THE Witty Christmas Letter - 2009

Well folks, here it is, the labor of my extreme laziness this year. A Blog Post/Christmas Letter, for those of you who care to read it...

Merriest of Christmases to ALL of our Friends and Family!

I've been sitting eating Tacos while watching A Muppet Christmas Carol with the kids waiting for Brian to come home so I can walk out the door to do my last visit with a friend who is moving, and realized, I love A Christmas Carol. It has ghosts...It's a tiny bit spooky, in a Muppet way, and it fits right in with the spirit of my most favorite holiday, Halloween. I did a bit of soul searching this year to figure out if I'm just overly morbid, (I am), or if there was actually something else to it. There was, (thank goodness.) I love Halloween because it's a time when we get together as a nation and GIVE, really without thought of reward. We give candy, we give merriment, We give creativity, we give light, and warmth, and the occasional potty break to little kids all over our neighborhoods, and usually we do it without getting in return, in fact we spurn the gifts received. "I don't need anymore candy, but thank you for offering..." I love Halloween! And then along comes Christmas, bullying it's way right past Thanksgiving, (and I'm afraid if we don't start being MORE thankful we will ruin our chances at good Karma forever.) and STRESSES ME OUT! This is the reason for the Blog Post this year, too much to do, and not enough time or energy to get it done. So NEXT year, when you get our Happy Halloween letter, please don't be concerned. I just have a lot more energy and fun in October than I do in December.

SO... off of my soap box...

We are actually celebrating a new first this year in our family. We have now lived in the same home for four years. We haven't moved, it's amazing! We are thrilled! We are stable, we are no longer nomads...We NEED to sort and throw away stuff...

Brian is still with Microsoft, we love Uncle Bill and are so very thankful for the job. Brian is with the services group and he does something really important, I just don't know exactly what. He is still serving in our Church in the bishopric and is enjoying that calling. We are enjoying all of the many blessing we receive from his service. Brian also spends a bit of his time working with a company called Unitus. If your interested in learning about changing the world through micro-finance, they have a very informative web site. http://www.unitus.com/ Brian is an avid church basketball player, and a wonderful father and provider. We love him very much.

Elleory (11) is a flutist, piano player, composer, actor, choralist, and a smart 6th grader. She has a ton on her plate and generally loves every minute of it. We, as her parents, seem to always tell her to pull back a little, but she just keeps busy. It will all look very good on her college applications. She is really enjoying this year in school. She has for the first time ever a male teacher, whom we love, and whom really inspires her to reach for the stars. She is going into her last year in Primary in Church and will shortly be going into the youth group. I'm ready, I don't think Brian is. Having a teenager makes you old, fast...

I hate to lump Anders (4) and Liam (so close to 3 I'm just saying 3 now) into one paragraph, but they ARE a unit, both amazingly enough, wear the same size shoes and are a scant inch apart in height. So in reality, you just can't separate them. They are in pre-school together at Duvall Montessori. They are both so happy to be learning. Anders is really into writing, and Liam is into the songs at school and church. They are both really active boys, and there is hardly a time when I'm not cleaning up some mess or another. We are truly blessed to have them as a part of our family. I have thoroughly enjoyed boys so far. Can't wait to have one more!!

NO, I'm not expecting... Just really want another boy.

I've had a great year! Looking back I can't believe all of the things I've done despite being a really busy stay-at-home mom. I've run in two races this year, a local 5k, and a 10k at home in Colorado, certified to teach spinning classes (these are an amazing exercise classes, not a needle craft), teach a yoga class two times a week. It's no wonder I don't get a lot of my at home chores done! However, it's what I have discovered I love, so on with it! I started out the year working in the women's group at church, then was asked to be in the Primary with the children as the Secretary, and then asked to actually teach a class. I now have the 9 year olds, and will be switching again to teach Elleory's class next year. Never in one place very long...

We are happy and healthy, which is a great place to be, We are really enjoying living in Washington. As always, our door is open, please visit if you get the chance. We are incredibly blessed to know of our Savior Jesus Christ and to celebrate him at this time. May the peace of the season be with you all,

Much love,

Brian, Kate, Elleory, Anders and Liam

WOW...Missed November Completely!

Apparently, I have been asleep at the wheel. I'm behind and backwards, and well, behind. I feel like this might be my second post about being behind this year...MY BEHIND! Well, I'm going to have to get back on the ball, pull my head out and dig-in...I've got some catching up to do.

But not tonight. Tonight, I'm going to bed. I'm worn out, and not really nice. I want to hole-up and watch a movie, while NOT folding laundry, I'd like to finally finish the book I've been trying to read for a whole month, so I can quite paying a library fine each day...I'd even like to sit in a warm bath and veg out, and plan THE perfect week in my head. I'll have time tomorrow to run (always the most important part of my day) address Christmas cards and write my always witty Christmas letter, update my blog and wrap Christmas presents. I might even have time to paint my toenails, and make a glorious dinner. But tonight...I'm off to cuddle with my pillow and fall blissfully asleep in the arms of my snugly snowmen...(sheet set.)

I'm sure Brian will join me soon. The kids will wear him out soon enough.

Halloween 2009 or The Year of the Back-up.

This is the costume Liam was dead set on having this year. Corduroy, the bear dresses up as a ghost in Liam's favorite book, so if you'd have asked him on any given day what he was going as for Halloween, he would say " A Ghost!" Halloween day rolls around...Liam goes out the door as a dragon...from last year. Nothing like the back-up costume.

Anders continues to impress us with how savvy he really is...His back-up costume was a Red Neck. He totally looks the part, does he not? Don't worry...it's root beer. He was planning on being Spider Man for the whole of the month, but didn't like the way the muscles felt. I bought the costume at a garage sale, so I couldn't take it back...Thank goodness for the back-up costume.

Elleory went as Wednesday Adams. Everything but the tights came from her own closet. I hope she isn't cold while she is out Trick or Treating with her friends...WITHOUT her Mom and Dad this year. She is getting so old! No need for a back-up costume!!

Brian went as a Dentist. He actually would meet the kiddos at the door with floss and toothbrushes...very funny to see their faces. Then he'd yell "just JOKING!" and hand them candy. Pretty good TRICK! Brian pulls a costume out of his hat every year. I always worry about him , and I shouldn't!

I have a 15 year span of back-up costumes, and this year...was the year of the store bought costume. Thank goodness for Target...I found a Lady Bug costume. It wasn't that I was been lazy, (but I was), I want to go as Pink, but in the end just couldn't pull it together.

My Lady Bug costume had wings, but I kept knocking things off the counter, so I took them off. It also came with polka dot stockings, but I was cold and need my leggings and boots to keep me warm. I thought it was pretty cute. I might just do store bought every year from now on....probably not.

I will be thinking of my next year's costume in the next couple of weeks, when the Halloween shine has worn off and I'm left with the gloom of Christmas...

Emptying the Pickle Jar

I read a book a few years ago called The Christmas Jar, (don't recall the author) which inspired me to start a Christmas Jar of my own. Here is the concept...for one whole year (mine ended up taking much longer...) I would put in all of my loose change, and at the end of that year I would find some one in need to give the money to. I've been putting money into this pickle jar for almost three years now. Somehow it never really gets more than about three inches full. Currently the jar has about 16 dollars in it. I'm sure it would be a significant boost to someone who has nothing, but in truth, I couldn't even get the homeless woman in Wendy's to take my 5 dollar Target gift card I got for buying two boxes of diapers. So, after (almost) three years of saving...and also funding my weekly trips to the gas station to vacuum out the mini-van, I've decided to empty the pickle jar and put my hard earned savings into my new running shoes. I'm considering the fact that I've...

