Sacrament Meeting Talks

A few weeks ago I was awoken from a medicated sleep as the phone rang. I answered it to find it was a member of our bishopric asking if David and I could speak in Sacrament meeting. I pleasantly agreed like any good Mormon would. He rattled off the date we would be speaking and the conference talks he wanted us to speak from. I scratched a mental note in my medicated brain, hung up the phone and went back to sleep.

Later when David got home I told him about our speaking engagement. He asked when we were to speak and it was then that it occurred to me that it was the very next week and I most likely wouldn't be ready to go back to church yet since having surgery. I guess that's what happens when you answer the phone doped up on pain meds. Anyways, David took care of everything and we switched weeks with another couple in our ward.

So today was our big day to speak! David and I both don't necessarily mind speaking but there is always a little nervous anxiety about it. In all the times I've had to speak in Sacrament meeting I have always written my talks out word for word and have stuck to the script! This is due to the fact that the ONE and ONLY time I decided to make general notes and tell stories associated with my topic {my mission homecoming address} I ended up going on for 45 minutes before even realizing it! I was mortified! Embarrassed! And swore I would never do that again! So better SAFE than MORTIFIED... I stick to the script! However whenever I finish talking I always sit down feeling like I "read" my talk and it just didn't have that personal touch I was hoping for. I've always felt like I did an okay job, just not my best.

So this time I decided that it's time for me to learn how to give a talk. One that I can share personal experiences, talk from the heart, yet refer to written prepared material. I told David about my plan and told him that I was worried about going on too long. He assured me that it was going to be okay and that if I did go too long it would be just fine.

I spoke about being offended and ashamed.
It was a talk given by Neil L. Andersen entitled
"Never leave Him"
from this past October General Conference.

The talk was pretty good but.. I DID IT AGAIN! I went on too long! I was suppose to speak for about 15 minutes and I went on for 25! I feel good about what I said, I just wish I had some sort of time control or time sensory about me. It's like I get up there and time just flies by! My poor husband! He prepared {I'm sure} a really good talk and I hardly left him any time to give it! He basically had to just bear his testimony. Not to mention that there was an exceptionally long musical number between David and I's talks which even left him with less time.... But that's no excuse! It was all on me and I kind of blew it! I apologized to David and he assured me that it was okay but I still feel bad! After the meeting I found myself half embarrassed.....
Oh I just have to get over it!

Over the next two hours of church I had lots of people come to tell me that they loved my talk. I had people tell me that it was the best talk they had ever heard! I highly doubt that to be true, but it was still nice to hear. Old and young complimented me! Even people that I really respect and consider to be really great speakers themselves. And then sweet little 83 year old Beth Wilson gave me the best compliment of all! She told me that she really enjoyed my talk. She said that it was so good she didn't even fall asleep! In fact she stayed awake for ALL of Sacrament meeting! And than assured me that she never does that! So cute! And that was it, the cherry on top!

So by the time I finally made it home I was feeling okay about it. Yes I did go on for way too long and yes it is kind of embarrassing. But I really shouldn't be so hard on myself. I should give myself credit for giving it a shot. Heck 25 minutes is a really big improvement from 45! And if I don't try, I'll never learn to be a good speaker. RIGHT?

And next time...
if there is a next time...
I'm going to figure this thing out!

Toddlers @ Scripture Study...

Scripture study is one of those things that goes best without Talan.

On a typical night Talan is in our bedroom watching something on T.V. while we all gather in the family room to read.
It's nice! All the kids can read, and we all take turns reading. And then on some nights we even bust out in family discussion about what we have read.
And then Talan joins us for family prayer. And Talan ALWAYS has to say it! So we say TWO!
Talan's prayer goes something like this.
"Father, Church, Amen"
Tonight unlike most nights, Talan wasn't watching anything on T.V. when it was time for Scripture study therefore Talan wandered about the room demanding this and that. "Mom sit on my leg!" followed with throwing a fit because I said no. "Mom come on!" as he pulls my finger trying to get me to go who knows where. [We walked in circles, I never figured out what he really wanted, and to tell you the truth, I don't think he even knew!] And then he notices that we were all taking turns reading. "My turn? When's my turn?" We tell him he would have a turn in a little while. He seemed okay with that answer and we continued on. So when it came to a part with several small verses I had Reagan read a few and then had Talan give it a shot. "Talan it's your turn to read." He was excited! He climbed down off the sofa table, [yes I said OFF the TABLE!] made his way over the arm of the couch and sat beside me.

