Hi.  It's me.  About 22 minutes ago I gulped a non-aspirin pm.  And before I slip away into my cushy abyss I'll catch up this here blog. 

For quite a while I've declared myself schedule-free when it comes to running.  I run when I want/can.  As long as I want/can.  But with my big run just 4 months away I found myself suddenly sucked into a schedule's promise of a LESS-THAN-4-HOUR-MARATHON.  ...!  Can I???  Will I??

I might as well give it a go, so my late nights have got to dwindle.  Big time.

Tomorrow it's a light run, but it's got to be early.  And oh boy it's already 11.

So I'll continue...

Sunday I was made the young women president of my ward.  What do I say?  "Ummm, yes, if my mommy can come..." 

Part of me is excited for what's to come.  Part of me dreads the havoc that I'm capable of.  Part of me feels very small.  Part of me feels energized.  The rest of me has turned to vegetable.

So lots on my mind.  Lots to do.  And lots of justifications for Taco Bell and Dairy Queen.

P.S.  To calm the jitters of eagerness to know what brave thing I did (last post) I'll tell you- I re-upholstered a chair.  It's lovely.  It's not done. 

OK, night-night.

excuses, excuses

Fun wedding shoot today!  The sun came out just in time and I was given the credit.  I took that credit and charged extra...  haha, no I didn't.

But seriously folks, my few remaining brain cells (thank you, 3 kids...) have been out ...I don't know, jazzercising? for the last few days, leaving me to bumble my way through my various duties.  Luckily DH has been picking up the slack.  (Took me a while to figure that one out-  DH= Dear Husband.)  (At least I hope so, 'cause that's what I mean.)  (Know what I mean?)   

Anyway, as my busy streak is yet to be concluded, here's to hoping I get through with minimal (at least- no additional) damage.
 
P.S.  Amongst all this busyness I did something cool with a little courage and a staple gun.  Intriguing, right?

the point is I'm happy

I know, I know.  I've been posting every day for almost a week.  Do I have a life?

I dunno.  That's not the point.

Uh, well, it kinda is...

I do a lot of traveling (online) and occasionally come across a gem or two.  I recently read an article that I can't get my mind off of.  (bad grammar- sorry Sue.)   If you have a few minutes read this-

Hi.  I'm a purple article link.

Now, tell me that wasn't well done.  I dare you.  'Cause it was. 

I read thinking, "That's me! ...a 'mormon-mommy-blogger'!"  (I left out the word "hipster" 'cause the only thing "hip" about me is ummmm  -I don't know how to finish this sentence...)  I may not be a famous mormon-mommy-blogger, like the ones referred to, but I'm sharing my life as a mormon, a wife, a mother, and a homemaker (stop laughing), for the world to see.

Is it uplifting?  Do I seem happy?  Do I seem fake?

Should I write more about the days I forget to wear deoderant? or call the cat 'idiot'? or use the TV to get the kids out of my hair? or listen to a not-so-proper-yet-cool song on the radio? or give Brenda the answers to her homework just to get it done already? or throw away perfectly good, left-over food just so I don't have to search for a matching tupperware lid?  or play on the computer when my room is a mess?  or or or...

Well, it's my blog so too bad.

...'Cause these are the memories I want to remember.

Like today,

Suzie put two little chairs around the end table in the living room.  Then she sat me down for a tea-party.  We blew kisses, 'clinked' our cups together, and "Ahhh"-ed after each sip.  It was delicious.  :)

On the way to church this morning-

Me- "Brenda, don't take Suzie's toy.
          We don't want to make Suzie sad
          because we love her.  Don't we?"



Brenda- "Nooooo, no no no no...  

                ...Suzie sticky."

pucker up, buttercup

Well I was going to be all cute and change up my header picture for the season of love.   But wouldn't you know, the blog had another idea as every picture I tried came up blurry and icky.  I tried higher res- I tried lower res.  I tried different croppings and finishes.  I even tried shouting at the computer.  Why didn't that work???   So, as the original display even came out funky, we're now left with a dull, dull, dull...  zookeeping.

But here they are.  (I was trying to decide between the two.)  Like 'em?  Wouldn't that have been sweet??  I guess Blogger hates Valentine's day.  Meh, I don't care for it much myself.

