Introduction

(Okay, so while I was editing my original Introduction post, my son accidentally hit the delete button on my keyboard trying to help me. Help me he did, he deleted everything after april. So rather than try to remember what I wrote I am attempted to just rewrite it again. )

Introduction

I try not to post more than one entry per day on my blog. I feel it puts my readers at an unfair disadvantage; they miss the not so recent posts because it’s not at the top. But I really needed to write this one today. I had been saying for a week now that I would and now I am going to do it.Some family members and friends that have been reading my blog have been trying to figure out who all the people are that comment on my entries. Trying to figure out which ones I know personally, which ones I don’t. The ones that I do know personally. Were they roommates or what? Well here you go.First let me introduce you to Proud Mum. She grew up in Canada; I met her when we were music majors at Ricks College. She and I were both theory tutors, and also commiserated with each other about our love lives. We’d often crash into each others practice rooms to discuss whatever dramatic thing had just occurred. After Ricks, she got married to Bald Dude, who I also knew at Ricks as a percussionist in the symphonic band I was a part of. They moved to Hawaii where she finished school, then moved to Virginia where He went to school and she Taught school. After he was done with school they moved to California for a job. They had a little boy nicknamed “Little Red” exactly 2 yrs and 1 week after my son was born. Proud Mum also writes a blog in her words but from her son’s perspective. Throughout their many moves I have kept in touch with both Proud Mum and Bald Dude. Now that Proud Mum is home with Little Red she and I have talked via IM almost every day, multiple times a day for over a year. Some days it really feels like we’re back in our practice rooms again when one of us would burst in on the other. We sometimes forget that we are in different cities. When one of us mentions that our kid is coming down with something the other wonders if theirs are going to get it too. Can they catch each others colds if they’re both chewing on the mouse at the same time? Can germs be sent via Instant Messenger?

April’s Quest for Happiness is written by April. She was a music major at Ricks with Heather and me. She was also a theory tutor. And also like us, was dealing with love life issues. Proud Mum, April and I had many classes together. April was also in the orchestra with my husband. We weren’t dating then, but I would go watch the orchestra rehearsals just so I could see him. After Ricks, she got marrie…
…d and went to Utah State. She lived in Scottsdale, Arizona for a few of the months that we lived in Phoenix. I’m sad we were never able to get together for lunch. I just got back in contact again with her when I started the Ricks Music Ensemble Alumni website earlier this year. I enjoyed talking with her then, and I enjoy talking with her now as well.

Sariah’s Universe is written by Sariah. Sariah was a music major at Ricks like Proud Mum, April and I but was one year ahead. I knew her because she was in a few of the same ensembles as I was. I knew her then fiance` now husband at Ricks as well. My most vivid memory involved painting the pep band float, a paint war that ensued, and paint getting on her ring, running to the bathroom to get it cleaned up. I really wish I could have gotten to know them better then. After the school year was over I traveled down to Orem, Utah for their wedding at the Mt. Timpanogas Temple with a few other music major band nerd friends. I have only gotten to know Sariah better since starting the music ensemble alumni website and through each other’s blogs. Now that I know her better now, I wish I would have had the chance to get to know her better back then.

Alyson’s Adventures in Wonderland is written by Alyson. She lives in Alberta, Canada. Alyson is Sariah’s sister-in-law. Even though I don’t know her personally, I still really enjoy reading her blog. She has been married a little longer than the rest of us, and has a little bit older children. I like reading her posts and hearing the experience that she has, as being a mom a little longer than me.

Feather Sky is originally from Utah, but currently lives in Alabama. She’s a stay at home mom, and has those great little experiences to share with the rest of us too. I came across her blog by reading the blogs linked from April’s page.

Jen The Mom is from Alberta, Canada. She is a Mormon girl just like the rest of us. I believe she is a close friend of Alysons. She is a Stay at Home Mom and like the rest of us has funny stories to tell relating to that.

3rd String, 4th Fret lived in Richland, Washington(one of the tri-cities where I grew up) for awhile and now lives in Arizona. She happened along one of our blogs and has been hanging around since. I’m glad she did, I love her writings. It makes me wish I had a brain that works like hers.