We were reading 1 Nephi 14:20

And "And"
the angel "angel"
said "said"
unto me "me!"
Behold "Behold!"
one "Two! Three!"
[David and I couldn't help but to give a little chuckle]
of the twelve "TWELVE!"
apostles "aposicles, where's my posicles?
[we laugh again!]
No it says APOSTLES! "I want posicles!"
of the Lamb. "where's my posicles?"
Talan, we don't have any Popsicles!

...Carsten, you've got verse 21.

So pretty good for a first time scripture read!
We know that Talan can count to THREE and he LOVES Popsicles!

Addicted?

So I'll be the first to admit that I love to drink soda.
My flavor of choice is Caffeine Free Diet Coke topped off with some fully leaded Cherry Coke! I find it an important part of my daily life to go on a "Soda Run." Though I don't always finish my soda, and my kids all think that my soda really means their soda, which really means that when I actually do finish a soda, it isn't like I really finished it... really!
Anyways, it's taken me awhile to decide weather I am more addicted to the SODA or the RUN! After lots and lots of thought, I finally decided that it's the RUN! I've formed friendships with all the employees of the soda store, it's my time of day to hang out with my good friend Shari and debrief, or in other words solve all of the worlds/wards problems. It's very therapeutic! Do you remember that show Cheers? And the theme song says something about everyone knowing your name. Yeah! That's me at the soda store! Everyone knows my name! They notice if I don't come. My friend Shari and I have always joked about how we are or rather how we should be the customers of the month... every month! We've talked about making ourselves plaques to display at the store. I mean we have our own prepaid account for Pete's sake! We don't even have to bring money into the store when we refill our drinks. They ask us, "Do you just want that put on the book?" We are even occasionally referred to as VIP's! They will say things like, "So how's our VIP today? "So all of this has brought me to the conclusion that it's the RUN!
But then I really do love the bubbly taste of that yummy soda. I find on a typical Sunday afternoon I long for a soda. I have even gone as far as making sure that Saturday night I get my refillable 44 oz. cup filled and put in the fridge for my Sunday's enjoyment. Now this behavior has brought me to believe that it just might really be an addiction of the SODA and not just an addiction of the RUN!
But then I ask myself, really what am I addicted to? I drink caffeine free for heavens sake! Is it really that last little splash of fully leaded Cherry Coke that I'm addicted to? Okay Okay so maybe I'm actually addicted to the soda! That's not so wrong! It could be worse! But really, does any of this really matter? There are lots of things worse than soda! And you know what... If I'm addicted to the soda, that's okay, I'm fine with that! If I'm addicted to the run, that's okay too! Heck I don't really care if it's a combination of the run and the soda. It's really not that bad....
But then last night in the middle of the night, my little 3 year old Talan opened my bedroom door. I looked over at the clock to see what time it was. 12:58 in the morning.
"Talan what's wrong? What do you need?"
"Mom... Yours soda?" he said it in a voice of desperation!
"Talan I don't have a soda!"
"Mom! Yours soda!"
David jumped out of bed and told Talan that he'd get him a sippy cup of water. Talan seemed okay with that and out they went.
And then I laid there thinking. Is Talan addicted to soda? Oh my gosh what have I done to him? I mean it's one thing for me to be addicted... But my 3 year old! Oh for crying out loud! So for any of you who are keeping track... Add this to the list of my many qualities that should earn me "The Mother of The Year Award".
I expect to receive it any year now!

So do you think we should have an intervention?
We could make it into a reality TV show and everything!
Think about it.. A stay at home mom's addiction alters her child's life!
Dramatic!
Na... on second thought, let's just keep this between you and me and consider it one of those really funny things that happens while raising children!

