me for a moment while I extole the virtues of Friday Night Lights, which is hands down the VERY BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION right now. I am serious. You need to watch this show. Yes, it's about football. But no- it's about people who happen to love/coach/play football. I have laughed and cried during some point in EVERY SINGLE EPISODE.

It has the most realistic depiction of teenagers ever, gorgeous set and art decoration, phenominal casting and I swear if you don't want to grow up and be JUST LIKE Coach and Tami then there is something wrong with you.

Watch the opening credits:


OK, seriously. If that did just not get you to your core (the gorgeous scenes and the music by W.G. Snuffy Walden) then you are OBVIOUSLY COLD AND DEAD INSIDE.

Now look at this. It's a compilation of scenes from the first season, set against the amazing music by Explosions in the Sky.


Are you choked up yet? Is your heart racing? I mean, just look! Tim Riggins! Matt Saracen! Julie!! KYLE CHANDLER'S HAIR IS EMOTING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Just do yourself a favor and watch the show, okay?

SATURDAY
8:00- Robin Hood or Doctor Who, depending on the schedule/season (BBCA) (Yeah, we're nerds. :P)
10:00- Graham Norton (BBCA) (Umm, don't watch this show unless you like your humor somewhat left-of-center and British. Or if you're my mom.)

SUNDAY
9:00 AM- Sunday Morning (CBS) (Usually watched no where near Sunday morning :P)
10:00 PM- Mad Men (AMC) (I watch it for the costumes and set decoration. And superb writing and acting.)

This also doesn't include one-off programs or series like Alton Brown's Feasting On series or Masterpiece Theatre (did anyone catch the complete Jane Austen series they did this year?? Amazing!)

So there's our viewing season in a nutshell. Don't call us during those times unless it's an emergency. ;)

Everything she knows, I taught her

Ways In Which I Am Becoming EVEN MORE Like My Mother



1. I am seriously starting to consider taking a nap everyday from 1:30-2:00 just so I can make it through the rest of the day (especially on Wednesdays and Thursdays).

2. I've got a dress hanging in the closet for just wearing "around the house".

3. It's a Saturday afternoon with no external commitments, and instead of reading a book or watching a movie I'm in the kitchen baking and listening to Easy Listening Hits of the 80's and 90's.

4. Whenver the girls complain of a upset stomach/headache/profusely bleeding wound I find myself asking them when was the last time they drank some water.

This is all truly frightening.

However, the flipside of all of this is that it's too much fun watching Mom turn into Grandmom. ;)

Shout Hooray

Today my darling girl turns 10, or as she keeps telling me, "Double digits, Mama! DOUBLE DIGITS!!"

Even though I have earlier memories, the age of ten is where my consciousness really began. I can easily remember that age, and things that happened to me, and I can only assume that it might be the same for Madeline. These first ten years have gone by so fast, and I know that a the end of the next ten years she will really and truly be her own person.

8 months old, with my brother Frodo


2 1/2 years old


3 1/2 years old


5 1/2 years old


6 years old


August 2008

Impossibly Perky

The girls teamed up on me the day after school started and asked if they could do cheerleading this year. We had two options: they could 1)cheer through the county Rec department program or 2) cheer through a local Baptist church's program. Since the church's program was more low-key (practice and games all on Monday night, as opposed to two or three times a week) and cheaper, we opted to go with the church program.

Note: another difference between the two programs? The uniforms. No belly-baring tops or bloomers for the church program! No ma'am! Sleeveless polo shirts (SHOCKING! SHOULDERS!!) for the tops and skorts for the bottoms. Hee. The girls also have to learn a bible verse every week.

So after three weeks of practice they were ready for their first game this past Monday.

Their squad is made up of girls in 2nd-5th grades. Their coach is a very nice woman named Natalie. Natalie is impossibly perky. She's also the type who wears long sleeve shirts when it's 90 degrees outside because she has ZERO BODY FAT. (Not that I'm bitter or anything.)


The dude with the megaphone is the Athletic Activities Director for the church. He led us in prayer before the game started.


The squad led off with the highlight of their routine- a pyramid!


And yes, that's Isabella on the top of that pyramid! Oh wait- she just informed me that she's called "the flyer" (although no 'flying' is involved).


That pyramid was a lot of work, they had to take a break. (They took a break after pretty much every cheer, truth be told.)


Ooooh- Pom-poms!


SPIRIT FINGERS!!!!


Spirit is exhausting!


Who cares about the game?? We are here for the CHEERLEADERS!!!


I like to call this my Friday Night Lights shot. Heh heh. BTW- Friday Night Lights is the BEST SHOW ON TELEVISION. WATCH IT. LOVE IT.