Karen happened upon Proud Mum’s blog while blog hopping and was then later introduced to the rest of us Mormon SAHM’s. Karen lives in Ontario, Canada. She started with her gardening blog, but then started her philosophical blog because she had so many things she wanted to write. I love her gardening blog, I like going there and looking at all the pictures of her flowers. Her philosophical blog makes my brain hurt sometimes . Often times it is enjoyable reading and gives me something to think about. Its nice to feel like my brain is working now that I am not going to school or working outside of the home anymore.

Mike is Karen’s husband. He is a busy guy and his blog is “a collection of odds and ends from a busy mind”.

WifeandMommy is a fellow Albuquerque mommy. She found my blog one day while typing in albuquerque in the blog search box and has been commenting on my blog ever since. I’m really glad she found me, its nice to have someone else in agree with me when I write about Albuquerque and New Mexico. She often writes about her life raising her 11 yr old and 14 month old daughters. Her 14 month old is exactly one month to the day younger than my daughter.

A few people that have created profiles so they can comment on my blog posts that don’t have blogs of their own. (yet)
KennewickGramMom is my mom.
UtahGreatgramma is my grandma. (my mom’s mom)

Here are all the people that I have “met”. Now that you have been properly introduced to each other please read and comment on each others blogs. (Most of you already do) I’m sure as I delve deep into the blogger’s world a little more I will come across other blogs that I will want to read on an almost daily basis. If you are a silent reader, I welcome you, but of course would love to hear your comments as well. Create a profile like my mom and grandma. You don’t have to create an actual blog page if you don’t want to.

Trunk or Treat

Last night we went to our Ward “Trunk or Treat”. A Trunk or Treat is where everyone comes to the church parking lot with the trunks of their cars all decorated. Then the kids all dressed up in their costumes go trick or treating at every car in the parking lot. After the Trunk or Treat then you go inside for the kids carnival. Theres a cake walk, a football toss, a fishing pond, face-painting, a bean bag throw all kinds of fun little games for all the little kids.

I think it was originally created as a way for parents to feel more comfortable about their kids trick or treating. I remember the first year it started when I was a little kid. Parents were worried about the strangers doors the kids were knocking on, who knows if they are a child molester. Plus they worried about what their might be getting along with their candy. At that time there was a big fear of finding razor blades in apples, or drugs in the candy. I remember every year after trick or treating my parents going through and inspect every piece of candy to check to see if it had been altered in any way. Anything questionable, i.e. package open or not perfectly wrapped, or apples or candy popcorn balls, all got thrown away. I think most parents breathed a sigh of relief when the church introduced Trunk or Treat as an alternative to regular Trick or Treating. Everyone always invites their friends or neighbors to come as well. That way if they don’t want to go out and deal with all the stranger’s behind their doors they don’t have to worry either, or they can just go trick or treating twice!

This is the first time since in our marriage or since my son was born that we have gotten dressed up and gone to Trunk or Treat. Last year we were planning on going. We even had this really cute ladybug bunting for my daughter. But we had just gotten back from our (the kids and I) trip to Washington, and had come back with a cold. The ladybug costume didn’t even come out of the package. The year before, my son was only 11 months and my parents were in town, and I think he was sick then too. The year before that he was in my tummy. This year they had colds too, but they were pretty much over them by last night. The ladybug costume got used by someone else on their baby girl. Seeing the baby made me sad that my daughter never got to use it. It was so cute!

This year I was determined to go. I had borrowed a BYU cheerleader costume from someone else, and was desparately trying to figure out what my son was going to be. My husband has never been as enthusiastic about holidays or special events as I have. I told him all I wished was that he would love halloween and get as excited about it as I do. He told me, “you’ll just have to be excited about it by yourself.” But lucky for me there was a different plan in the works.

Wednesday night he got a phone call asking him to help out with one of the booths at the carnival. He hangs up the phone and says “‘D’, what can I dress up as?”. I looked him square in the eye and said “You’re springing this on me the night before?!?” But I quickly came up with something.

I told him he should put on his tux, but look really sloppy. Make him look kinda ghostly, or skeleton like and if people ask him who he is he can say he’s “Mozarts Ghost”.

If you’re wondering, he has a tux hanging in the closet on a regular basis. He has always been a part of an Orchestra were a tux was required. Now he’s part of a String Quartet that plays at weddings and things.

I decided I would dress up as a “Make-Believe Stay at Home Mom.” In my p.j’s with my robe, my hair and make up are all done up. I have my t.v. remote and my Soap Opera Digest, and my box of Bon-Bon’s.