...But I am shooting a wedding next week.... 

...gotta be in the zone.

Nobody's eating MY brains!

So Mike got himself an M1A, battle rifle...

..also known as the  ZOMBIE-KILLER.

Now maybe I can read this-

...and not be scared.

So congrats, Darling. 

It's really, umm  ...pretty?

They go almost everywhere with her

 

"I get by with a little help from my friends."
- John Lennon

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... 

It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.   

-C.S. Lewis

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them. 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wednesday endorphins

This morning I joined my mom (who is an awesome conversationizer) on her 14 mile run.  Thanks to the occasional walking break (and a quick stop into the glorious DQ) I finished feeling GREAT.  GREAT!!

side note:  There is nothing like a HOT shower after a long run.  nothing.

Now if you're an avid runner, or a casual runner, or have ever thought of running, or have never thought of running WATCH THIS-

I cried a little.

 Then wrote this post.

Thanks Ellen, for posting this video on *your blog*.

And thanks Mom, for ...everything.   (including *your blog*!)

NO-school day...

So naturally we do a photo-shoot.  ...Naturally. 
 

What are you doing on this fine day???

I pray to love and love to eat

Tell me if you agree that Eat Pray Love would have been much better if it had not been Julia Roberts.  Yes?   I don't mean this as an insult.  In fact, it's a compliment.  She's just too larger-than-life for the role.  I think one of the main ideas of the story is to put yourself in her world and experience some introspective insight but you can't do that because it's (one of the reigning queens of romantic comedies) JULIA ROBERTS!  So I'm watching this and thinking- "You can't have problems. Snap out of it and make me laugh already.  You're gosh-darn JULIA, don't you know?!"  ...Am I wrong?

So while the plot was, at times, slow and occasionally felt pointless- I thought it was nice.  A nice, OK movie.  Perhaps the book is worth reading but nah.  I don't want to read about the institution of marriage being described as an institution.  And I kept hoping her story would end with her ex coming to find her and they rediscover themselves and their love.  ...Am I silly?


And speaking of movie reviews, Brenda loves Toy Story 3.  In fact the first time she saw it she came away sobbing uncontrollably.  I thought she was traumatized but through her heaving breaths she exclaimed- "I'm not (gasp) sad, (gasp,gasp) I'm (sniff) HAPPY!! (gasp, heave, gasp...)". 

...Speaking of movie reviews and sobbing, I'll admit that the movie that has made me cry the hardest is (hands down) "Ice Castles".  I was about 12 and everyone laughed as I sobbed... 

This should be a contest.

 I toss up pictures of Brenda's latest creations and you give me a title and/or caption.  Most clever entry wins ...something.  Something stupendous!!  (Ummm...)

So.  Here's the first challenge...

Your guess is as good as mine!

And Garret says 'hello'.  

teehee

The first two were easy...

"Heck yes, I'm having LOTS of kids!"

But when faced with the thought of having a third I struggled.  One day I'd say no.  But the next day...

Questions like, "What if we have another who needs lifelong care?",  or "What if there's an entirely new set of challenges with number three?" taunted me for years.

Lots of prayers left me with a feeling of peace but not the 'YES.  Do it!' sort of answer I was wanting.

Never mind the fact that I also HATE being pregnant.

Mike never wavered.  He knew our family should be bigger.  Grander.

Finally (and obviously) I decided 'OK'.

And never has an 'OK' lead to a better result...

Often I'm asked, "So how is Suzie doing?".  I know the question really means, "So, do you have a third autistic child?"  (It's OK guys.  You can ask!) 

The answer is a solid NO.  Some may say that it's still too early to be certain.  But this little doll just turned 2 and if she is- well, she is one great con artist.  (Possible.  She is pretty brilliant...)

Suzie is an animal lover.  a dancer.  a prankster.  a snuggler.  a squealer.  ...and a rotten snitch. 

(She took my fudgesicle!) 

If you gently massage her forehead- she melts in your arms. 

If you ask her to pray- she expects an applause.

Yup.

Just like 1 and 2 - 3 was a good decision.
 

Happy birthday Suzanna!

Brenda (inspire by the yellow brick road)-

  I think someone was caught "celling" and driving.  Uh oh...

Oh they know who they are

For the annual youth Christmas party we took the girls ice-skating. 