Also in that pciture? Please to be noting the 120 foot tall concrete cross that watches over the football stadium. (It's on the right, behind the trees.) TAKE THAT, Rec Department! It had been dedicated the night before in what we were told was a very fun and exciting ceremony that half of Albany attended. But since we're not Baptist, we missed out. Bummer.

In addition to the 120 foot tall cross, there was something else strange in the football stadium. Take a look at this picture. Notice the team colors? There's a blue team and a green team.


Now look at this picture. Now it's a blue and white team!


You're eyes aren't fooling you- there were TWO simultaneous games happening on the field at the same time! Each game took up 50 yards of the field, and the cheerleaders just cheered in the middle. Each game had their own referee and set of coaches, not to mention at least 15 fathers standing on the field adding in their $.02 worth, but that didn't prevent a little bit of confusion from occurring.

This poor kid laid on the field for at least a solid minute before any of the coaches/refs/fathers noticed their was a player down. (He was fine, no worries.)


At half time, the cheerleaders went out and did their pyramid again, along with a few more cheers. Then they went off with their coach and advisor for snacks and a devotional. As *riveting* as the game was, James and I ended up taking a few pictures in the manner of those crazy teens today on Facbook/MySpace/etc.







I love how he's pretending to be shocked and upset at a play happening on the field in this picture.




Oh yes, I can still shake a pom-pom with the best of them!


After their devotional, the girls came back and it was time to go home. (They didn't cheer for the second half, which was fine by me.) They were tired but happy, which I guess is the important thing.

Whatever it is, just do it

To make things more interesting for you, the viewing public, I've decided to make all of my blog post titles from song lyrics. (At least, I will do this until I forget to do it, or until I get tired of it, whichever comes first.) Amuse yourself by trying to figure the song and artist, and while you're at it, discover some new music! (I have excellent taste.) If you post the correct answers in the comments, I will do something very nice for you! (Just like I did for my brother David in this post. He correctly identified Lynyrd Skynyrd's lead singer, Johnny Van Zant, and last Saturday I cooked him a delicious dinner (grilled chicken, green beans with shallots and garlic, Caesar Salad and the Pioneer Woman's Apple Dumplings (except I made the dumplings with pears instead of apples)).

Coming up next in the Tree Fort: Pictures from our first football game!

Dreamweaver

Last night I dreamed I was dating this guy.

What do you think that means?

Feel sorry for me

I had a bad day. Why, do you ask? Was it

- The upset stomach that started at 1:30 am that necessitated me trying (emphasis on trying) to sleep upright in the bed in hopes the heartburn/indegestion wouldn't kill me?

- The MAJOR traffic jam in Leesburg this morning that made me get to preschool 15 minutes late even though we'd left our house 15 minutes early? (for the record, Leesburg has two traffic lights. TWO. The traffic was backed up at every major intersection for at least 1/2 a mile. There was no discernable reason for the backup.)?

- One of my preschool kids throwing up all over the classroom ten minutes after she walked in to school?

- Having the water cut off at the preschool (IN EVERY SINGLE BATHROOM- no flushing toilets, no running water, no water fountains- it was like a third world country up in there!) at 10 AM because new toilets were supposedly being installed (even though there were no workman anywhere in the building)?

- Having one of my kids be the last to leave (1:15 ish) on a day I needed to leave early, because I had to get up to Leesburg to pick up Madeline at school and then *back* down to Albany by 2:00 for an orthodontist's appointment? (Lessburg is about 15 miles north of Albany.)?

Just pick one or two- it'd be enough to make anyone cry! ;) I'll be spending the rest of the day in bed, hiding from the world.

The family that makes meatballs together....

...stays together!






Just taking advantage of the cheap labor and a three day weekend to get some meals in the freezer for those busy days when no one wants to cook.

Out of the mouth of babes

Overheard at the dinner table this evening

Jennifer: "You know, I didn't meet Daddy's family before I married him."

Madeline: "Whoa. That's messed up."

TGIF

Has this been the longest week ever, or does it just feel that way to me? Evidently we all felt that way around our house, because we were all in our pajamas by 6:00 PM! But since we're getting the outer bands of Tropical Storm Fay, I don't think we can be blamed for not being more ambitious.

We're two weeks into the school year now. The girls seem to be settling in fine, although I think the amount of homework they both have is going to kill me! (2-3 worksheets each, plus spelling/vocabulary words, plus at least 15 minutes of reading every day.) It seems a little extreme to me, but what do I know?