1. lost the whole message of the book, and,

(That might be it.)

I can't decide if I'm being selfish OR if I'm helping support my running habit without adding any undue stress to our family budget.

I'm going to give it a long thought as I put pennies into rolls...

Needed: a Sponsor

(Pre-post disclaimer...) I have had such a hard time differentiating the concept of NEED and WANT my entire life. As an adult I have to say, it hasn't gotten easier. However, I do exhibit a vast amount of self control. But I still have that problem...

SO that being said, I NEED a sponsor. I actually have a very real need (a neeeeeed) for new running shoes, but not really the fund-age to buy them. I'm going to have to buy the $100 to $150 variety. So what I'm looking for is a sponsorship.

My running hero is sponsored by Nike. She runs 120 miles a week and can finish the Boston Marathon in 2 hours and 20-ish odd minutes. She is true sponsorship material. She probably goes through a new pair of shoes in a month...and that's being really, really generous with a pair of Nike shoes. Probably changes out shoes two times a month. That's at the very least, 24 pairs of shoes a year. And we aren't talking about the cheap shoes they produce for their outlet store. That has to get a little expensive for a shoe company.

Here is my proposal...Sponsor me. (But at the request of my super Orthotic maker lady, it can't be Nike, sorry...has to be another company. Adidas, Asics, Brooks...) I run at most 15 miles a week (and that is being really generous.) Most likely, it's around 9 miles a week. I run a pretty consistent 6 MPH mile, and I enjoy it the whole time. I run with a smile on my face! As long as the sun isn't shining in my eyes...

ANYHOW, I'm putting in my request to be sponsored. I would be an incredible bargain! I need new running shoes probably every three months at most. That's only four pairs a year. AND I represent a large number of the masses. 'Mothers who run, but can't really afford the shoes that would keep us from having to visiting the Physical Therapist, super Orthotic maker lady, Sport Medicine Doctor, every three months when our bodies start hurting because we don't have quite enough money in the 'new shoes' pickle jar'. And that is really, really, the ONLY thing wrong with us. Just need new shoes. (It would also save the insurance companies a little pocket change every three months, when I truck myself to the doctor only to be told...New Shoes. The cost of health insurance would go down thus saving the even greater masses money. Shoe companies could be the big heros!) We are actually a LARGE demographic, (that really doesn't sound right. As we aren't large, just great in size, which sounds even worse...) and we need a sponsor.

I'm totally willing to be sponsored. PICK ME!!! ME, ME, ME!!! (I'm waving my hand over my head, and gasping, holding my breath and crossing my fingers...) Really just need new running shoes.

NOT my Third Wish.

I repeat...This is NOT my third wish. However... I wish that I had the ability to make people who are suffering, better. I understand that, this statement is in direct in contrast to a statement I previous made about learning from trials and such. BUT...there it is just the same.

I wish I could interfere with nature enough to take away the pain of people I love, and still have them gain from the experience.

I have a friend who says "suffering is good" and sometimes it's "suffering is essential"...I really believe this, but in truth suffering is suffering, and I wish it wasn't...sometimes.

I guess all I have in my power is prayer, a useful and under used tool. I really believe that GOD has that power I lack and he will use it as he sees fit. I'll take that for now AND have faith that He will send blessings to those who could use the extra support.

SO, for now I'm thinking good thoughts and praying. I have a fairly long list...I hope he's ready to hear it.

And Now on to Wish TWO...

I wish that the grocery store had milk in the Coke fridges at the front of the store so you don't have to truck ALL THE WAY to the back of the store, only to turn around and truck it,
yep, you guessed it ... ALL THE WAY back to the front.

Because, and I know it's their EVIL plan, (So evil it's E-VILLE), I will inevitably pick up more than I can carry...which I don't really need, and fumble it all the way to the check-out, and stand there freezing my hands off while I wait to be helped by who knows who? Super-man? Certainly not the cart guy...

So that's wish two...MILK IN THE COKE FRIDGE. Simple, well thought out, AND beneficial to ALMOST everyone.

My Three Wishes...

I have these on going discussions with myself from time to time to alleviate the boredom of certain chores, such as laundry, cleaning bathrooms, general housework, (you get the picture) in which I pose a question to myself and then give myself free range in answering. One that is great discussion material for myself lately is "what would I wish for if I were granted three wishes". So... this is a glimpse into the mind of someone who struggles to have a straight line of thought, it's a little bit like riding a roller coaster backward, but here it goes... Today's wish list. Hang on!

I would wish for...One Million Dollars. No...actually I wouldn't. Only because a Million Dollars was a huge amount of money when I was a kid, and now it's not. It's obtainable. I'd have to do something maybe illegal or immoral...but still in my lifetime I could have a million dollars, by myself. I wouldn't have to use up a wish for that. Plus, I'd only get to spend a million dollars, I'm sure I could have that spent in, ummm... no time at all. So NO to money, any amount...because, ultimately, it would never be enough.

I would wish that every dessert I ate would have no calories...Nope, not that. Mostly because that would rob me of the joy of running off those calories the next morning. I would really have no motivation left at 5 am to run at that point.

I would wish for a clear head all the time. No, again that would take away my only other motivation to run, spin, drive a car...everything I do to clear my mind that I completely enjoy. So in order to continue those activities, I need the fast, out of control, thinking. (Sometimes it just seems that way, but really it's just fast, all the time.)

I would wish that I would never be sick. Hummm, tempting, but... NO! I would never again appreciate the days that I feel so good. Which is most of the time anyway...also it's those rare sick days that I get my resting up done. So to wish those away is craziness! It is necessary for me to be sick in order to enjoy being well, so not that either.

I would wish for my children to have safe and happy lives. This is very tempting, but again not what I would choose. I WANT my Children to have hard days, to have trials of mind, body and spirit, so that they can grow to be very strong. I want them to learn that they have to rely on the Lord when they struggle with something. While I want them to have a smooth road, I'd never wish that for them, it would be like wishing them a severe handicap. Definitely not that.

I would wish for the world to have only winter, so that I could snowboard anytime I wanted. Oh so very genius of me. This is it! Something I'd enjoy tremendously. But not everyone else I know. Most folks just don't like winter the way I do. For instance, my Mom is miserable in the cold weather, and she worries all winter long about everyone she loves. Somehow I'm not that altruistic yet...I don't worry that much, but to save HER the worry I won't wish for that, as fun as it would be.

What I finally came up with is this... Within one mile of my house are restaurants representing every imaginable food, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, BBQ, two Sub Shops, one McDonald's, and three (yes we live near Seattle...) Starbucks. What we don't have is a Taco Bell. In point of fact, there is not Taco Bell in Redmond, it's right across the street in Bellevue. I would wish for a Taco Bell. That's it. My one worthy wish, to benefit me and the rest of humanity. I see no downfall, no faulty reasoning... I would wish for a TACO BELL.

Now on to the other two...

Will She Ever Blog Again?

I promise I will...sometime in the next couple of days. My creative juices are stagnant. Hopefully they will run freely soon. I have a mean case of blog-block, and my poor family is wondering if everything is OK. It's not really, but I'm working through it. I'll get there.