Last year while we were in Washington I had called home and asked my husband to go to Goodwill and get a pair of Overalls for my son’s costume. I wanted him to be a farmer. When I got back I discovered he had actually purchased a way too big pair of overall shorts (shortalls). In desparation this year I decided he would be a “Rodeo Clown.” Isn’t he the cutest Rodeo Clown you’ve ever seen?

This is the “BYU Cheerleader” costume I had borrowed from someone else. She had some little pom-poms as well but she could never keep hold of them. The way she looks as a cheerleader as a 15 month old there’s no way I’m stopping her if she wants to be a cheerleader in High School. She’s dang cute.

I love seeing families running with a theme for their costumes. I’ve never been one to do that, but I definitely think its cute. Who knows maybe I will do it sometime in the future. One family went with a Peter Pan theme. The mom was “Wendy”, her two older sons were “Peter Pan” and “Capt’n Hook”, and her two younger daughters were “Tinkerbell” and “Princess Tigerlily”. Another family had some very creative costumes. The dad was “The Jolly Green Giant”, and their 20 month old son was “Sprout”. The 4 month old baby was a “loufa” with rope to hang dry and everything, and the mom was “ready to take a bath”. She had a robe on, a shower cap on her head, a rubber ducky under her belt and of course her “loufa”. The cutest!

We get so much candy, and its such a great experience we are not planning on going out Monday night on Halloween. We have no problem handing out candy to those kids that do knock on our door. We already had our Halloween. We went “Trunk or Treating”!

Talk about Coincidence!

Yesterday I was feeling a little bit nostalgic.

After writing the post about the baby blue bobcat and remembering Jennie and Sariah I had started wondering about how they were doing. Even though we lived in the same town, Kennewick, and were in the same ward, we went to different high schools. They graduated in 1995 and I graduated in 1997.

I set out into the big wide world web in search for them. First they both had odd spellings for their last names, so I had to find something about them or their family that I recognized as being them so I could at least start my search with the right spellings.

I stumbled across a Kennewick high school alumni website. (I went to River View high school, too small to create our own alumni site, nor anyone care enough to do it). As I was looking at the roster’s of the different years I had friends graduate I decided to check out the guestbook. On there someone had posted a message asking about the Class of 1977. I thought, thats the year my dad graduated. He went to Kennewick High School. So I copied down the email address of the person that posted the message.

After I rested the search for my friends, I wrote to this person. I said “I noticed you had posted a message on the kennewick high website guestbook. You were asking about others that graduated in 1977. My dad graduated that year. Do you remember ______? Anyway, just thought I would let you know.”

Well this woman wrote me back today. Not only did she know my dad, my dad was her foster brother. I had always heard about the two foster children (native americans) that my grandparents had taken in for awhile but I had never met them, seen pictures of them or even known their names. She was an Alaskan native and the L.D.S. church had a placement program for Indian children. She had lived with my dad’s family for awhile. She even walked with my dad at graduation. She asked me to say Hi to my dad and pass along her email address to him.

I wrote her back. I asked her if she knew my other aunts and uncle. I told her my uncle lives in New Mexico and I live about 3 hrs away from him. She wrote back saying she did know my aunts and uncle. One of my aunts had married a man named Carl, her sister had married Carl’s brother but have since divorced. She said the younger brother was a good friend with my dad and they all used to cruise around in this friends dune buggy. She shared with me a memory of a dress my grandma had made for her and that my other aunt had an identical dress. She said she remembered my aunt and uncle being younger than her but being quite the teases. (They still are!) She then thanked me for answering her post on the guestbook and how great it was to have all those memories flooding back.

She told me a little bit about her life in Alaska. The small community she lives in. Its a native american village on the waterfront. She has two daughters (both quite younger than me) and that she and her 3rd husband of 11 years have just built a house.

Who would have ever thought that a simple reply to someones plea for information about her graduating class would have blossomed into finding the equivalent of a long lost aunt. I forwarded the messages from her on to my dad. I’ll have to call him later and find out if he got them.

One Word

ONE WORD

Describe me in one word – just one .Send it to me ( only me ), then forward this email to your friends and see how many strange things people think about you. Reply it’s fun!

I did this forward. I wanted to post all the words that people had said about me. Keep them all in one place so I can go back to them any time I need a boost.