At the school the girls go to, they each have three different teachers. (One for reading/language art, one for math, and one for science and social studies. Out of those three teachers, one will also be their homeroom teacher.) On the one hand, I think it's good that each teacher can just concentrate on one subject/specialty, but on the other hand it's harder to get to know the teachers and form a close bond. And if you have a "bad" teacher, then at least they aren't with them all day long!

Bella really likes all three of her teachers, which is great. Last year was rocky. Her teachers were very good, but Bella's learning style didn't mesh well with their teaching styles. Madeline is having a little difficulty with one of her teachers, but I'm hoping it's just beginning-of-the-year growing pains.

As for me, I really like my preschool class so far. I'm teaching a Pre-K 4 class, and there are nine kids at the moment. All of them have made me laugh already, so I think that's a good sign! So far we've already had a deep philosophical discussion about why we need Moms, and also a deep theological discussion as to why *exactly* God chose a whale to swallow Jonah, and did I think that could ever happen to us?

I've also be seranded with selected songs from High School Musical 2, and I've also had to reassure one parent that no, her child was *not* denied a cupcake while everyone else ate one! But they are a bright bunch, and they are eager to learn and have fun, so I think we are off to a good start.

On the home front, I've kept on top of the laundry and the dishes this week (with the help of James and the girls), and managed to put a (reasonably) healthy and delicious meal on the table four out of the five nights. (We had take-out from the BBQ place up the road last night. So sue me! :P) The kitchen floor got swept once, I think, and the bathrooms need a good cleaning, and I din't vaccum at all. But since I'm not willing to get up any earlier in the morning, I guess that stuff will have to wait until the weekend!

And with that, I'm off to veg in front of the TV and amybe read a book.

Fool me once...

This post could also be titled "I AM SUCH AN IDIOT!!"

Violet?? Our new kitten? The one at the vet right now? Yeah, she isn't so much a girl as she is a BOY.

I absolutely CANNOT believe that this happened to us AGAIN. Why do I keep on believing people when they say, "We took this kitten to the vet and it's a female!" What is it about our house that makes (supposed) female kittens spontaneously turn into males???

*shakes head*
*sighs*

Well, at least it's cheaper to neuter than spay.

In what seems to be becoming a habit...

...I find myself posting once again in the evening.

James and the girls are at church tonight, and I am ALL ALONE.

*does a happy dance*
*thinks about walking around the house naked for the next hour and a half, just because I can*
*decides against it*

(BTW- In my high school yearbook the seniors could submit a quote to go under their picture. I wanted to submit "You need time to be naked with yourself" but the yearbook advisor vetoed it. I ended up going with a Simon & Garfunkel quote that no one got.)

Anyway, James got a new calling. He's now the 2nd Counselor in the Young Men's Presidency. He'll specifically be in charge of the Deacons. Heh heh. I wish him the best of luck! (11-13 year old boys being my least favorite age group ever. What? I know some of you would rather gnaw off your own leg rather than work with preschool children, whom I happen to love. We all have our favorites!)

So the upshot is that *he* gets to be at the church every Wednesday night now! The girls have an activity every other week, and if you think I'm not looking forward to those twice monthly alone times then let me disabuse you of that notion right now.

I'm really, really looking forward to it.

In other news, Violet is going to the vet tomorrow to be (get?) spayed and recieve her shots. Finally. The stupid cat is going around meowing like a lovesick teenager, which I suppose she is, in a way. We're hoping she will mellow a bit, and that she will quit attacking the other two cats every time they walk by her.

Now, I'm off to fold four loads of laundry and make my lunch for tomorrow.

Good times.

Numbered Lists Make It So Easy To Update!

1. Our Air Conditioner had stopped working on Wednesday, and it wasn't fixed until Thursday. (We were like a third world family, all sleeping in one room that night. A friend from church let us borrow a window unit, so at least we didn't have to sleep in the oppression heat. And yes, it was opressive!) Even though the unit was fixed, we still are going to need to replace is some time soon. Like, before winter, as the fix needed for the A/C part to work necessitated bypassing the part that makes the heat work. Bummer.

2. Thank you for all the birthday wishes. I had a nice, low-key day. We went out to the Japanese steakhouse in town. Nothing makes the night more festive than a flaming onion volcano or watching the hibatchi dude flip an egg into his hat!

3. I must give mad props to Lora who really commerated my birthday in the most fitting an appropriate way: a Top Ten List about how awesome I am! The rest of you should take note for next year.

4. Today was the official First Day of preschool- kids and all!! I think it went pretty well. No tears, no tantrums! I have to say it's pretty satisfying being the "lead" teacher. Being the Type-A/Oldest Child/Control Freak-type person that I am, I wouldn't have it any other way. ;D

5. My friend Jamie and her family are moving back to Idaho tomorrow. BOOO!!!! I am very sad.

6. How 'bout that Michael Phelps?? It's been very exciting watching all of his races. I also watched Nastia Liukin win her gold medal live the other night. I think I have a little bit of a crush on her father.