My Behind...

Liam says my for me, or I. So in the spirit of Liam..."my behind". I'll get around to posting soon. I have several drafts I'm currently working on, just not a tremendous amount of time. I'll get there...

Liam, His ONLY Sunday Shirt and the Scissors

Ahhhh yes, here we go again.

Liam... (if your up on the blog, you'll get this. The title says it all.)

However...When am I, as his mother, going to learn? Some kids set fires, so their parents don't have matches, or lighters, or, fire...around. Some kids jump off of stuff, some kids paint on stuff...I'm quite certain that their parent have learned to put temptation items out of sight.

I have a scissor thing. I have a virtual panic attack if I can't lay my hands on a pair at any given moment. Which means I have a pair of scissors in every room of the house and noisy little bugger that he is, he finds them and cuts stuff up.

I'm going to turn into that old lady that wears the little fold-up scissors around her neck on a chain, with my library lady glasses, (and a sharpie pen and everything else I need to have with me at all times), just to save Liam's life. GREAT! Not exactly what I'd aspired to in my visions of old ladyhood.

More Sentimental Journeying

My buddy Dontje, the guy I sat next to at my high school graduation, and brother to my friend Micah.

As you read in a previous post, I lost one of my lifelong friends, Micah, in May. I was so lucky to be able to attend his Life celebration in July. It was an odd situation in a way. I kept looking for him, even though I knew he wasn't in attendance. He was and probably will be forever missed.

I ran into people there that I've know my whole life. (My soccer coach from grade school. We had a great conversation about our mutual love of running.) People I was glad to see again, and people I just plain love. It was quite possibly the best party I've been to since...I can't remember when. I hope when I die, someone will put a kegger together for me with really great music (I have my play list started on my Zune, under funeral music, oddly enough...)chocolate chip cookies, and yard games. Maybe even an open mike for karaoke or just sentimental yammering... wouldn't that be a blast?

This all brings a confusing quandary into sharp focus for me. I'm forever trying to figure out why I'm homesick for wherever I'm not. I finally figured it out... It will never matter where I live, I will always miss the people I've left behind, and I'm really grateful that they remember me and love me back. So to every one I love, and if you're reading this, it's you... I love you and I miss you. I hope to see you again soon, AND your invited to my kegger!

Now What?

Brian and I realized on our way back home to Washington that we had missed one of our family traditions because of our long summer vacation. The Blue Angels flying over Lake Washington. It's something that we actually put on our goal list at the first of the year. Poor planning on our part and a funky calendar, put it just out of reach. We were disappointed, but our plan is now to live in Washington for a while, so we will see them next year.

So on to the next tradition...Camping on the Olympic Peninsula, and hiking in the Rain Forests. A visit to the very cold and rainy Washington beaches, should round out our next adventure. After that is the Salmon Run. We are calendaring into October, which brings around my most favorite time of the year...Halloween! And yes...I've already started planning.

So, it's not even the end of summer and here I sit, starting to pack it all away. I'm sure in the next few days we will head out to the local beach for a swim, and I'm positive we will head to the zoo and do all of the other fun summer things we can before school starts, but I'm looking forward to fall and the start of the rain. Maybe it all goes back to the circus thing... Maybe I just need the consistency of a tight schedule, and maybe I just need to get into bed. Either way, I'm looking forward to what's next.

Dear Crayola,

(or Hallmark if you want to get really nit-picky,)

I have to admit, I was appalled to pay $6.99 for a Color Wonder coloring book. One I wasn't even sure my children would color in. However...having been caught in this trap before, and having the markers that go with said coloring book, AND desperate for ANY form of entrainment on a two day car trip, through the worst (read most boring) parts of America, I ponied up $6.99 for a coloring book. Not once, but twice. Boy am I the happiest customer!?! Anders, our sweet three year old, colored every single page of that coloring book, and started in on the second. One marker for each page. First page, all brown. Second page, all red. I'm sure you get the point. Every single page with a single mindedness that would impress probably the most seasoned politician. He was quiet, except when he finished a page, then he would shout for every one to see, and then move on. In hindsight, I would have payed ten bucks, probably more, for that kind of peace. So thank you from the bottom of my over-spent heart. Please keep cranking out the absurdly priced coloring books. Anders is almost finished with the second one.

Thanks,
Kate

PS...Liam was wondering if you could possibly make the markers taste better? Just a suggestion from your two year old customer base.

Our Girl Elleory

This year, Elleory decided to try wake boarding. After some coaching from Aunt Julie, our resident expert, she got right out of the water, and never looked back. Can't even tell you how proud we were of her. Brian and I witnessed this whole thing from the back of the houseboat, and patiently waited for her to come back and tell us about it. She was pretty proud of herself. She is looking forward to going out again in the next couple of weeks with Uncle Brian on Chatfield Reservoir. I guess we are going to have to make some friends with boats in Seattle or buy our own... hhhmmmm.

Lake Powell: The Pictures...

Anders, Elleory and Liam on a boat cruise with Grandpa Gary and Brian. We call these little excursions "Snooze Cruises", because ultimately...a nap is the whole reason for the wandering around the lake in the middle of the day. Generally the temperature is HOT by that time. Heat induced nap, LOVELY.
Our family photographer, Anders. He takes very good pictures. Brian on top of the houseboat, probably being the Liam life guard. Liam was perpetually hanging off of something, over the lake, or trying to kill himself in one way or another. I really hope this phase doesn't last.
Anders continues to amaze me with his "recovery". Last year he would barely get into the water, this year we couldn't keep him out. It's a great deal, and I'm very proud. Lake Powell is a sensory overload for him and he is so happy. Every thing goes so fast, and is BIG, and he just loves it. This year he discovered jumping the wakes on the wave-runners, and the ION. Each time he got on anything his first words were "are we gonna go fast?" So love that we are getting out of the scared of everything stage. ALSO...He went poop on the potty in the houseboat, a first for him. YAY!
This is me, in a swimsuit, on the blog, again... I had the award winning fall this year. Just barely pushing my sister Lindsay out of the spot. (She had basically the same fall) I was crossing the wake, and trying to figure out how to turn and jump, when the nose of the board got sucked under. I hit my face hard on the water, and lost the board. Thankfully, the only water I breathed was the stuff that got forced into my nose by the hit. My smack on the water was loud, and I actually lost my bottoms. (This is the reason I got the award...) I did want to get right back up again, but I was pretty certain that I'd broken my nose. I had Brian Jr. take me home for ice, Advil and a nap... This was the next attempt, the next day, and me being very cautious (only slightly more cautious than normal)... which is sad, because these are the only pictures I got of me wake boarding this year.

Another Anders shot. We are looking forward to next year.

Best of Lake Powell

OK so here it is...

The Lake Powell Awards. Maybe on the same level as the Darwin Awards but no one has to die to get one.

Sorry no pictures yet... some coming soon.

Best Houseboat Driver goes to my Dad. He drives it every year, but this year he did it the best.

Best Vacation Planner goes to my Mom. Meals, extra sunscreen, she thinks of everything.

Best Surrogate Child/Right Hand Man (woman) goes to our friend Kir, who is ultimately more helpful than all of the Birth Children. What can we say? We're all pretty lazy...

Best Smiliest, Nicest, Kindest, Most Thankful Person goes to Doug's friend Kaela. Who would say thank you to the ski boat driver, even after she wiped out hard.