Cheerful!
true

Danika – unpredictable
“S” – admirable
(these two were sent by the same person, his old mission companion/ Ricks Roommate. He’s always called me danika)

generous
thoughtful
Motivated
thoughtful
Mysterious (sent by my grandma in utah)
(good) Mom (sent by “S”’s grandmother, she said she wanted two words)

Something I saw today

I saw something today while driving that struck ODD with me.

I was driving down the road. I pass a Ford F-150, I look in my rearview mirror and a beaten up Toyota Tacoma came up behind me very quickly. After I pass the F-150 the Tacoma quickly passed me as well. Across the top of the windshield was the word YAMAHA, and sticking out of the back of the pickup box were two poles with two flags, one with a United States Flag and the other was a Confederate Flag. I’m all for the United States Flag, nothing wrong with that. The Confederate Flag, though, always makes me think of KKK members, white supremists or Southern Pride type people, someone that would never be caught dead buying or using something not made in the U.S.A. But here this man was driving a foreign made Toyota Tacoma sporting the word Yamaha across the windshield. Usually a truck with a confederate flag would be an old beaten up Ford or Chevy.

Just something I noticed that struck me funny.

Red or Green?

When in New Mexico there is only one phrase you need to know: RED or GREEN?
Your preference for:

Color Crayons? NO.

Lights on your house at Christmas time? NO.

Leaves on the maple tree? NO.

Favorite balloon at Balloon Fiesta? NO.

chokecherries you want to eat? NO.

your underwear? NO.

bruised knee? NO.

Once you have become familiar with this phrase, know what it means, are accustomed to it, and have learned to expect it then you have truly become a New Mexico Native.

RED or GREEN?

When you are asked this question you know they’re asking you what kind of chile (i.e. enchilada sauce) you want. Everyone has their preference. My husband likes green chile. I like Red. This is such a big deal there is even a chile pepper institute, this is New Mexico’s main agriculture produce, 2nd is the frijole(or bean). In New Mexico you can go to ANY hamburger joint (McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s) and order a green chile cheeseburger. There is just no getting away from it, and when you want your chile fix you’ll just about put it on anything. Anyone for a green chile chicken sandwich?

We have said that our preferences were determined by heat. He said green chile is hotter, I said red chile is hotter. But really I think my preference really comes from texture. I have a big issue with textures in food. It was always a joke with anyone that knew me really well that I can’t stand my food touching on the plate. My parents always joked that they were going to get me an entire set of cafeteria type dishes. I don’t like eating green peas because the way the centers squishes out of the outside shell.

Green and Red Chile is the same way. Red Chile is usually a smooth consistancy, like any enchilada sauce you’d by in the store. Green Chile on the other hand is more chunky, the chunkiness is what always turned me away.
Back in September when we had our “Vacation from the City Life” we had purchased a bushel-full of whole fire-roasted green chiles. I thought “great, a whole lot of chile that I don’t like to eat”.

But I’ve discovered in the past month that it is possible to like green chile. After we peeled all the roasted outside part of the chile you’re left with the fleshy part of the pepper. Thow 8 or 9 into a ziploc bag and thow them in the freezer. Take out a bag, let it defrost and pull out a few chiles for that evening’s meal. Cut off the stem, cut it open, scrape out all the seeds and rather than chopping them into big chunky pieces like they do in the restaurants I throw them in the blender with a little water. Putting them in the blender gives it the nice smooth consistancy that I like, the green chile flavor that my husband likes, and the hotness that we both have become addicted to.

“S” just reminded me that Red Chile isn’t available yet. It’s the green chile left to ripen on the vine longer. And you can request it fire-roasted as well.

What would you choose? Do you know which you like better?

RED or GREEN?

Week in Review

My kids are sleeping right now. How great is it that they’re sleeping at the same time. I’ve been using this time to read through others blogs, feeling a little sorry for myself, while I’ve been gone for a week the world has continued to revolve without me. But I did give notice of my absence so I guess its okay that I wasn’t missed.

This past week has been fun and very eventful. My dad arrived last monday afternoon for his planned week long visit. He walked in and “W” was very excited. “Sy” on the otherhand wasn’t too sure, papa is a big, tall, darkhaired, deep, low-voiced, mustached man. Everyone (as a child) thinks he’s scary, and my daughter was no exception. It continued throughout the week as well. If Papa talked to her or even looked at her she’d start crying and searching for me.