I wowed them all with my ice-princess skills.

LOOK!  ONE LEG!!

I'd love to 'wow' you with pictures of my fellow leaders as they displayed their equally awe-inspiring moves but I'm afraid they'd kill me.  They're just waiting for an excuse...

After skating our blessed little booties off we had dinner at Red Robin (yumm) where I let it slip that somebody was having a birthday soon.  Somebody hates attention.   And somebody gave me the look of death as she was festively surrounded by clapping and singing Red Robin-ites.  You'd think that somebody would let it slide as she enjoyed her free birthday ice-cream...

 That was weeks ago and thankfully I've been spared...

Tonight, as I drove home from this week's youth activity, I marveled at somebody's dance skills, (another) somebody's magnificent pound cake, (yet another) somebody's expertise of all things lovely, and wondered what my bumbling, scattered, loud and frizzy presence could be contributing.  I mean, I think I'm pretty cool, but to be surrounded by such stupendous somebodies will inevitably, I guess, make or break you.  I think I'm toggling back and forth...

...and loving every minute of it!!

P.S. This is no fishing-for-compliments post.  Just a loving shout-out to somebody.

We never really grow up...

....we only learn how to act in public.

*()*()*()*()*()*

"I have to lay off dairy though. That's what my doctor threw in. As I was leaving his office, "Oh, and uh, leave off dairy." What kind of blanket sweep is that? "And no more happiness! Away with you!"  -Brian Regan

 *()*()*()*()*()*

Remember this post?  Well, I didn't explain about Garret's stimming and how it comes and goes in quirky  phases...

What's stimming?  -It's the repetitive motions to stimulate the senses (like rocking, bouncing, hand-flapping).  Very common in the wild world of autism.  

When he was little he used to hit himself.  (Luckily, being little, he didn't have enough muscle to do any damage...)  And over the years, as he does all the regular stimming, he always seems to have a favorite.  Like, jumping, throwing anything that'll make a loud crash, waving strings/ropes/socks, chewing on his collar, and stomping.  Well, his current favorite is his dramatic breathing.  Clench your teeth.  Smile.  And take quick, powerful breaths.  Hey!  You look kinda silly!  He does this almost constantly.

So, to explain the funny Brian Regan quote, we're thinking of putting him back on the GFCF diet.  In past trials it hasn't helped his development, but it has subdued his stimming somewhat.  So we're thinking...

*()*()*()*()*()*

Also, any food that Suzie is in the mood for she refers to as 'cookie'.  

And do you think Brenda's looking forward to summer? 

scurrying suckers

I just watched my cat eat a piece of plastic wrapper, have a few awkward moments, and gag it up.  He then seemed to consider eating it again...  What we have here is a wild weekend.

I've had a great weekend, actually.  Yesterday it was two fun photo shoots, a couple decent movies, and one sick boy.  We welcomed the new year with 'Neverending Story' enhanced by chips and cheesy salsa.  Garret slept off his puking fatigue but the girls kept good spirits into the evening.  We didn't bother watching the ball drop 'cause it's always lame.  (humbug?)  Today we scurried (I like that word) down south to an extended-family, Christmas/NewYears party.  It was a delightful couple of hours of good food, good company, and good entertainment.  Everyone was a good sport as we blockaded the entrances with chairs and ropes so my children wouldn't end up dead in the streets.  Talk about a fire hazard.  But thanks guys.  Unfortunately our visit was cut short when Suzie announced her official arrival into the terrible twos.  Yeah, yeah, she was tired from the night before, but come on!  There ought to be exceptions on holidays.  So I scurried (I like that word) the kids home and left Mike to rendezvous (another good one) with his roots.  They all had a lovely time without us for which I cannot forgive.  (Well, maybe if they had sent some dessert over)  (too bad...)

(Mike intercepted to inform me that they offered and he declined.  Sleep with one eye open, my darling.)

And tonight, after baths and bedtimes, Mike and I watched yet another movie- 'Flipped'.  Oh, it's cute.  I highly recommend it, and you know what a critic I am.  My only criticism is that there wasn't enough.  It all felt like a small story within a much larger one.  Perhaps there's a book...  A-HA!  I just googled it and yes, a book.   See you suckers at the library...