Best D.J. goes to Doug who kept us in tunage for the trip.

Best Quotable Quote goes to Jay. "Guys...I'm sinking...I'm really sinking here...guys?" Apparently his life vest wasn't really as buoyant as it needed to be, and the wake board was really buoyant. Pretty much every body just watched, and laughed. Sorry Jay. Welcome to the family.

Jay gets two awards this year. Best Improvisation of First-Aid-ish/Meeting a Very Specific Need Thingy. The Skill Socks are marvelous! Can't wait to be able to buy them at R.E.I. Also I think you should go with the rainbow color scheme to pay tribute to the bad 80's life vest. Maybe some stripes at the top?

Best Hair and Most Swim Suits goes to Lindsay, who always looked stunning.

Best Mullet goes to Jack

Best Ski Boat Driver goes to Brian Farnsworth who hauled us around the lake daily to wake board. You are awesome and I know you didn't get in the water nearly as much as you'd have liked.

Best Wake Board Coach goes to Julie, who finally talked Elleory onto the board and up out of the water, from the water. Way to go!

Most Naked Kid and best Pee'r off the boat goes to Cannon.

Best behaved baby goes to Mya.

Most Improved Wake Boarder goes to Brian Bergholm, who just started this year and got up the very first time, and started turning. You make us all look bad honey, but WOW!

Best Beginner goes to Elleory who also started boarding this year. Way to go kiddo! You make your Mama so proud. Keep it up.

Best Sleeping Through The Final Wind Storm goes to Anders and Liam. Who amazingly slept through the noisiest storm.

Finally, the Award for Best Wipe-Out Without Dying goes to me. Pretty sure for about half a day that I broke my nose. But really I'm OK, and the bruising is not so noticeable anymore.

We had a great trip, that went way too fast. Nobody died, or had to go to the hospital. We all ate well, and slept as much as one can in that situation.

Can't wait for next year!

Vacation

Off to Lake Powell for the next ten days. Wish you were here. Will blog when we are back. Happy Summer Vacation!

So Stinkin' Cute

Again Liam...

What can I say more? The kid is pure nut job.

Anders is genetically red neck. You might not notice the bare feet... but the cut-off Star Wars t-shirt is a dead give away.

Thanks to Amy J. for having the iPhone available to snap pictures at my children's finest hour.

I love that these two make me laugh almost hourly.

My MAN!

Brian pointed out that I never include him in the pictures on the blog.

Then he points out that he's always the one taking the pictures...

True enough.

I have a great husband, who does not get enough credit, or recognition.

So here he is, in a swim suit on the blog. Because, he was the one to suggest the trip to the beach and the one who did most of the playing, and getting dirty.

I sure love him. And his little sidekicks too!

Already June 7th!

I'm a bit behind on posts. Things have been happening here, so I'll endeavor to cover it all. In the interest of keeping all things in order, I'll be posting a bunch today. Happy, Happy, reading!

"I Jus Wanna' Give E-um a Hug"

I just didn't realize this stared THIS early. Must be genetic. But NOT from my side...

Memorial Day Weekend

I actually got into a swimsuit. On purpose. And went to the beach.
We took a lunch, which the kids ate. (Shock and surprise)
Mostly they just drank Gatorade.

Played in the sand.

Got really dirty.

Anders even went into the water!! We all survived. We might just do it again.

Because a Mother Can Not Be Everywhere ...

Liam...That actually should be the entire context of the post and you would have a good laugh and move on. But because you don't actually live with Liam, your going to need the story...

I got an email from my Mom, in which she was a little panicky about how to pick Elleory up from the airport, and would I do a little research and let her know what to do? I waited until I could put Liam down for a nap to start on that project, because we were having one of THOSE DAYS. I knew that if I gave him the excuse to be destructive in anyway he would take it and run with it. Now USUALLY, I can trust Liam to stay in bed, and sleep. He's a sleeper. I put him in his bed, with the instructions that I always give him..."Stay in this bed."

Not five minutes later, Anders comes into my "office" dragging my hair clippers behind him.

"Where did you get those?" I ask

"From E-um" Anders answers

"Why does Liam have my clippers?" I ask?

"He's doing his hair cut." Anders responds

Just then Liam comes skipping into where we are, just grinning.

"Look Mom! Hair cut!"

Liam with the hair scissors in the bed, where he was supposed to be napping.

Now, it's a sad fact of life that while I'm fuming, I grab the camera to take pictures because a). when I'm done being amazed, mad, crazy...I'm going to blog this, and b). I'm going to have to have justifiable evidence for Brian that the impending hair cut needed to happen.

All of this is happening WHILE I'm on hold with the airline, trying to get information about unaccompanied minors. IRONIC? It's not like I was watching soap operas eating Bon-Bon's or on Facebook hanging out doing nothing, no, I was tending to the upcoming needs of another child.

I hang up. I call Brian. He answers...

"I quit..." I say

"Why?" says Brian

I proceed to mention the goings on of the day. Oddly enough EACH sentence starts with "Liam did..."

Then I get to the hair cut.

"How bad can it be honey?" Brian asks "Can you leave it until I get home and we can deal with it together?"

"NOT ON YOUR LIFE!!" I say "I actually have to leave the house with this child today, I'm a stylist...NO child of mine..." Blah, blah, blah... I'm sure you get the rest of the conversation.

I got the moral support I needed to march my kid across the street to shave his head bald in the neighbor's garage, so I could have someone on hand to take pictures, and hold him down so I could finish what he started.

The finished product. Bald baby boy...

This is the "remorse" picture.

I'm sure you can tell, just by his little face how much he LOVED this whole experience.

He did actually cry about his hair. Not that it made ME feel any better...it just made me laugh.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel...

Or: A Very Good Day.


Brian is at Youth Conference this weekend. Luckily, he is home at night, but that leaves another day in which to entertain kiddos.

Because I MUST smoke crack, (not really, but it's a great way to say I'm crazy) I decided to try the movies today. I'm sure you are aware that OUR children and movies generally don't mix. (Elleory being the shinning exception.)

We have turned a corner, today, a huge corner!!!

Our so cute, darling, sweet boys sat through an entire movie!!! I feel like there is hope! I feel way less tied down. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I feel like if I keep up the accolades, the universe will start laughing and prove me wrong...I am ever superstitious.

I'm almost hoping that now potty training might be in the future, but I'm still not going to hold my breath. Someday soon we will not only be a household with no cribs, but a household with no diapers, who can (reasonably) sit through a movie, (because with diapers there is no need for a potty break...) and GASP, maybe even an hour of church. (They actually can do this but we have been having a bit of trouble in the last couple of weeks. Maybe they need new church toys?)

I'm so happy to be having this day! Just when I've been feeling like everyone's kids grow up, but mine remain perpetually babies.

Hope, Hope, Hope... it's such a bright shiny thing!

Elleory's No Good, Very Bad, Day

Grounded for all of Saturday, and relegated to playing with the boys all day, JUST for not coming home on time. 30 lousy minutes...

Missed a pizza party, because no one told Mom about it... (apparently, if it's not on the calendar, it doesn't exist.)

Adding to the misery...Phish passed away.


Because she is such a great girl, she is handling this beautifully. But we did have a rough couple of minutes. It's hard to be the oldest and learn to be responsible, and have to deal with the circle of life (can't help singing it!) all in one day. I remember all of these kinds of things from my life at this age. Well, not the fish...