A dream come true!

My life long dream has become a REALITY!
I have officially been welcomed to the
"Itty Bitty Titty" Committee!

I feel as though I should spatter off a well script acceptance speech
in honor of this blessed occasion!

I have some of the greatest friends!
I have been welcomed home with gifts of humor, gifts of delicious treats, the gift of a much cleaner "than how I left it" home, and with no need to worry about how all the mouths in my house would be fed!

Thank you! Thank you!
However I must admit... I was torn between (a.. being utterly mortified at the thought of my sweet friends coming into my "filth" I call home to go over and beyond ANY call of duty to clean out my pantry and wash my blinds and (b.. being overwhelmed with sweet gratitude to have such people in my life I can call friends! I decided it would be better to be greatful rather than be mortified so please accept my FROM THE HEART appreciation and gratitude for you! And please remember... while in the line of service it is oh so important to forget any and all amounts of filth you might have or have not seen while serving your fellow friend!

And as for the nurse that thought it was okay to "check me out" during surgery and then report to my husband while I was in recovery that all I needed to do to achieve perfection now was to lose some weight.... SCREW YOU AND THE DONKEY YOU RODE IN ON!
And in honor of my sweet Grandpa Haws,
I would like to also GIVE YOU ONE OF THESE!
Of course right after I finish eating all these high calorie,
delicious, cause me to be fat ... treats!

And just a little FYI... I will not be posting before and after shots!

It's Full!

The other day I was in working on the computer and Talan came in asking if he could take a bath. I saw nothing wrong with the idea so I went in and got the bath water running for him. He got ready and got in. He played for a while and then got out. When Ethan came home from school I asked him to go drain the bath water for me. He went into the bathroom and then came running back saying, "Mom it's full!" What do you mean "It's full?" So I got up and followed him in to see what he was talking about.
And sure enough, IT WAS FULL!
Talan had seriously put every toy he could find in the tub with him. Well he actually didn't have to look very hard to find them, his toy basket was in my room! I should have taken a picture of all the toys in the water because it was quite the sight to behold, but of course I wasn't thinking about that at the time. I was just thinking that I needed to get the toys out!

So there you have it. Plush toys, electronic toys, plastic toys, wooden toys, EVERYTHING! Anything and everything he could find!
I pulled them all out. Wrung the water out of everything I could, laid out towels and set them out to dry. But the part that annoyed me the most was the electronic toys. I hope that when they completely dry out they work again! His "Fatcow" tractor he got for Christmas, the one that Santa had to search high and low for.... DOESN'T WORK!
ANNOYING!!!

And then late at night as David and I were going to bed. In an Alvin and the Chipmunk like voice... "I'm buzz lightyear, I come in peace!" "I'm Buzz light year, I come in peace!" Over and over again! And then "Too infinity and beyond!" followed by laser light noises.
And then silence.....
And then at random times he would start up again, "To infinity and beyond!"
There was not way I was dealing with that all night! Buzz was sent to Grandma's room for a little time out with the door closed!

You know, you just gotta love a 3 year old! Never a dull moment! Never a shortage of things to talk about! If they're not entertaining you, then chances are they are working up something that will entertain you!

To Infinity and Beyond!

Talan has turned 3!
And oh what a fun age to be!

Talan is so much fun right now!
He loves so many things like...

Toy Story
Thomas the Train
Tractors
Blues Clues
Iron Man
Ice Cream
"Drink, your soda?"
"My Shari!"

While Grandma Adair was here she bought him Buzz Lightyear pajamas that he picked out all by himself.
I went to the store and got him some balloons for his big day. I hid them in Grandma's room and when he woke up on his birthday morning I brought out the balloons. He was so excited!
"BUZZ! WOODY!"

Before church we told him that they would probably sing Happy Birthday to him in his nursery class. After church was over I asked him if they sang to him. He said, "I say, STOP IT!" "Oh you didn't want them singing to you?" "NO, I say STOP IT!"