We got a lot done while dad was here. We stumped my insurance guy. My dad’s insurance person had requested that it be done a certain way and my guy had never heard of it before so had to call the office in Washington to get it figured out. He took the passenger rear door apart in search of the hiding penny. But he didn’t find a penny, he discovered the slider that the window goes up and down on was broken and a spring had popped out and that was what was making the horrible noise. Its covered by warranty so he put it back together and I need to get it fixed this week. He cleaned the oven and the plates under the burners. He didn’t do the microwave though, he said he cleans the microwave every time he’s here and he refused to do it this time.

Wednesday morning he came in and said his visit would have to be cut short. He would have to leave the next morning on thursday rather than on friday like originally planned. He had to meet my mom in Salt Lake. My grandma’s brother had passed away. That night we went out to dinner. Will had a wonderful time visiting with Papa all week. After we were done eating “W” got down from his chair and stood next to Papa. Very quietly, almost a whisper, he asked if we could go to the “tractor” store next. Papa said, “No, buddy, I don’t think so.” My son just said “Oh”, but looked like he had just been deflated. He didn’t ask again, he didn’t whine, he didn’t start to cry. Just looked crushed. I almost cried for him.

At 9pm that night my husband and I decided we were going to go to Salt Lake for the funeral as well. I had only met my great uncle a few times, my memory of him always involved Family History work. my husband had taken Thursday off anyway and already had friday off (he works 9 hr days and had every other friday off). We had been going a little stir-crazy for awhile and been wanting to go somewhere for months.

Thursday my son woke up with a runny nose. Doesn’t that ALWAYS happen on vacations? Thursday involved mostly driving. Set up the DVD player and the kids watched movies. We stopped in Farmington, New Mexico to have lunch with my brother and then caravaned with my dad up to Provo. My dad continued on up to Salt Lake. As we were driving around Provo in search for my sister-in-law’s or brother-in-law’s apartments “W” declared he was ready for a nap. He was so tired. As he listened to us talk about Aunt “Br” and Uncle “G”, and Uncle “St” in Provo, and “Auntie” “C” and “Uncle” “B” in Sandy, he started to cry almost hysterically. He wanted to see “Peoples”. Meaning his aunts and uncles. I couldn’t get him to calm down, so I finally just told him to close his eyes, and he would see them when he woke up. We were still driving around town looking for food and a hotel, he finally fell asleep.

We checked into a hotel, layed “W” down on the bed and called “S”’s brother and sister. We had left so suddenly that they didn’t even know we were coming. “S” went on and on with his brother asking him what he had planned for the weekend, etc. his brother had no idea we were in town till he couldn’t keep from giggling anymore and told him we were there in Provo.

Friday involved spending time with “S”’s brother and sister and her husband. His sister came by our hotel around 9am. We went and walked around the mall while trying to figure out what to do with our day. Both his brother and sister both work at Olive Garden so we decided to all meet there for lunch. His brother wasn’t able to come because of a “Math Lab”, but his brother-in-law was able to meet us. After lunch we checked into a different hotel with an indoor swimming pool and took the kid’s swimming. “W” was a little cautious. My daughter on the other hand threw all caution to the wind. I had to keep hold of her at all times or she would just walk right into the pool if she could. Man was she mad when we left the pool!

“S”’s brother and sister showed up at the hotel a little while later, and we decided we would all go out to dinner and then putt-putt golfing. We went to my sister-in-law’s husband’s favorite place. A Chinese Buffet. It wasn’t the buffet that was appealing it was the Mongolian BBQ Grill that was in the restaurant! Oh Yum! “W” ate Egg Drop Soup, “Sy” ate my Super hot(spicy) stir-fry, and jello and mandarin oranges with her fingers. After dinner we went to the Minature Golf Course. My son got his own ball and putter. He had a great time! He loved trying to hit the ball, and actually did a pretty good job, every so often though he would think that one of us would need some help getting our ball into the hole. He’d pick up our ball and go drop it in the hole. My daughter would get passed around between uncles and aunt, mom and dad, but even she got a hole-in-one. At one of the holes she took her binkey out of her mouth and chucked it. It landed kerplop right in the hole!