I think she is doing a great job maturing! Can't help loving that Elleory!

Makin' His Mama Sooo Proud...

Yes, this is Anders.

Yes. this is a big gun.

No, I haven't changed my view point on guns...

But he was sooo excited about the neighbor's new toys.

I have to admit, I was kind of excited also. It's a pretty cool toy. Could it be that the Bergholm's will get into Nerf gunning? Who knows? But it seems like a good idea for Father's Day. What could be better than giving my three boys toy guns and letting them shoot each other for hours on end, out in the sunshine?

(Are these thoughts actually coming from my head? Who are you and what have you done with sensible Kate?!? I don't allow guns in my home, you gun totting, NRA supporting, redneck's daughter...)

I have to admit that it was fun playing with them at the neighbor's house, and watching the boys figure out how to run them. It's always fun to hear them laugh and scream and giggle. I'm just a little torn by the logistics and the politics of it all.

And maybe, just maybe, I need to relax and let my kids play with toy guns... But THEN where do I draw the line? Country Music? GROAN...

Things you shouldn't do at the Temple.

By: Liam Bergholm

Hi! I'm Liam. I'm standing outside of the Seattle LDS Temple. It's a very special spot where my mom and dad took me and my brother Anders and my sister Elleory for a primary activity, so I could learn what not to do at the Temple. The Temple is Jesus' house on earth so you need to be really good, and whisper, and be respectful. HOWEVER, no one told me that Jesus has a swimming pool right outside the front door!! So COOL!
This is Anders and I checking out the swimming pool, and trying to figure out how to get in. There was some pretty tight security measures and a big garden planted around it to keep us out, but we mapped out a route. It was our Mission: Impossible.

First, I needed to take off my shirt. Even at the public pool you have to wear the proper attire. I tried twice to take off my shirt but my mom and dad kept putting it back on. I very tearfully explained to them that I was trying to choose the right and respect the pool dress code. I just really wanted to swim in the pool.

Because they were paying attention to me...Anders was successful at removing his shirt. So when mom and dad started paying attention to him, I sat in the grass and quickly removed my shoes and stared in on my pants... My mom discovered me and sent me with dad to get my clothes back on. At this point, I had to start yelling "NO! I want to get in Jesus' bathtub!"

At that point mom and dad decided it just might be best if we went home...we tried again to get into the pool, but no luck. So in order to make our rebellion complete, we removed our shirts again and swung on the statues, all the way back to the car...It was there that mom and dad discovered that they had locked the keys in the car.

It was a pretty AWESOME day. But we didn't ever get to swim in the big pool, maybe next time.

A Sentimental Journey...

Last Thursday I was enjoying the beautiful weather here in Seattle, and the company of my friend, we rode her horses. I had a good babysitter, that I knew I could trust with my children's happiness, and could feel comfortable leaving them for the three hours I had planned. It was indeed a good day.

It was also the day that the first boy I ever loved was relieved of the battle he had fought so long and hard. My dear friend Micah passed away in Colorado. After almost 10 long years of fighting a brain injury, seizures and ultimately a rare blood disorder, he left this life and started on his next journey.

I sit with bittersweet feelings as I write this. I feel so deeply for his Mother, Sue, who nursed him and fought so many battles, for so long. For his two girls who have been deprived of him, but not of a father, as other good men have taken that role. For his wife who lost him so shortly after making a family with him. For his brothers, who also sacrificed so much of their lives to be with him, and took some of the nursing responsibilities. For his sister, who labored to give birth only two hours after his death, knowing that he wouldn't meet her new baby in this life. Yet, I think of the hours and days he sat, probably wanting to run, to play, to do anything but sit. Now, he is free do do all those things. No more wheel chair, no more silence, no more dependence on those he loved, and who loved him in return. I have yet to meet a more selfless family. One who could teach the world of what it means to be "functional".

I will miss his smile. I will miss the mischievous sparkle in his blue eyes. I will miss the fact that even though he could no longer communicate with words, I knew that he knew me and was glad to see me. I could always see that he wanted to say "Katie love...what's goin' on?" and then he would just listen. I loved that I could crawl into his bed beside him and tell him all about where I'd been and what I'd seen, and he would listen, and hold my hand and inwardly laugh at my jokes.

I'm sad that I didn't get the chance to say goodbye, I had planned on visiting this summer but, I waited too long. I know that God has a plan for all of us and I will see him again, and then have the chance to tell him how much he meant to me, how much knowing him changed me, and made me who I am and where I am.

I'm grateful for, and love, his family who have allowed me to take a very small part of this journey with them. My prayers are of comfort for them as they make this transition into the next parts of their lives. My hopes are with them also, that they will go forward knowing they did the very best they could for him, and that he is now in the best hands, and will receive the best care.

So on a beautiful day, when the sun shone in Seattle, I lost my friend, and I will miss him.

60 days...

I just got my renewal form for my cosmetology licence in the mail; which means three things...

1). Time to decide if I'm ready to let that go...Not quite.

2). Time to find 30 bucks to renew it.

3). ONLY 60 DAY UNTIL MY BIRTHDAY!!!

Just thought I'd give you the heads up. I'm turning 36 this year. Closer to 40 than 20. A fact which both intrigues and frightens me. Yet, I'm pretty calm about the whole thing.
This means that:

1). I'm old enough to know better. (Darn it!)

2). My neck is going to start looking more like a turkey's than a baby's bottom.

3). I'm in the exact spot I'd like to be.

This is when I start planning my "New Year's Resolutions". Really, I'll spare you the details, but good changes are coming...

NOW FOR THE SHALLOW (read: planning) PORTION OF THE BLOG POST:

I'm going to be home (in Colorado) for my birthday again this year. Yay! There are two concerts I'd like to attend. (I don't need to do both, either would be good.) The Wallflowers on the 21 of July, and The Counting Crows on the 29 of July. I don't really want to go alone, but I will. I'm going to need babysitters, and concert goers...Any takers?

I'd also LOVE to have dinner with my Whole family.

As you know, I'm a planner... I like to make sure all of my ducks are waddling along in the correct rows. There is, after all, only 60 days left...

Only One Living Thing at a Time, Please.

I'm currently, and not on purpose, killing my house plants. I usually have an incredibly green thumb. Plants (with the exception of potatoes in my garden) do well for me. At one point in my life B.C. (before children) I actually worked as a gardener, and I only killed one begonia...over watered it. But these poor house plants... so sad, so neglected, so short on vitamin D.

First off, you have to know that EVERY TIME we buy a house plant we will, guaranteed, no kidding, move in six months. So we have been very leery of buying any plants here in Washington. So I think that maybe I'm a little out of practice with my green friends.

Second, I don't think we've actually had a plant since Elleory was born and we lived in Denver, CO. We moved from there and left all of our beautiful plants behind when Elleory was 18 months. We also had a wonderful nanny (my sweet sister Julie) in Denver, so I did get the chance to pay attention to the plants.

So here in Redmond, we have three kids, no nanny, and house plants (we bought them a year ago, so I think the curse is finally broken.) that are begging to be put out of their misery. I'm not sure there is much I can do for them except put them in the garbage. I might try them outside, but I'm a little afraid of the over watering thing, as it's springtime in Washington and has started raining again...