When we got home from church we gave him the birthday presents we bought him. The new plush Buzz and Woody toys from the Disney Store and a bag filled with wooden train tracks we got used from an ad on KSL. He touched the Buzz and Woody toys just long enough to toss them to the ground to get to the train tracks. "TRAINS!" I of course picked the Buzz and Woody up and made him hold them long enough to snap this picture! I'm sure he was thinking something like, Okay mom hurry and get this picture taken, I've got trains to play with! At least that's what this face is looking like it's saying to me!

OH MY GOSH!
Is that BLUE FINGERNAIL POLISH?
Yes! Yes it is!
Hey! What the birthday boy wants, the birthday boy gets!
HE'S ONLY THREE!
I promise he'll grow up to be JUST FINE!

All the kids had so much fun putting a track together. David and I had fun reminiscing about all the many tracks we had put together years ago that were destroyed within minutes of completion! I would go as far as gluing the stupid tracks down to the train table and somehow they would figure out a way to rip it up! So over the years we got rid of every thing TRAIN at our house. We were done with trains to say the least. And then we got Talan. He not only LOVES trains, he doesn't destroy the tracks! He appreciates a well constructed track! And so here we are doing exactly what we thought we never would. Buying more track! And what do you know, now that these boys are all older, they also appreciate a well constructed track too! So happy Train track building for us!

Could this kid be any cuter?
NO! I don't think so!

I decorated a Buzz Lightyear cake.
Talan was so pleased that Buzz had a laser!!

We took the cake to Jay and Vicki's house for dinner. After dinner we all sang Happy Birthday to Talan! As you can see, the attention was all just a little bit too much for this little guy! To tell you the truth I'm surprised he didn't say, STOP IT! He wouldn't even blow out his own candles!

But it's okay! I'm sure his wishes will still come true!
We love you little guy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!

SURPRISE!

There is just about nothing more fun
than surprising Grandma!

Janice, Jeannine and Mary Alice
While Grandma Adair was here for Christmas she really wanted to see her family. She talked about getting together with Janice and Mary Alice and she said she really wanted to see her brothers, Harry and Everett. Christmas is such a busy time with everyone's own family traditions that I just wasn't sure when it would be a good time to see everyone. The more I thought about it I decided that after Christmas would probably be better than before Christmas. And getting everyone together all at once would be easier than trying to make the rounds to see everyone individually even though it would be fun! So I decided to form a family party! And since surprising Grandma is so much fun... we would make it a surprise!

I called Janice and left a message with her. Then a day or so later Grandma called and left a message too. When Janice called back I told her of my plan and got her on board. I made a few more phone calls, emailed a few people and our surprise was on it's way!

Harry, Jeannine, Mary Alice and Everett
David took Grandma and the kids to the mall to go shopping while I quickly prepared lunch. Everyone came right on schedule parking their cars down the street. As David pulled up to the house after shopping Grandma commented, "It looks like one of your neighbors is having a party!" Yes, it does look like that doesn't it?

She walked in and was VERY MUCH SURPRISED!
My favorite part of surprising someone is the look on their face right at first. You can see their brain trying to figure out how they missed it! How did I not know about this? What were the clues that I obviously missed? And then when you know they loved and apprieciated it, that's when it's all worth it! And Grandma never disappoints! She is always overjoyed!

We had a house full! It was a lot of fun to see everybody. I'm so glad that everyone could come on such short notice. I know that Grandma loved it and that's what's really important!

Puzzles!

This is one of the many puzzles we put together
while Grandma was here.

Growing up I can remember that we always got a family puzzle for Christmas. And then during our Christmas break we would work on it as a family until it was completed. It seems like it took us several days if not a week to complete. But who knows, I was young and it probably only felt like it took a long time.

I was thinking that this would be something fun for us to start doing now that the kids are all getting old enough to help out. We started with a 300 piece puzzle and within a few hours it was complete! So we picked up a 500 piece puzzle and though it was more difficult and annoying to put together, we still completed it in one night. So I guess next year we will have to tackle something much larger. That or become less determined and more relaxed about the uncompleted puzzle sitting at the table!

