Revisiting the Oscars

Did anyone see Ellen's show from Monday? It was a "behind the scenes at the Oscars" look, so I DVR'd it, and I watched it yesterday. I thought it was so sweet to see her crying at how overwhelming it was, and what a great experience it was, and how it fulfilled all her dreams. You so rarely see that kind of vulnerability in the big stars. It was nice.

Which brings me to my blog topic. Now, if your'e not LDS please, just stop reading. I have certain views and if you don't agree with them I'm sorry... I'm apologizing in advance. There, are you happy? Anyway, I really like Ellen. I like her a lot. She's clean, she's very funny and she's always VERY nice to the people on her show, I also appreciated when they were making up her monologue that people were tossing out some jokes that cast people in a less-then-favorable light and she immediately squashed those, I was really impressed by that. I also liked rosie's show but something in her kinda bugged me. The fact that she was nowhere NEAR as clean when she did stand-up always bugged me, but Ellen seems to keep all of those facets in her life just as clean. However, she's gay. She also started a movement, which I believe has lead to the fact that gays are as mainstream as they are today, which I am not OK with. Let's face it, I am TIRED of seeing same-gender couples kissing on TV. It grosses me out, and it makes me want to turn the channel (for instance, I really like the show Brothers and Sisters, but DANG does that brother have to kiss THAT much? I'm fairly sure no one else on the show has kissed that much). I don't believe that acting upon gay urges is OK. I'm just gonna let everyone know that. Being gay trashes most of the things which I hold dear, most of that being family -- men and women coming together to have kids. GAY COUPLES CAN NOT HAVE KIDS, at least of their own bodily functions -- and that's a fact I would know because I am a medical professional. I do appreciate the fact that Ellen RARELY brings-up the fact that she's gay on TV anymore. Rarely do you hear her talking about Portia, but you do hear her talking about her mom all the time. I think that is part of the reason I can like her so much.

Anyway, I have this dichotomy inside of me every time in my head I say, "gosh, I like her so much -- she's just so nice and clean" and inside I remember she doesn't hold the same things dear as I do. HOWEVER, I am friends with plenty of people who drink, or smoke that I like a lot, I even have a few gay friends (and honestly, I just try not to think about that part of their lives). Somehow I don't have to reverence that in my mind. And then comes the thought that I shouldn't be judging Ellen. She can do whatever she wants. Tis true. She can. I'm not in ANY WAY saying that she is a better or worse person then I am. However, I do believe that a main part of her lifestyle is wrong.

Does anyone have a way to reconcile this in their brains?
I am sure that I will still continue to like her and all that jazz, but I often wonder if anyone else feels this way too?
ETA: I really appreciate Lara's comment. I mean -- there are several people I adore who I know had sex before they were married. I appreciate them as people, and what they do on their own time is their own business. Good call Lo. :)

Prepared

I am really trying to get a full-on 72 hour kit going in our car. I am hoping to stow it under the back seat of the van. It's not like anything else is going to go there.
Anyway, I bought some of those large ziplocs at Target, I am thinking I can fit at least 2 of those under the seat. I am thinking 1 for the 72 hour kit we're putting togteher at church. It also includes medications, work gloves, a little flashlight, etc.
The other one needs to be for our other stuff. I'd like to put a change of clothes in there for each of this. Do you guys do this, do you think it's going overboard?
What else do you guys have in your 72 hour kits in your cars? We have a hand-cranked radio/flashlight combo deal-i-o. It's pretty fancy. I guess I'm just trying to balance the space issue with what's really needed, and I wanted input from my sweet sista's. :)

Awards Season Again

You know, I've heard that Julia Roberts has said that Motherhood is the best thing ever -- better then winning an Oscar.
Do you really think so?
Again, I was fantasizing how great it would be to be loved by the public, get awards, dress-up all fancy, have a personal trainer -- you know, the whole nine yards! I do get a lot of joy from my kids, don't get me wrong. I also get a fair amount of satisfaction from my paid profession. I do believe I make a difference in people's lives and all that jazz -- but honestly, how great would it be to get an award for stuff. I mean, we all know as SAHM's we rarely even get thank you's (and can you even imagine how rich we'd be if I got tips at work? I mean, I'd feel a fair amount of obligation to give a couple hundered bucks to someone I pooped on).