Saturday was the funeral for my Great Uncle. We met my parents at my grandparents house and followed them to the church. It was in Holladay, Utah which is pretty much as close to the mountains as you could get. The service was very nice, my grandma sang “Abide with Me; Tis Eventide” with my mom accompanying her. After the service everyone loaded up in their cars to follow to the cemetary. While walking out to the car my son decided to run up a grass hill. I ran up the hill after him, picked him up and started walking back down the hill. I was wearing an empire waist type dress and dress boots with a 4 inch heel. I tripped near the bottom, held him out in my arms so he wouldn’t get hurt, and fell to the ground. I heard a rip as I fell. My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, and parents had all witnessed this event. I stood up, made sure my son was okay, and looked for wear my dress had ripped. The seam that makes it an empire waist had torn from the middle of my back around under my left arm and almost around to the front of my dress. I couldn’t believe it! I quickly got my jacket out of the car and wore it the rest of the day. After the cemetary we went back to the church for a luncheon. It was really nice to visit with family members I had never even met before. So many of them had only last seen me when I was a toddler myself.

Later on that evening we met our friends for dinner at Macaroni Grill. They live pretty close to my grandparents house so we try to always get together whenever we’re in town. We sat down at the table, and ordered our food. As we were chatting, “W” got out of his chair and crawled up into my husband’s lap. He put his head on daddy’s shoulder and immediately fell asleep. He was a very tired boy, he was completely out the whole time we were at the restaurant. After dinner we went back to my grandparents house. We got the kids dressed in the p.j.’s, and said goodbye to my grandparents and my parents. We were heading back for Albuquerque that night. Will realized we were leaving and his papa and grandma were not coming with him when we were getting loaded up in the car. He started crying for grandma and papa. Nothing they or I said made any difference. All he knew was he was leaving grandma and papa. We closed the doors of the car and drove away, encouraging “W” to wave bye-bye. He continued to cry for a good 5 miles down the road. I cried with him. I know how hard it is to leave grandma and grandpa. Once his tears had dried up, he fell asleep.

We decided we wanted to go a different way back to Albuquerque rather than going through Moab, Utah and Shiprock and Farmington, New Mexico. Saturday night we left Salt Lake at 9pm, we got to Grand Junction, Colorado at 12:30am. We found a hotel and stayed there for the night.

Sunday we drove through Southern Colorado. Beautiful snow capped mountains, a crystal clear mountain lake, rocky passes, aspen groves in every direction, and areas that reminded us of Idaho. They even grow potatoes. We finally got into New Mexico and went through Santa Fe on our way to Albuquerque. We pulled into our driveway at 6:30pm after leaving Grand Junction around 9:30am.

My daughter caught her brother’s cold Friday night. My husband started complaining of a sore throat friday afternoon, and I started to get a sore throat around Saturday night. Thursday night at the hotel in Provo, “Sy” wasn’t tired so was wandering around the room. She tripped and fell and hit her mouth on something. She cut her gums (she still doesn’t have any front teeth on top), and the little flap between your gums and your upper lip. So the whole weekend she was quite the cranky, sad, teary little pill. She had a cold, she was cutting 4 teeth all at once (the four upper front teeth), she cut her mouth so it was all bruised and sore, and she had stranger anxiety. My son on the otherhand was wonderful. We agreed that this was the best he has ever been on a trip.

I’m pretty sure we got our road trip fix now. We go on these long road trips and say we’re not doing that again till the kids are 13. But we forget and got on a long trip and then remember why we don’t go on road trips. Even now we’re planning for our next road trip up to Idaho at the end of June for his other sister’s wedding and his brother’s missionary farewell. Hopefully by then our daughter will have cut a few more teeth and will be the happy girl we love. Cause baby, she wasn’t on this one!

Visit with Papa

For weeks now my son has known that his Papa (my dad) would be coming down for a visit. At the most random times he would ask “Where’s Papa”? I know he doesn’t have concept of time so understanding “in a few weeks” has been hard for him, but he’s excepted it and done well. Papa’s visit begins today. My son is very excited, for the past few days he’s been asking even more, along with “Go to tractor store when Papa gets here”. My dad actually left Washington LAST monday but he spent a few days in Salt Lake with one brother, in Farmington, NM with my other brother and then he’ll be here with us till Saturday. He’s expected to arrive today between Noon and 1pm so between now and then I have to get the kids dressed and take them to their well check appts (“Sy”-15 month, “W”-36 month though his birthday isn’t until NOV), do dishes and laundry, and maybe if I have time a quick vacuum.

Last Wednesday at the park, “W” saw this kid on one of those Big Wheels riders. Ever since then he’s thought that when Papa gets here he’s going to the “tractor” store and getting one too!