Christmas 2010

This year we were very lucky to have Grandma Adair come to Utah to spend Christmas with us. Every day that she was here was filled with puzzles, games, and good old fashion grandma fun!

We have never spent Christmas Eve all by ourselves before. We have always gone to either Grandma Adair's, Grandma Haws', Uncle Jay's or Aunt Bette's, but never by ourselves. So this year was different! We don't have any "all by ourselves" traditions! So we did a lot of thinking. What do WE want to do?

On Christmas eve WE watched "A Christmas Story", WE ate a candle lit dinner of ham and funeral potatoes. WE read "The Night Before Christmas" and the story of Jesus' birth in Luke 2. WE had a birthday cake for Jesus where we all sang happy birthday and blew out the candles together. WE opened up our Christmas pajamas and one present from a sibling. WE sprinkled the yard with oats and glitter for the reindeer. And WE set out one slice of birthday cake and a glass of orange juice for Santa. And then WE went to sleep! Well sort of! Some of the children had a hard time falling asleep and drug the night out until around 1:30 in the morning when finally their little sleepy eyes gave up and they drifted off into dreamland!

Surprisingly enough Ethan was the first one to wake. Our little teenager who all Christmas break long didn't grace us with his presents until noon at the very earliest... HE WOKE UP! Could it be his excitement and joy to touch and hold his very own ipad? No, he says he just had to go to the bathroom!

Santa left each of the kids one present and a stocking filled with lots of fun candy and things.

Reagan got a new bike! And a stocking filled with girl things!

Talan got a new bike too! When he first woke up he wasn't so sure what to think or how to act. Once everyone was up, he warmed up and really started to enjoy Christmas morning. He took more than several laps around to house.

Bradon got an ipod touch! Who knew that Santa brings gifts like that. David and I had told the kids that ipods were to big to ask for.

And Carsten got one too! You can tell by the look on his face that he couldn't hold his excitement in. He was so happy it was bubbling out all over!

On Christmas eve Talan fell asleep before it was time to open presents. So we opened his pajamas for him and put them on him while he slept. So on Christmas morning he got to open his gift from Bradon. Bradon had made him a handmade box to wrap it in.

IRON MAN!
Talan loves Iron Man!

After everyone enjoyed their gifts from Santa it was time to open the presents from underneath the tree. Reagan had the perfect plan like any real good teacher would. She decided to make little slips of paper with each of our initials on them. She put them in a elf hat and then drew one initial out at a time. once all the initials were drawn she put them all back and started again. It worked out great! No complaints and everyone got to enjoy watching each and every gift be opened!

Reagan got an art easel. Dry erase board on one side and a chalk board on the other. Now she can be more like a "REAL" Teacher! She also got a pillow pet.

Carsten knew what this one was! He said he knew what it was because of the shape of the box. A snowboard! He also got snowboard boots!

Bradon got a Diablo! He had seen this at his cousin Justin's house in Washington at Thanksgiving. He's been wanting one ever since. Unfortunately he doesn't like the sticks it came with so he's now in the market for a new pair of sticks. Bradon also got snowboard boots to go along with his 5th grade ski passport book.

Grandma didn't expect anything, but that's not what she got!
She got all sorts of gifts/"expressions of love"! How do you give to someone who gives so much yet wants for nothing? You start her gifts off with a letter from the heart!
We love you Grandma!

Talan got a tractor or in Talan's language, a fatcow! He also got a train from Toy Story 3. He really wanted a train! Every present he opened he would say, "Train?" And then finally, it really was a train! Grandma Adair made him his very own Buzz and Woody blanket. He loves it! You know, having an almost 3 year old at Christmas time is priceless! Their excitement and joy is perfect!

All that David asked for this year was this basketball backboard that mounts to a door. He's always thinking of the kids. But he also got a Blue Ray player, a movie to play on his new Blue Ray, and a Family home evening board. That sounds like a funny gift for a man but he's always saying that we need one of those!