• You helped your preschooler learn to read -- here's a nice shiney statue, and thousands of people on their feet clapping for you.
• You made it through a day with a sick 3 year old -- I'd like to give you jewels for free of charge to wear around for a day, and perhaps a designer dress fit to your every proportion.
• You saved a baby, it pooped all over you, and then the mom vomited on you. -- Feel free to stand-up on TV and tell us how great it was to get out of the Mormon ghetto. :)

I know that what I'm doing is important, but I also bet that moms just need a little encouragement.
So, perhaps as I visit blogs in the next week I'll be handing out little awards. :) As women complain about their life not going to the specs they previously had planned, I'm sure I can find a little glimmer of sunshine to enhance. :) Go mom's, go women -- you rock. Keep up the good work. Perhaps for your next "show" you'll get MILLIONS!!!!!

Just a festive, festive vacation

Santa Clara has this great idea called Winter Break. Most people use it to go skiing, but our familiy loves to have a bit of time together to shake-off the winter dul-drums. Luckily, Drew's parents came this time to assist with the process. We went to Big Basin, the city (with a visit to Bubba Gumps -- that's where the pictures of the kids in his shoes came from) and showed them a bit of our bay.

We had a great time, thanks for coming Grandma and Grandpa Erickson!

Meanie.

I'm back.
I know all of you have wondered what on EARTH I've been doing?
Drew's parents have been here and we've been showing them around the bay. It's been fun.
Yesterday was San Fransisco. I doubt I'll ever get everything done in that city that I want to do.
However, that is not what this blog entry has to do with.
It has to do with I think the split is growing between nice-ness and mean-ness.
This morning I was just craving some bagels and cream cheese. When I mean crave, I mean I felt as though I NEEEDed it. So, to Noah's we went after our trip to the library. AND, apparently there was a guy FREAKING out that he'd ordered bagles with BUTTER on them and he did NOT get butter. When I mean freaking, I'm talking about FREAKING OUT. Plus, he was right there, eating -- it's not like he couldn't have gotten up and asked them for his butter.
Oh no.
It was easier to freak out.
Now, I also feel like this world has a lot of VERY nice people in it. But, I think the divide between nice and not-so nice (we'll call those people "meanies") is growing. It just seems rare to find the person that is neither nice nor mean....
Perhaps it's me -- and I tend to black/white issues (instead of a gray area -- this isn't a race thing) and I think I do the same thing with people. So, I'm doing that with others attitude as well.
And now, I have realized that there is a sharp devide in our house between clean and not clean -- and we would be in the not-clean arena at this time.
Toodle-loo!

Piano Man

Family Rules

Alright, we are finally on the 2nd article of faith, and I decided it's high time that our family had a motto and some rules. So, I'm gonna put these out there for some careful consideration from my blog readers. Last Monday we made-up these rules, this coming Monday I want to talk about some consequences and the folowing Monday we're gonna make a big poster with it all on it. I woud like suggestions as to if the rules are no good, and possible consequences. I am a big fan of the consequence fitting the infraction so if people have ideas on those, that'd be great too!

Motto: To have a happy eternal family.
1. We have the right to be happy.
2. We need to show respect.
3. No pushing, hitting or yelling (this rule is most likely going to be the hardest for me -- the yelling part I am guilty of, most likely once a day).
4. We allow everyone to communicate.
5. We show the love of Heavenly Father to those in our home.
6. We respect our bodies.
7. We keep our promises and obligations.
8. We all contribute to our home being clean and efficient.
9. We share and honor each others time.

I really wanted to have one based on "mom is always right" but I refrained. I'm fairly sure that in the conseuqnce area we do have to have a ultamatem that the parents are the last decision on consequences. Has anyone else done this? Effective?