My dad is not one to just sit around and relax. Believe me I know! The first year we were married and my parents came down to visit, along with me my husband also learned that my dad can’t just sit on the couch. He has to feel useful and he has to be busy. We now draw up a “List of Things Dad can do if he gets bored while visiting”. We save any little projects we need to do for while he’s here. This week because he’s coming by himself he may be bored more often or less. We’ll have to see. But just in case:

“Things to do to keep Papa busy this week”
~ get out of the door the penny “W” dropped into the car window.
~replace the bathroom sink faucets. (one is broken, they match, might as well replace both of them)
~go to the grocery store
~drive up to Sandia Mountains and take my son’ 3 yr pictures
~go to “tractor” store.
~make a trip to the dump with garbage and fall yard clean-up
~get the truck he brought down for us insured, licensed, and registered
~reclean all the things I already cleaned (or cut corners on cause I don’t care THAT much). (around the burners on the oven, the catchplates under the burners, around the kitchen sink, etc)
~vacuum (my dad loves to vacuum)
~get the kids winter coats ??
~eat lots of New Mexico Green Chile
~and if we’re REALLY lucky replace the master bedroom window with a patio door!

Because we are going to be keeping Papa busy this week I will not have a lot of down time to write posts here on my blog. Try not to miss me too much while I’m away, and keep your fingers crossed for my son, he really wants a “tractor”!

Long Live the BBB!!!

I figured the last line of my last post would incite a lot of questions. I had originally planned on writing Been Water-skiing, but thought that Been Pulled Over for Drag Racing might get more of a response as to wanting the rest of the story.

Now for the Rest of the Story…

In the Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Richland, Pasco) there were(are still?) 5 L.D.S. Stakes. Every two weeks there would be a youth dance held at one of the stake centers in each of the cities. Kennewick-2, Richland-2(I think?), and Pasco-1, rotating throughout the year.

It was a warm summer night back when I was in High School. I was driving my 1980 Baby Blue Bobcat(BBB) hatchback. (Mercury’s equivalent to a Ford Pinto). In the passenger seat was my best friend, Michael, (Proud Mum you know him) and in the back seat was my brother. (And possibly another friend. Kevin if you ever read this you’ll have to remind me if you were there or not, for the life of me I can’t remember.)

We were on our way to a church dance. Since it was summer and the BBB didn’t have air conditioning, we had the windows down and the music blaring. We pulled up to a stoplight right before crossing the bridge over the Columbia River to go to Pasco. (You cannot go anywhere without crossing a river in the Tri-Cities. Seriously!) As we were sitting there singing along to the music a car pulled up next to us.

I looked over and it was a Yellow VW Bug. Driving was a friend of mine, Jennie(6 months older than me, but 1 grade ahead), in the passenger was another friend Sariah(3 months older, 1 grade ahead) and in the backseat was Sariah’s younger brother David. (6 months younger, and 1 grade behind). Jennie and Sariah were dropping off David at the dance before going to some school band function. We recognized each other immediately and Jennie and I started revving our motors.

When the light turned green we both floored it! We started racing each other across the bridge into Pasco. Turned left immediately after crossing the bridge and continued racing down this long stretch of road without any stoplights. I was winning! Michael and my brother are laughing like crazy, and joking that the squirrels running on the wheel that IS my engine are doing a great job but are sure going to be tired. I slow down to turn right onto another street when suddenly a police car comes squealing around the corner to my left and cuts me off.

The policeman saw Jennie and I racing and immediately pulled us both over. Since I had won our little race I was in front so he came to my window first. As he approached my window I was scared to death. He asked me where I was going in such a hurry. I told him a church dance. He then asked me for my license and registration and then went to Jennie’s car. I rolled up my window and with my hands clenching the steering wheel said quietly, “I can’t get a ticket. If he gives me a ticket I’m going to cry.” Quickly in response Michael who knew me so well said “If he DOESN’T give you a ticket you’re going to cry.” I made them both promise that they couldn’t tell anyone when we got to the dance what had happened. They made that solemn promise, but reminded me that David in the other car was known for blabbing.

What seemed like forever later the officer came back to my window. Handed me my license and registration and told me he was going to let me off with a warning. Told me to not be in such a hurry and walked back to his car. Jennie had already driven away. I did start to cry, just like Michael had predicted, he said “See, told ya!”