Also, back to that curse...What if I don't save these plants and have buy more to replace them and then six months later...

Our kids are doing really well though...Growing, healthy, happy. So maybe I should retire from houseplant keeping and just focus on my little humans for now.

So what color does that make my thumb? Flesh?

Elephants Say What?

Apparently they say MMMMOOOOO.

Me and Eloise

Have you met Eloise? As in at the Plaza? Hotel? I heart Eloise. What is not to love? She six, she know what she wants out of life...right now... and she has unlimited credit. (SIGH) But what I really love about Eloise is the statement she makes often. "Here's what I love..." and then goes on to list what she loves.

I'm having a particularly crappy day. So I decided to 'Eloise' it for just a moment, and make a list of what I love.

I love that my foot hurts because I injured it RUNNING.
I love that I can go outside and run, until I just can't run anymore.
I love that I have a doctor who takes good care of my injuries, and doesn't tell me I ought to be slowing down.
I love my Physical Therapists.
I love my insurance company.
I love it when Liam says Boobies, and wants to wear my bra.
I love having an hour in the afternoon when NOBODY talks to me. Because I've been talked out today, and it's only 2:30.
I love that I am for the first time in YEARS happy to be living right were I am.
I love that I have a good husband who takes care of our family.
I love that my children are healthy.
I love my crazy schedule, because I DON'T have to be home to take care of the dishes and laundry 24-7.
I love my spin classes and my yoga classes, because I get as much of a break, as I get health benefits.
I love my friends who are willing to 'bare' (with) my children.

I have more... but I'm sure your done hearing the me, me, me, I, I, I. Yet it's MY blog...
I'm glad I Eloise'd. I really needed it.

Shiny Gold Engine

Just a quick post about Elleory's school play. It was "The Little Engine That Could". Elleory had a part as part of the Shiny Gold Engine. It was a very lively production in which most of the characters wore roller skates, and there were over 250 parts and characters. She also had a part as a puppeteer, in which she danced with a puppet on a string. It was a very fun evening, and the Little Engine did finally get the train over the mountain!

Small Spaces

Anders still has a great need for small spaces to feel his most comfortable. This particular afternoon he wanted to watch a movie, on my bed in his "baket". He stayed in here for the entire movie.

Liam and the Big Stick

Liam has a stick 'thing'.

Every time we go on a walk he finds a willing stick to march along beside him. Naturally, as his mother, I worry about his eyes. So far no accidents. (We actually had to take him into the eye doctor on Saturday morning, to have a poke looked at...NOT from a stick, just Anders' finger. All is well, he has some drops to put in for about a week.)

The stick is usually the biggest one he can find, and if he finds a bigger stick along the way, well, he dumps the first stick and moves ahead with the better stick. Hopefully this is not an emerging pattern for later in life. Beware, girls!

This is the biggest stick he could find at the watershed when we took the kids to see if the snakes were awake yet. They weren't. But there were a lot of great sticks.

Writers Block

It's really not that I have nothing to write about...I just can't seem to get anything out of my head and onto the page. (Probably one of the reasons I've been sleeping so poorly.)

I'll let you know when I do.

And the Answer is...

no good. They were up to 'no good'!

I have a strange, yet very fulfilling, love affair with plastic boxes. All shapes and sizes and brands for that matter. If it comes in plastic I love it! It's a little like a friend of mine who loves women...doesn't matter what shape, size, color, age... if she a woman, he loves her. I love that those plastic boxes are the key to my sanity, my true well being. They genuinely embrace my O.C.D. and still love me back. They say to me, "Bring me your messes, your loose ends, throw them into me and I will comfort you knowing that everything has a place. Nothing will haunt you in the night by crying out, 'I have no place to be'! I love you because you understand me, and you use me." (This is all said with a smooth Italian accent, because plastic boxes are sexy to me that way.)

My wild sons were abusing those wonderful plastic boxes. There were up to no good. Each CRASH was a poor box being emptied onto the floor, behind the headboard of their bed. Trains, Lego's, Crayons, Matchbox Cars... pretty much everything I had painstakingly sorted and stored away into those beautiful boxes, and put onto the shelves (oh those shelves...) in the closet. (I won't go into how I feel about well planned closets...)

We've been so devastated by the willful destruction, (those darling boxes and I) we've done nothing to clean up. We figure, the best answer to give to those boys right now is "I'm sorry you threw your cars behind your bed, I can't reach them right now. You'll have to find something else to play with." Eventually, when I have a strong husband home to help me move the bed I will fill up all of those lovely plastic boxes again with the tossed toys, and we (the boxes and I) will feel better knowing, that everything is in it place, and that they, the boxes, will be fulfilling the measure of their very creation.

SIGH....

Need to Know...

I've sent the boys to play in their bedroom. I need a little time out. It's 10 am. I have a babysitter coming in two hours. Still need the time out...

From the bedroom I hear; CRASH...harharharharhar!!! "Let's do that again!!" "OK!!" CRASH...harharharhar!!! CRASH...etc...etc... this goes on for around four minutes.

Two thoughts go through my head, 1). What could that possibly be? and 2). Do I really Need to Know?

I love the part in all good action movies where the head guys says... "This is a 'need to know' problem and you DON'T need to know."

So really, do I need to know?

Probably not. But I can smell someone in need of a pit stop, so I'll go check out the carnage...

One of Three Percent

Boy am I ever lucky!!

I have a new medication to treat the inflammation in my shoulder joint. It is a patch that I stick on my shoulder every twelve hours. It makes me totally nauseous...like I'm in the first trimseter of pregnancy.

Not enough to throw up, but enough to notice that; I just don't feel great.

I'm one of the three percent of people who have this side effect.

Lucky me!

A Strange Revelation...

I went to the circus for the first time when I was 24 years old. Probably a good thing, as I was the type to run away to join up as a kid. Now I know better.

Revelation: I HATE SPRING BREAK! (Who ever thought of it is on my list!)

Reason: I don't want to be the Ring Master in the circus. YET here I stand...

I guess lion tamer is out too.

Perspective

OR: Things That Just Aren't That Big A Deal...

I have a good friend who asked for our New Years Resolutions for her blog. I never got back to her because A). part of me thinks those are useless, and B.) I don't make them. This year however one has been percolating around my consciousness, and sometimes, I'm just more conscious of it than others. Today is one of those days. The thought/resolution is this... I don't have much time before my children aren't little anymore, and I need to enjoy them. Time goes by so fast, and little babies are soon little kids, then little adults, then gone....

Part of that enjoying them stems from this; enjoying exactly who they are, who God sent me, not who I'd like them to be, how I'd like them to act, how I'd like to mold them...

Which means: Relax... Don't sweat the small stuff. Laugh more, teach the more important lessons, quit focusing on the outward, (what others expect my children's behavior to be like). Spend more time focusing on loving every little quirk, and foible.

So here it is... I officially quit. I quit telling my kids the following:

~Not to say butt, because honestly, it's funny to hear a 3 year old say butt, and poop for that matter. Especially when you ask "what do you want to eat?" And the response is "poop!"
~Not to spit (except inside, on the carpet), or gargle their juice/milk, or blow bubbles with straws. (And I hope that when their teachers ask them if they do that at home... you get the idea.)
~Not to roll in the muddy puddles, (I've been blessed with a washer and dryer and an enormous amount of clothes. It's really not that big a deal.)
~Not to throw toys down the stairs.
~Not to jump on the bed, off the couch, off the stairs, etc.
~Not to run in the grocery store. (mainly because I resolve to get a babysitter for grocery store visits from now on.)
~Lastly, I quit feeling the need to apologise for my children's behavior...they are after all children. Mine. But not me. (And with the exception of saying butt, I generally don't do any of the above...)