For the Love of Thursdays

I've been in a "blech" mood the past while, and being that it's my "blech" Thursday I figured I needed a bit of a pick-me-up post. Anyway, I wanted to post about some things I'm particularly happy about today.
1. The people at my produce store know me. It's basically like a healthy cheers. I come-in, they all say hellow to me and S. There are 2 reasons to be happy about this. First off, it's nice to have been in a place long enough to have that feeling, and also it's nice to be in the produce store so often. This particular store rocks.
2. Drew gave me the best gift ever last night. The gift of being alone. Remember all those nights in college where you thought you'd never have a Valentine for your special day. Well, I was SO glad to be alone, watch my Idol, catch-up on some DVR. Feel the joy. The boys loved going to the basketball game with dad too.
3. Costco. I mean, this story just EATS my money, but don't you love it? I do... {sigh}

Anyway, those are the things I've thought-of so far... the day can only go up from here, right? Right? RIGHT?

On the Eve of Love

You know, for tomorrow (actually, today since it's now 12:05 am) being the day of love, tonight was sure a bad night at work. WARNING: Pregnant women, don't read this entry, I'm fairly sure I've never had a night this bad.
Trimsomy 18
Dad's in Iraq
Cephalohematomas
Stillborns
And my favorite manager is leaving us.

Serious, all of that in one night.
It does make you quickly realize that not having the perfect cake, or the perfect marriage, or the perfect family isn't what it's all about.
The fact that I can go kiss to warm, heart-beating, breathing little bodies is what's important.
I am a lucky, lucky gal.
It's not the valentines that matter, it's the fact that we're all here together.

Phewsh

I'm just so glad the weekend's over I can't stop smiling.

Spencer's birthday went well. You can even see my attempt at a cake turned-out pretty well!

I'm rather introspective lately. Not particularly happy with the way my life was going, in a definite funk late last week. While at church on Sunday I had a brain flash. I've been putting so much pressure on myself to lose weight. Honsetly, I'm truly a person who feels like I should be good at everything and most things should take little effort. I finally realized that losing weight, it's just not my thing. I mean, I have several things that I would consider "my thing" -- flute playing came really easy and natural to me, I didn't have to practice as long or as hard to get difficult passages down, and I enjoyed it -- and I guess it's taken me this long to realize that weight loss isn't one of my "gifts" and if it's something I really want, I am going to have to work at it.

So, I'm done with measuring, it's just getting me down. I'm gonna live a healthy lifestyle. I'm not going to work out so hard that I injure myself (which is what happened last week) and I'm gonna eat the right things.

End of story.

Please enjoy the fine pictures of the cake. :)

Where oh WHERE has the TIME GONE

Happy HAPPY birthday to my big three year old boy! 3 years ago right now I was still suffering in labor. I'd already done so, cursing the fact that second children are supposed to be faster, cursing the fact that we were buying a 1/2 million dollar home, cursing the fact that I could still feel everything going on in and around the "baby exit area", and just WANTING IT TO BE OVER. I'd still have another 5 hours to wait.


Honestly, I should give my own mother a present every year on my birthday.

I can't believe he's three. The normal second child sydrome has most definately occured here. I know as moms we all step back every now and then and go "what the heck?". It all happens, whether we want it to or not.

So, I put my little baby to bed last night, his last night as a 2 year old and now he's reached the official big boy mark of 3.

Big things at three:

Spencer is SO excited to be able to play on the computer. I have an unofficial (yet, apparently quite official) rule that there's no computer games til' the kids are 3. Spencer is totally aware of this rule, and he's getting a lovely computer game set from Costco for his birthday. I'm fairly sure he's gonna flip his lid.

Spencer is starting to sound-out sounds. I know, none of you are going to believe me, and it's a slow process... anyway, to me he's a genius. :Spencer loves to play. He loves to have friends over and talk their little ears off. He's a big talker lately. He finds things funny, he likes to imitate things. That's right, he's 3.

He still sucks his thumb... over the body of his mother. We're trying... I get more and more worried about his little hard pallatte every day.

Spencer loves his TV time. I try and limit it to an hour on weekdays, but that doesn't keep him from acting out scenes from Jo Jo's circus, or Playhouse Disney.