When we get to the church building and walk inside, David had already spilled the whole story to our group. Some felt bad for me (the girls), some where laughing (the boys). I found Jennie waiting for me to arrive in the parking lot. She said that after the officer had taken her license and registration he went back to his car. She said she looked in her rear-view mirror to see if he was writing up a ticket or whatever. She said he was sitting there laughing. LAUGHING! While I’m sitting in my car trying not to cry the officer was laughing!

If you think about it from his perspective it is pretty funny. Here is this seasoned officer in Pasco, used to dealing with hardened criminals, gangsters and drug dealers. He sees a Baby Blue Bobcat and a Yellow VW Bug DRAG-Racing! When he pulls the cars over its two teenage girls on their way to a church dance. I still think about that story and laugh to myself.

Later that night after the dance I dropped off Michael, my brother and I went home. I knew I had to tell my dad what had happened. I knew he would be more mad if he heard if from someone at church the next day rather than from me. Luckily he was up watching t.v. when we came in. My brother went to bed and I sat on the floor next the couch where my dad was sitting and told him the nights events. When I was finished I thought he was going to yell at me or ground me or something. Instead he giggled, then laughed out loud. He asked me if I had learned my lesson and if I would ever do that again. I said NO way, and then kinda laughed with him. The next day at church he did hear the story again. I’m glad I told him first!

The Baby Blue Bobcat had a glorious history. So many great stories occurred in that car. Poor thing is now probably sitting in some junkyard. Even still, I say Long Live the BBB!

I’m guilty of…

I saw this on Mike’s blog.

Bold all those that you ever were guilty of doing. When you are done, add one thing that is true about yourself to the end, and then post the list to your journal or blog.

(Comments in the parenthesis are just my thoughts, they’re not included in the Meme.)

I’ve run away from home.
I listen to political music. (Indigo Girls – though I don’t always agree)
I collect comic books.
I shut others out when I’m sad.
I open up to others easily.
I am keeping a secret from the world.
I watch the news.
I own over 5 rap CDs.
I own an ipod. (a MP3 just not an ipod )
I own something from Hot Topic.
I love Disney movies.
I am a sucker for hair/eyes. (my kids’)
I don’t kill bugs.
I have “x”s in my screen name.
I’ve slipped out a “lol” in a real conversation.
I love Spam.
I bake well.
I would wear pajamas to school/work.
And I probably have too.
I own something from Abercrombie.
I have a job. (Mom 24/7/365)
I love Martha Stewart.
I am in love with someone.
I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
I am self conscious.
I like to laugh.
I smoke a pack a day.
I loved Go Ask Alice.
I have cough drops when I’m not sick.
I can’t swallow pills.
I have many scars.
I’ve been out of this country.
I believe in ghosts.
I can’t sleep if there is a spider in the room.
I am really ticklish.
I love chocolate.
I bite my nails.
I am comfortable with being me.
I play computer games/video games when I’m bored.
Gotten lost in the city.
Saw a shooting star
I have had 2 serious surgical procedures.
I have kissed a stranger.
Hugged a stranger.
Been in a fist fight with the same sex.
Been arrested.
Laughed and had milk/soda come out of your nose.
Pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
Made out in an elevator.
Sworn at my parents.
Kicked a guy where it hurts.
Been skydiving.
Been bungee jumping.
Broken a bone.
Played spin the bottle.
Gotten stitches.
Drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
Bitten someone. (when I was 17 months old…)
Been to Niagara Falls.
Gotten the chicken pox.
Crashed into a car.
Been to Asia.
Ridden in a taxi.
Shoplifted.
Been fired.
Had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back.
Stole something from my job. (accidentally taken pens home)
Gone on a blind date.
Had a crush on a teacher/coach.
Celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Been to Europe.
Slept with a co-worker.
Been married.
Gotten divorced.
Saw someone dying.
Driven over 400 miles in one day.
Been to Canada.
Been on a plane.
Seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Thrown up in a bar.
Eaten Sushi.
Been snowboarding.
Been skiing.
Been ice skating.
Met someone in person from the internet.
Been to a car show.
Gone to college.
Done hard drugs.
Taken painkillers. (only after a c-section)
Met a celebrity.
I like playing practical jokes.
Once swore Disco would never die.
Seen a ghost.
Attended a professional sporting event.
Attended a live rock concert.
Stayed up all night. (white glove at college)
Lied about my name. (Not correcting when someone says Dayna)
Dressed up like a Star Wars character
Been part of a police lineup
Been pulled over for drag-racing