I will be more diligent about teaching these MORE IMPORTANT LESSONS:
~That I love them for exactly who they came to me as.
~Careful consideration of their siblings.
~Kindness and empathy.
~Be polite.
~How to work hard, how to play hard for that matter.
~To love God.
~To trust themselves, their family, and mostly their parents.

So there it is. Perspective...mine...

P.S. This also means that I'm not cutting my boys hair anymore either. Unless they ask.

Fish Laxatives

This is a true story...

We have a fish that Elleory caught in the pond right by our house and has kept it alive for WAY LONGER than I expected. His name is appropriately...Phish. He's a not gold, goldfish. He has grown to be fairly big, and seems to be thriving on the inattention he receives, and the three plus feedings a day. Our Phish is a little dog-ish...he begs, so everyone who sees him during the day feeds him. Needless to say, he eats well.

Phish has been swimming a little off kilter for the last couple of days, a little sideways... like he has a Nemo fin.

The neighbors across the street just lost their goldfish, Mike, at the beginning of the week, and this is the only reason Phish is still with us I'm sure. (I guess Mike didn't die in vain.) Mike was swimming sideways as well.

So the Mom of Mike says to me:

"Mike passed on."

I say, " Oh no! What happened?" I'm really concerned because Liam's favorite thing to do at that house is pet the fish.

She says "He was swimming sideways... I just didn't take the time to try to save him."

I respond "You can save a fish?!? Phish is swimming sideways."

So she proceeds to explain about swim bladders and fish constipation. How she know this is still a mystery... Anyway, when a fish eats sometimes it gulps too much air, and it's little swim bladder gets to be like a balloon. So you soak their food before you feed them so it sinks and then they swim down to the bottom to eat and that clears out their little air bubbles...a little fish burping I suppose.

The other cause of sideways swimming is constipation, and since fish aren't really forthcoming about what the problem is, we fish mommies have to guess. So the cure is this, and honestly it sounds a bit like this joke my father tells about catching elephants... You skin a pea, yep a garden variety, or in our case a freezer variety pea, and drop it into the tank. Peas don't float so this takes care of the swim bladder thing as well. The fish then gets really excited about a new something to eat and gobbles up/down the pea, and it acts as a laxative. Fish ex-lax.

So I run home, nuke a couple of peas, peel them and throw them into the tank. Phish goes nuts and eats both peas in one swim by.

Waiting... watching...No poop. I was waiting for a miracle here, and expecting immediate results...We did just loose the bunny...can't loose the fish.

Life starts going as life does and Phish starts swimming normally. So I assumed that his little swim bladder was full and he has past his gas in a fish way and it was over. ( the thought runs through my head at this point, if that is where all of the bubbles in the tank come from...)

Sunday the sideways swimming starts again, so knowing exactly what to do, I nuke two peas, peel them, toss them to the fish and move on with Sunday things.

Monday... in between running Elleory to the Physical Therapist, tanning, picking Elleory up, and going to the eye doctor for myself, I stop at the house to get Anders his warm milk. (Yes, I take the time to heat that kid's drink up every time we wants one...don't ask...) As Phish lives on the kitchen counter, right next to the microwave, I see him quite often...So today, out of his tiny, little fish body is hanging the biggest thing I've ever seen come out of Phish.

"Oh holy Moses!" comes out of my mouth. (Well, not ACTUALLY Moses... I've edited the actual word as Brian is somewhat offended by what I actually said.) Phish is pooping his intestine! I'm sure of it. I'm watching him swim very quickly back and forth across the tank. Zipping back and forth, I'm totally sure in complete pain and anguish.

"This can't be good" and "I wonder how you put a fish out of it's misery?" are next out of my mouth.

THEN...the miracle occurs...Phish is done pooping and starts to swim around, normally, and with a big relived smile on his fishy face. "Thanks for the peas, Mom! They really worked!" He says. "Oh by the way, could you feed me now?"

So now you know, If your fish needs to poop, give him a pea. Magic!

Gardening Dilemma

Our garden 2006

A very good year.

It's time to start our garden. The frost is starting to be less frequent and the plants that can handle it are asking to be put out so they can grow. I'm starting to consider the what's and where's. I'm getting antsy for the process.


ON THE OTHER HAND...


We are leaving our garden for the whole month of July. What is the point of all of the sweat and prayers if the neighborhood kid is going to forget to water? Maybe I'm getting lazy or cynical, or (gasp) BOTH...


So here it is the dilemma... to garden or not.


Funny, but I'm not having this internal debate over the flowers.

What Family Home Evening really looks like in the trenches.

So here it is... the real deal. Family Home Evening at our house. I apologize because I'm singing, which I ONLY do at home, for reasons that are apparent. (I'm also laughing which doesn't help matters...) Liam is saying "SHOP!", which is his way of saying stop. It comes out a little bit like shut-up, which is appropriate also. Liam was a bit upset which our choice of music this particular evening. Enjoy the chaos!

We do...

Probably the Reason My Boys Are Still Alive...

TODAY...

A.) They napped... both of them.

B.) They are just so stinkin' cute...asleep.

C.) They have the funniest ideas...

They wanted to "camp" and get out of the "rain". It wasn't raining...yet, when they went down, but that is the new game this week. "Help it's raining..."

I probably ought to include a picture of the swath of destruction, but Anders (really) helped me clean up after he was done with his nap. The miracle couldn't have come at a better time. Liam woke up cranky, and wanted ice cream for dinner. We had ice cream for dinner. It's just been one of those days.


Anders-ism: I asked him this morning if we should have green beer with our lunch because it's leprechaun day.
He said "No..."
I said "Because we don't drink beer?"
He says, "Because we don't drink green."
OK then...

Dr. Seuss by Osmosis

Liam's not a big reader. He really doesn't sit still long enough to enjoy a book. I stick them in his bed to give him something to do before he naps or goes to sleep for the night.

Now I know what he does...
I'm just wondering how long he actually slept on these books before he got uncomfortable and moved. I just took the pictures and left. Somethings you just don't disturb.

An Inspiring Idea

This past week Brian and I went to a very interesting event in Seattle. It was an evening with Matt Flannery, CEO and co-founder of an organization called Kiva. His company is a not-for-profit lending organization focused on micro finance. It was a truly inspirational evening.

Are you aware that for MOST of the world outside of the United States people survive on less than two dollars a day, and that a loan of $25 can change an entire families prospects? $25 dollars is the difference between scraping by, and doing well. It is the means to start a small business that allows children to attend school, allows a mother the dignity of a better living for her children, buys a bus ticket for a woman to go directly to the lake to buy fish from the fishermen, instead of using a middleman, who make a huge profit, while she makes only enough for necessities, but not enough to get ahead.

I sat during his talk and did quick calculations in my head. I spend around 25 dollars a day, just feeding my family. I don't "own" my own home, so there is a daily living expense to add, I put gas in my car to run my kids to preschool, music lessons, McDonald's... things I feel very blessed to be able to have and do. But there is NO WAY my family could live on less than $2 a day. Not even less than $10 a day. We are considerably lucky, and it's time to let others know.