Spencer is a big fan of me. He still wants to be held, kissed, hugged. He's a big fan of Drew too, but I do have to take a little pride in the fact that I'm a definite favorite.

Spencer, it's true I'm not exactly sure where our time has gone, but I know that you are the sweetest thing in my life. You're my little buddy, you make me laugh, you make me cry... and if you'd just go to bed easier... well, I'm sure you all understand that part (and yes, I am fairly sure he has the same shirt in his 2 year old picture as he has in his 3 year old picture... we're not expecting large changes at his 3 year old check-up on Monday).

Love you little guy. Here's to 100 more!

Teamwork

Do you ever forget that you and your husband are a team?
I do.
Drew and I are completely independent this week. He's had a lot of basketball games, I've been home all the time and I have an insanely busy weekend. It just feels like he's working on his stuff and I'm doing myself and the kids (and 5 million other things).
We aren't in the trenches working together.
Don't get me wrong, we each have our own trench. Drew's super busy at school and while I appreciate that am always wondering if my trench will get dug in time, and since my trench involves things he is also responsible for, I think we can all see my quandry.
I wish there was a magic pill we could take to pull us together, to make the teamwork happen. Perhaps that magic pill will be this weekend.
Perhaps I'll go on strike and quit digging.
Of course, I need Drew to keep digging because I have a level to which I have beome accustomed to, and that can't happen unless he keeps digging. I appreciate his digging, and perhaps that's what I need to do -- climb out of my own trench to do a little cheer for Drew and then back down I go....
Of course, if I stop digging the only thing that would happen is the cake doesn't get frosted (gasp), presents don't get wrapped, house turns into a pile of rubble (did anyone see Oprah the other day?), dinner doesn't get made, groceries don't get bought, children aren't happy....
Keep on keepin' on peeps.
P.S. Spencer's birthday is tomorrow. Whenever he's ornry lately he says, "IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!" And when I say it's tomrrow, he starts to cry like I've crashed his whole world in. My last day with a 2 year old. I'm so very sad. Perhaps I'll carve my trench in the shape of a #3.

Single Sessions

People who are interested in a cheaper session for their young'uns. I am doing some smaller sessions for just the child, if you're interested.
Just some more shameless self-promotion. :)
www.calltheshotsphotography.blogspot.com

And now a word from Cambria...

I do believe this song is a subliminal message for Cambria's mom, although I'm sure she won't listen.
Cambria is adorable, SUCH a poser. Always knowing just what I wanted....

Coughcoughselfpromotioncough

There's some new pictures up on my photography site
Mr. Jacob is quite a looker. Even if it took him an hour to smile for me. :)

My Little Buddy

Frankly, my little buddy just aint' so little anymore. Just lately it's hitting me how big he is. First that fine African Dance performance, and now the science fair. Conner did an experiment about how many hematite balls he could hang from certain metals we had around the house. He did a really great job with it (btw, this particular picture reminds me to look at my LCD when I take a photo. This is the only one I took last night and ISN'T IT FINE? Oh well... sometimes I forget that I'm digital for a reason).

Just recently I got Conner his own email address. It's been hilarious to see what he types to people. Definitely some insight into what happens around our house. If anyone is interested in emailing him, or even starting-up pen-pals between 2 kids, please email me.

Yesterday we re-started piano lessons. I got this book on the recommendation of my friend Lara. I'm somewhere into chapter 2. It's really great though. I constantly have a hard time correcting Conner without him feeling like he's mortally wounded and him lashing out like a rabid dog. This includes his piano practice (which I actually stopped in October because it got so bad), homework, and things around the house. Let's just say he's a child that doesn't take correction well. Anyway, I really like how this book shows you to emaphsize to the kids that you're practicing to make it easier, and if we do things to correct them, it's just to make it EASEIER... not because they're a bad person. I hope it'll help. We also instituted some reward programs for good practicing and homework behaviors. So far, so good.
Anyway, the little guy's getting so big. We were watching home movies the other day, I was amzed to see how little he used to be, with his pudgey little face and the blanket of curls around his head... and now look at him, ready to take-on the world.