7. The girls talked me into to signing them up for Cheerleading. Oy vey. I opted not to go through the County Rec Department program, but instead with a local church's Upward program. Less pressure, less stress. They will practice and then cheer for a game the same night. The "Meet and Greet" was tonight, and they were very excited. On the other hand, I am very tired. My day started at 6:45am, and it's finally coming to a close, once I hit "Publish Post" on this blog entry.

Horning In On Birthdays Since 1981

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HELLION!!!



This is my lovely sister Helen who is celebrating her 27th birthday today!!! She is my most favorite sister ever, even though she had to steal some of the attention for herself by being born the day before my 4th birthday. She's been something of a trouble maker ever since. Luckily she has made up for it by giving birth to my adorable nephew and niece. And since I love her SO MUCH, I have a copy of this picture for her, in an 8x10 size! Yes, I do!! It my most favorite picture of her EVER. It's not enough that she's wearing a neck brace- it's also that her eyes have rolled back into her head, making her look like a possessed demon. Awesome.

(And I also have to send out birthday wishes to the lovely Katheryn, who is married to one of my most favorite people in Middleburg. Psst, Katheryn! I have some great pictures of Nathan circa 1995 if you are interested in seeing those. ;D)

Uh-Oh

I think it finally hit me yesterday what my life was going to be like for the next ten months. Yesterday I:

- got up at 6:45, started a load of laundry, had breakfast, helped the girls get ready for school, got myself ready, vaccumed the living room, tidied the girls' bathroom, changed the load of laundry to the dryer
- took the girls to school
- went to the preschool to continue getting my room ready, lesson plans in order, etc. Stayed from 8:30 till 2:15 when I left to
- pick the girls up from school for 3:00 dental appointment
- went to the chiropractor at 4:00
- went to the grocery store
- came home, made dinner, helped the girls with their homework
- cleaned the kitchen
- took a shower
- folded clothers that I had washed and dried earlier in the day while I watched the Olympics
- fell asleep at 9:30, still with the headache I had had since around 1:00.

And you know, that's not even a lot. I know there are hundreds of thousands of people who do ten times all that every single day. But for someone who's used to surfing the net all day and crafting witty blog posts it's going to be an adjustment! ;)

I think it will make me appreciate my free time even more than I already do. But working will also let us have a few little luxuries in life. Like, oh, say- a trip to Disney World? We've already made our reservations at Chateau de Volle for three days in October! My preschool follows a slightly different school calendar than the girls' school, and then we also have to take into account James' schedule. There is a three day weekend over Columbus Day that we are all on holiday, so we are taking advantage of it to go pay homage to the Mouse. YAY!

And finally, this was the scene at our house two weeks ago. One of our missionaries, Elder Parker, came over to do the traditional "Burning of the Suit" before he went home. Suffice it to say, unnatural fibers create a *LOT* of smoke! ;)

*Sigh*

Am I really old enough to be the parent of 4th and 3rd graders?

I guess I am.

I love the early-morning-we-just-woke-up shots. And here is visual proof that I am no Mommy Sue- no homemade breakfast on the first day! AND I let them eat Trix, which I think might be a criminal act in some parts of the country. ;)


It's good to know the reflective patches on the backpacks work! :P









We went and met the teachers yesterday, and I think they are in for a good year. I got a good vibe from all of them which bodes well. (Last year I did *not* have a good vibe from Isabella's main teacher, which turned out to be well-founded. Self-fulfilling prophecy perhaps?) Anyway, they are both excited, and they both have at least one person they already know in their classes. Plus, they both have really good lunches (leftovers from our dinner out at out favorite restaurant), so how can you go wrong?

In other news- YAY! It's time for the Olympics! And how excited am I that we have the DVR to aid in our Olympic game watching?? No more staying up until midnight and being tired the next day! No more missing favorite events because they come on at crazy times! Fast forwading through the commercials! I'm telling you, *this* is the real People's Revolution. ;)

*Hem Hem*

I'm almost embarrassed to mention this, but I'm also really proud, and my lack of humility has overrun my sense of shame. A few weeks ago I wrote a little essay for a Mormon blog I keep up with. I submitted it, fretted for a few hours, then promptly forgot about it. Today I got an email saying it had been accepted and the post was up at the blog. You can find it here if you'd like to take a look.

Huh.

I've finished reading Breaking Dawn if anyone wants to discuss it...