Please go to www.kiva.org and look around at the people who have gone to a lender in their area, and who qualify for a micro loan. People who could benefit from our wealth. 98% of this money gets paid back with in a year. Really. It is for us, the people lending, a donation we would get back. You can choose to with drawl your money when you get repaid, or redistribute the funds to someone else who could benefit. There is no interest earned. This is a non-profit group. All of the people who qualify for a loan are screened and hoping to start legitimate businesses, people who just need a little help to make their lives better.

I'm making an effort to "find" some money. Please join me. Make someones life easier.

The Picture Every Mother Needs...

for senior year book dedication pages, wedding receptions, etc...

P.S. This was a total false alarm...delay tactic, pajama time, death bed repentance "go pee pee on the potty". All Liam's idea. No actual peeing involved.

Can I just tell you how much...

I love blog 'time out'??

I can hear my kids, down stairs with Brian, getting ready for bed, having the last snack of the day, and here I sit...reading and catching up with my sisters and dear friends...in blog 'time out'. AND, I wasn't even naughty...

Beautiful Day...

I don't have any pictures to post. I'm sure you're SO amazed by that revelation... Kate doesn't take pictures?!? Not often... mostly I just don't remember to.

We had a beautiful lunch time at the park today, at the request of Anders. We had nothing else to do so we stopped on the way home from speech. It was marvelous. Warm, and sunny. The boys played for well over a hour, with each other. I couldn't tell if it was the sunshine glinting off their blond heads or if they had little halos today. I've never actually seen them be so sweet to each other. They played the funniest game. "QUICK! The dinosaurs are coming..." Where they would slide down the slide and then yell "Quick! The dinosaurs are coming" then run around the park screaming, climb up the slide and start all over again. Magic.

My favorite line of the day was Anders to Liam
"Liam, trust me..." (HHHMMM, Suspect...) He is actually quoting Aladdin. Still...

I LOVE SPRING TIME!

Weekend With One of My Favorite Guys

I heart little old men. Let's be honest...I heart men. But, I HEART little old men.

I figured out this weekend why... I LOVE my Grandpa. He is just so cool. I wish I could share him with every one, but I'm really gonna be selfish and keep him. But I'll expound on why I love him so much.

Grandpa Bruce isn't a lecturer. His whole life is a quiet example of happiness. I watched this weekend and hopefully learned from his example. First... enjoy your children. (As this is my New Year's Resolution, I paid attention.) Second... everyone is worthy of love, and acceptance. No matter how they live(d) there life. Third... serve others. Fourth... don't take naps in bed. You will eventually die in bed. Fifth... do not fear death, everyone is going to die. (But you do have a say in the arrangements.) Sixth... enjoy yourself. Drink enough water, have a martini (or an acceptable to your life style drink) by 4:30 pm and set out bowls of chocolate around your home. Preferably where you can easily reach them, from any sitting position. Don't limit yourself, because, sooner or later your going to die... and while you may not have any regrets, you will always regret not having had enough chocolate. (He never actually said this, but I assumed...) Seventh... Even if you are full, don't pass up a hot fudge sundae. Eighth... Just don't slow down or give up.

Maybe all of this wisdom comes with age... Maybe it's just Grandpa. I'm just infinitely thankful to know this guy. He's a rock star!

I'm Possessed...

That is the only reason I can think of this morning for my willingness to SHAVE ANDERS HEAD before bed last night!!!

It all started out innocently enough with Liam getting a little trim after his bath. Then the persistent nagging started... "I want my hair to stick up like Daddy... My turn for a hair cut... you need those buzzers to make my hair stick up like Daddy's..." So on, and etc.

So I did it. I got out the clippers and got started.

I panicked as the beautiful blond inches fell to the floor. What am I doing?!!? But I couldn't stop... (Brain and heart were screaming STOP, STOP, STOP...Hand, laughing like manic mad scientist yelling back NO. NO. NO!!!) It was like my hands were working independently.

Anders giggled all the way through. (I was COMPLETELY SURE that he would panic at the clippers and we would stop...) Laughed at his reflection in the mirror, and then announced it was time to go to bed. No thanks to the ice cream...

He was asleep before Brian got home, and I was in utter shock. I dreamed about it all night. I can't believe I did it. I'd almost rather that he asked to have his lip pierced, or a tattoo on his forehead.

I found, however, a Bergholm hiding under all of that beautiful hair. I'm not sure that he has any Johnson at all. In fact I was beginning to wonder if he is even my child when I saw THE COWLICK. The Corbin cowlick right in front, in the middle, standing straight up. I started to feel a little better after I found that.

Not much...

I probably will never be able to cut his hair again. Totally scarred for life.

What I Came Home To...

I'm always happy to see my sweet children when I've been gone from them for a while. I went to visit my Grandpa Bruce this past weekend, and came home to a very clean house, and happy and well cared for little men, who where glad to see me. I found them under the train table Monday morning playing quietly... and NOT getting into any trouble... AMAZING

Tribute to a Dead Friend

We had to put our Talulah Bunny to sleep this past week. He was a very old man and was suffering. Elleory made the very hard and grown-up decision to end his suffering, and was a total trooper and stayed with him until the very end. He was 10 years old, which the vet informed us is almost totally unheard of...Bunnies usually live to be 7 at the most. I guess it was all of Elleory's good care. We will miss him.

AAARRRR Matey...

We have a pretty hard and fast (read bendable because Mom and Dad are complete suckers...) law around the kiki. If you are in bed, asleep, you can have your kiki. Anders has always been very clever in finding the loop holes. If he doesn't make it in engineering, he'll probably be a very talented lawyer. This is the newest loop hole... "if I'm sleeping, like a pirate with one eye closed, then I can have my kiki AND watch a movie with my open eye. That way I'm 1). on the couch asleep, with one eye, and 2). entertained with the other eye open. The best of both worlds..."

Not the exact wording but pretty darn close. We'll have to, as the supreme court, review this loop hole and make a more firm decision about the faulty far left-wing rationale. He gets this ability to rationalize from his proud Mother, who would also make a great lawyer...

Random Rambling and Stuff...

This is the "after" picture of the big hair cut in December. The before and during picture contain nudity, not appropriate for the Internet. I cut about 5 inches of length off of Anders hair and about 3 off of Liam's. I was totally traumatized. It's just now that I am able to speak of it. He looked so cute afterward, but you can't see the back. I loved his long hair, but Brian just couldn't handle it anymore. Since the initial cut he has had one more, and keeps asking me to cut it even shorter, "just like Daddy, sticking up." Liam is in desperate need of another cut... I'll get around to it. I'm just afraid that he will lose his curls. I'm just taking my time, enjoying their pretty hair.
Anders and Elleory are at a point in their relationship that they play together, building things with Lego's, Tinker Toys, Linkin Logs. Whatever builds. This is the crane they built one day during Christmas break. It worked...

Growing up my sisters and I would make "cloth-cloth bikinis" (cloth-cloth is Johnson for washcloth, which is another thing that just popped up.) in the bathtub. I guess it's genetic... The boys in their "cloth-cloth shirts". They stick them on and laugh and laugh when they fall off. It's just amazing to me what comes back from my childhood, without my urging. You can see the back of Anders mullet. Remember I cut off 5 inches... I love this hair!! It's even shorter now. Sob, sob, sob...