Go dude, go.

Lonely New Moms

So, yesterday on Surviving Motherhood it was about the lonely new mom syndrome. I almost had a seizure I related far to well to it. I mean, not now. I mean when I had Conner. Ifelt SO isolated. Days on end when I woudln't leave our apartment. We lived on the 3rd floor and it was SUCH a pain to take him all the way to the car or deal with a stroller.
Anyway, it made me very grateful for the point I'm at in my life. Glad that I'm not back at that point.
A big shout-out to my new mom friends that feel lonely... love you peeps.
So, I'm in the market for a pampered chef crinkle cutter....
AND, the cake festivities for S's birthday have already begun. For many of you who have been longtime blog readers you may remember that I, at one point in my life, used to frost and bake cakes for a living at the Cannon Center at BYU. Now, I am forced to make them for my own family (OK, not forced but I sure do like to see my kids eyes light-up with a home-baked cake -- and I can't bring myself to buy a store-bought one) and I suck at it. They come-out awful, they they stink. Anyway, this year Spencer wants a racecar theme. We went and bought some cups for our friends, and some racecar candles for the cake. I am thinking I can do the cake in chocolate frosting and then lay some licorice or something down for the track. Do the rest like grass....
Anyone with me here?

Time to Let It Go

You know when you hold a grudge for oh...., say 6 years? I am sad to say I have a couple. I mean, it's not ruining my life, I rarely think of them. BUT, when they come-up in my mind I only have negative feelings towards them. It's no good. And, the saddest part is these people didn't really do anything to me. This particular person was in a place of trust in my heart and then broke the trust. Just haven't gotten over it. And then one day you have a crazy dream about Rosie O'Donell and then suddenly they pop-up in the dream and you think to yourself. Man, I hold that person and Rosie on the same platform... that's just sad.
So, it's just time to let go.
I still have one grudge against one other person, and I'm not sure how long that one will hold. Hers is amazingly stupid, it's a woman I used to work and we just didn't get along. Honestly, when I think of this particular person I get chills still. I disliked her SO MUCH. However, that one hasn't been 6 years. Perhaps it's the 6 year mark.... Perhaps I can work on her next.
So, today I'm letting go. Perhaps in the spirit of Valentines, perhaps it was the yoga Zen mood I Was in today. Work-out #3 with Yoga and I'm starting to get the flow-through of some of the moves, although down dog is still particularly painful. One thing that helped today is sometimes I just sat there and watched them do some of the moves. Because my mat has to be turned sideway since my palatial house won't particularly hold the mat the other way... anyway, it worked-out well. Hopefully next time I'll do even better.
Watched some Surviving Motherhood. Last night it was on surviving the Clingy Child. I was so amazed by this. I think it's something that we ALL go through. To see this mom go through the process, and then on her 3 week later chat realize that it's a phase, you just have to get through it and love them the whole time.
Anyway, those are my random thoughts for the day. Do any of you have grudges that you let go of? What did you find happen? Were you translated? I sure hope so, because it would be nice not to have to sweep and mop my kitchen this afternoon.

I Love to See the Temple

Ahh, how the temple clear's one's mind. Drew and I made a quick jaunt up to the temple yesterday, courtesy of one of our favorite babysitters. I will be so sad when she goes to college.
So, I went to the temple, really distraut about the whole weight-loss thing. The answer I recieved was to shut my yapper. I should workout for fitness, being able to care for my family and to be happy. That's IT.
I read through the word of wisdom (basically, this is the LDS version of a health code, it's what suggests that we not drink coffee or wine, etc.) again today. I was really impressed that meals need to center on fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and the meat/dairy will come along with it.
So, those are my thoughts. My yapper is official shut. :)
Of course, this leaves me in a quadry. Do I still measure and keep myself accountable? Or, do I just do it for myself. I think I'll keep-up the accountability so far -- until I start to get disappointed again, and then I'm leaving that one alone too.