Reagan got these cool high top shoes from Grandma. Reagan absolutely loves shoes! And clothes, and jewlry, and anything girly... But shoes I think are her favorite!

Ethan is funny! He didn't ask for anything but an ipad this year in which he saved $400.00 for and only wanted Santa to make up the difference. So when I saw this "little green man" I just had to get it for him. And what do you know, HE LOVES IT! I'm not sure Ethan will ever outgrow action figures or cartoonesk like things. I think it has something to do with the right side of his brain.

I also got a whole slue of things. A new griddle, 2 hand mixers, a down comforter, an outdoor volleyball set and a candle.

It was a wonderful day had by all!
Merry Christmas!

Good, Bad, or Ugly? It is, what it is!

Last week I decided to take the kids to the "Disanor Pace" at Thanksgiving point. For those of you who don't speak "Talan" this means, The Dinosaur Place.

We all piled in the car and took off for our journey. Before we had even gotten a mile from the house Bradon and Carsten started to pick, pull, poke, touch, annoy, scream, bug... almost more than my nerve endings could handle! So I began to warn, like any good mother does. "Boys! Stop it! Don't touch each other! Leave each other ALONE! ...BOYS!" And like my boys always do... they ignored me!
I needed to fill up with gas and so I pulled into the Smith's Market Place parking lot and without getting angry I pulled over, put the car in park, and told the boys to get out! They were like, "WHAT?" "You heard me, GET OUT! Get out and go stand by that light poll and think about your behavior for awhile. I'll be back for you." Bradon who has been kicked out of our car a time or two before quickly got out and stood by the poll. Carsten on the other hand began to throw a fit and cry. "NO! If I get out you wont come back for hours!"
Oh and did I mention that as we left the house I told all the kids to grab a jacket or sweatshirt yet Carsten had chosen to grab neither! Oh well, some kids just have to learn life lessons the hard way!
"Carsten get out of my car! I will not have you behaving this way in my car! Get out and think about your behavior and I'll come back for you. And Carsten, I promise I won't leave you for 2 hours. And then reluctantly, Carsten finally got out! They both stood by the light poll and we drove off.
We drove across the parking lot to the gas station and filled up with gas. Jeannine just kept looking over at me giving a silent little chuckle. All the other kids talked about what life would be like without Bradon and Carsten. "Mom, what if when we go back for them they aren't there? What if they are gone? What if a stranger picks them up?" All very good questions... WHAT IF? Jeannine just kept looking at me, shaking her head and laughing.
Once we were filled up with gas we drove back across the parking lot to pick them up and what did we see? Tweedledee and Tweedledum playing in the snow! Kicking snow back and forth at each other. Looking as unaffected by this little learning experience as possible! Are you kidding me! We drove right up to them and it took them a few seconds to even notice we were there! I SWEAR! What am I going to do with these two kids?
They climbed back into the car as if they had just come off an amusement ride. WOW! Not the reaction I was expecting or hoping for! And then Bradon says, "Mom a lady from our ward pulled over and asked if we needed a ride home." "Really, who was it?" "I don't know her name!" "So what did you say?" " I told her that you would be coming back for us. That you had dropped us off here and told us to think about our behavior." "Really, and so what did she say?" "She just started laughing! She thought it was funny! I told her that I thought you had just gone to the gas station but I wasn't so sure. She laughed and said okay. Mom she thought it was funny!" Jeannine looked at me and said, "I bet whoever it was will say something to you about it at church on Sunday!"
And sure enough she did. It was my friend Barbara Trane. She just laughed and laughed. She thought that that was so funny! She said that she must have pulled up right after I had driven away because Carsten and Bradon were both standing by the light poll looking very worried and upset by the whole thing. Well good! At least it affected them for a minute! She told me that she got a real good kick out of it! She had always threatened her kids that she was going to kick them out of the car, she just never actually did it!
We continued on to Thanksgiving point. The kids all behaved beautifully. We even went to the movies after the museum.

Good, Bad, or Ugly?
I don't know what it was! But it was what it was, and it seemed to work for me! Just one more experience to add to the "mother of the year" book I'm writing!