Inside Scrapbooking

My next scrapbook is going to be about places in our house that I've cleaned....

Weigh-in Saturday

Girls, I'm super depressed.
I didn't lose anything this week (yes, it's true I didn't gain ... but honestly, that's not making me feel any better). I may have lost 1/2 inch in combined measuring in all my parts, but measuring is so subjective I'm not particularly giving myself credit for 1/4 or less inch losses.
This is go back to bed and cry depressed.
It's also the kind that makes it super difficult to go work-out at 6 am depressed.
Did I mention I am still also sore? It's just SO sad to be sore, and fat. Very, very sad....
{sigh}....
I do need to be more vigilant on my eating. I have way too many good friends and went out to eat a bit too much (for lunch) this week. I vow to be stronger next week (also, I doubt I'll have the time for that kind of galavanting).
Go team....

Scrapbook Night

Layout closed first, and then opened-up. Fancy little sheet protector from back in the days when I was published by Memory Makers, and they were a respectable magazine that sent you fun stuff.... {sigh}

Dont you wish you'd come?

The Good and the Bad

Good: I love a supermarket with great service. Today, I wanted a mix of chicken parts in approximately 1 pound packages...and they did it for me!!! My kids like drumsticks, and we like the thighs when we're eating the cheap chicken. Savemart on El Camino -- love them!
Bad: I am SO sore. I did a stability ball workout for the first time yesterday. My core is fairly bitter at me. I am hoping something shows-up in my measurements tomorrow!
Good: Turbo Tax. Hello refund. I thought we'd be paying a bit this year, but NICE... I'm all va-klempt talking about Mr. Turbo. I am truly in love today.
Bad: I can not just let turbo tax do the calculations. I feel like something must be off since our refund is more then I expected -- so I have to go through page after page looking for mistakes. So far, so good -- but I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak.
Good: Found cinnamon imperials at Save Mart today. I love to decorate sugar cookies with those little guys, could NOT find them anywhere.
Bad: You know when you're feeling like you do EVERYTHING around the house, and involving the kids. Had one of those days yesterday, and believe me they're rare. I should be way more grateful for Mr. D then I am.
might as well end on a good note: Oh, it's scrapbook night at church tonight. My faithful blog readers are welcome to come! If you want the info email me! I need to get some packets together to bring with me, so I can hopefully do some pages.
ETA: One more bad thing. Memories in San Jose is closing their doors. I was there yesterday and everything is 40% off. They don't have a lot of stuff as far as embellishments and patterneed paper. But I got a ton of cardstock for pretty dang cheap. They still have a TON of 12x12 and a fair amount of 8.5X11... so go quick if you want to go -- but that's the 3rd store to close here. First Scrapbook Dreams, then Picture Passion and then Memories.
Sad.

5 Random Things

First off, HAPPY FEBRURARY!!! Check out the new blog-ness. I think it screams love.
It could also scream gore... :) I'm fine with either interpretation. :)

So, my friend Mary Ruth tagged me to do a 5 random things blog entry. Honestly, I'm fairly sure that all my randomness has already been expressed in my years of blogging, but possibly not.
1. I am obsessed with a green lawn. I want to make sure each blade of grass gets the same amount of water. Thank goodness for winter or I'd be a mess.
2. I switch my kids toys every few weeks, provides a lot of sanity although it's a HUGE pain.
3. I balance my checkbook every Saturday (or Friday)... and I love to check my bank statements online (take note you identity predators out there!).
4. I like to freak-out on my kids about getting to school. I am such a sucker for being on time, even when I try to be late (because I know the other person will be) I still get there basically on time. It's ingrained. Thanks mom. :)
5. Naps are pretty-much my favorite thing ever.

Random enough for you Mary Ruth?
And speaking of random things, many people have wondered WHAT was going on with the blog header pictures. The first one is C holding-up a cast iron pan with hematite rocks attached to it. It's for his science project. The second one is S at the local aquarium standing on their water membrane. We were learning to ride the waves like the fishes. Both were experiements and it seems like we're doing a lot of learning around here lately, which is always nice.