Gray = Sunshine

Dear Baby Gray,

Today you are approximately 10 months and 13 days old.  Time flies in a house full of boys, eh?  Since Big brother Gabe has been gone this morning (getting evaluated over at the school) I've had a lot of time to spend with you alone.

First, we had breakfast.  Daddy left us yummy oatmeal with blended up dates and strawberries and apple chunks on top.  You polished off your bowl full and then demanded more from my bowl (using the "all done" sign when you really meant "NOT ALL DONE!")

After that, you crawled around a little while I cleaned up.  Your favorite thing to do is crawl past or over any sort of baby/kid toy and head straight for the nearest off-limits area.  The open dishwasher (love to play with those knives) the open pantry (love to pull those large cans down onto your toes) the unsecured desk/computer area (Yes! to eating cords)

Without fail, whilst you go adventuring around the house, you'll find something to chew on.  Not your binky--that will never do.  It must be something forbidden:  a silver gum wrapper, a glittery bouncy ball, a misplaced die from a game.  Any sort of paper or trash will do in a pinch, but you also gravitate to anything small and hard that would be considered a choking hazard by your mother.

After your adventuring (and after I removed a gum wrapper, a glitter bouncy ball and a die from your mouth) you sat on my lap for some one-on-one time.

We played peek-a-boo, and pat-a-cake and worked on our signing ("more" and "all done").  We practiced saying Mamamamama (which came out sounding suspiciously like Dadadadadada) we gave kisses (I know you weren't trying to make me cry when you bit my cheek really really hard with your razor sharp teeth...seventeen times.) and cuddled and cooed and laughed.

Then you started getting restless and fussy and let me know in no uncertain terms that you'd like to eat and then sleep.  Immediately and in that order.  So I nursed you, and cuddled you, and tucked you into your crib under Grandma Fae's blankie.  (Of course you immediately stood up, cried and reached for me, but we both know you didn't mean it.)

Now you're asleep, snoring into the baby monitor, and I'm left with a quite, seemingly kid-less (but messy) house.  A house that wouldn't be the same without you, Baby Gray!  So happy to have you!

Lot's of Love,
Mommy

Sapporo Report

Listen, I could go on and on about our trip to Hokkaido (next island up) for the Sapporo Snow Festival.  But you don't have time for that.  Instead I'll just give you the high(and low)lights:

1.  We saw some really cool, really large snow and ice sculptures:

2.  There was a blizzard:

Baby Gray was NOT a fan

3.  Gabe got lost for 20 minutes shortly after striking this model pose in the snow:

Lost child ALMOST causes international incident

(Doug found him with a policeman across the street.  I was busy trying to get a Swedish ambassador to translate for me.  It wasn't my favorite moment.)

4.  I bought myself a Valentine:
(I don't have a picture so just imagine red, knee-high fuzzy socks with white hearts, made out of the same ultra soft material as the following:)

5.  I bought Doug a Valentine:

(Just kidding.  I bought the socks, but not the ultra soft and fuzzy short spats.)

6.  There were absolutely no snow globes to be found in the whole city.

7.  There WAS, however, a PEACOCK!

Sunday Thought - Love and Marriage

I'm very sad when I say I know far too many people who divorced last year, are in the process of getting divorced, or are planning to divorce.  It is extremely heart breaking.

Therefore, I would like to announce to all of my friends and family that I will accept no divorces this year.  You're just going to have to stick it out until next year.  My psyche can't take it.  

This year you're just gonna have to STAY IN LOVE!!!

That is all.

"Scripturally, the Lord is very clear with us on this doctrine--you can't "fall out of love," because love is something you decide.  Agency plays a fundamental role in our relationships with one another.  This being true, we must make the conscious decision that we will love our spouse and family with all our heart, soul, and mind; that we will build, not "fall into," strong, loving marriages and families.  "Don't just pray to marry the one you love. Instead, pray to love the one you marry."  

(Elder Lynn G. Robbins, "Agency and Love in Marriage", Ensign 2000)

(full text here:http://lds.org/ensign/2000/10/agency-and-love-in-marriage?lang=eng )

Now have a happy Valentines Day!

(That's an order!)

Dear Emily Matchar,

Dear Emily Matchar,

Let's just get one thing straight: Mormon Mommy Blogs and Mormons in general are really super-duper cool.  You are right to love and admire us via your addiction to Mormon Mommy Blogs.

BUT, (and I know this may blow your bloggity mind) we are not all the same.  And our blogs are not all the same.

You need to add a few more "Mormon Mommies" to your Reader to get a more well-balanced view of Mormon's.

I suggest you start with mine!

It will prove that not all Mormon's take professional quality pictures, buy vintage baby clothes, whip up adorable crafts daily and have husbands who wear plaid.  (My husband wears BDU's and scrubs alternately.)

Some Mormon babies have snotty noses!  YIKES!

(However, it MAY confirm that all Mormon's DO love Costco and Target.  But really, can you blame us?) 

Also, many of our women are "overeducated" (just not me) and some of us can't cook. (Sort of me.)  I could go on and on contradicting most of your points but I wont.  Suffice it to say, we're not all alike, we're not all perfect, and we're not all happy automatons.  BUT, we are pretty dang awesome in general and our religion has a lot to do with that.

Just wanted to get that out.

Sincerely,


Emily Dub

P.S.  Quit being such a huge WUSS and invite the missionaries in for Hot Chocolate.  They wont bite you and they'll clear up many of the mis-conceptions you have about our religion.  (And I promise they wont force you into the nearest baptismal font...as long as you don't get too close.)

P.P.S.  If you are NOT Emily Matchar and have no idea what I'm talking about, see this article.

So I Say It's My Birthday!

It's my BIRTHDAY today.  I'm thirty-three.  Three is my lucky number.
Therefore, this birthday should be twice as lucky, right?
Or three times?
Thirty-three times?
I'm not great at math, but lets just say this is a very lucky birthday.
And I'm dreaming big.

First, I respectfully request 33 comments on this blog post.  More would be fine, but 33 minimum.  Not sure what to write?  Let me help.  How about "Three (or 33) things I love about Emily or Emily's Blog."
Be creative.  No rush.

Also, I'd like three different kinds of chocolate.
I'll start things off with some Hot Chocolate.  We just got home from the Sapporo Snow Festival and I'm still cold.  (Also, I need something to help me through the 33 loads of laundry I have to do today.)
Doug will have to rustle up the other two treats.

Lastly, I'd like a three hour nap.  I'm not really sure where I'll fit this in, but I have to try.  I suppose I could shoot for a 33 minute nap.  That might be more doable.   Also, reading time is an acceptable substitution for sleeping time.  But only because I'm in the middle of a good book.

Now I'm off to work on making some of my birthday dreams come true.  Next stop, my couch a mug of H.C.  You and Doug can take care of the rest!

Who could say no to this face???

Happy Birthday to ME!


*Just as I was about to push "Publish Post" there was a knock on the door.  It was my friend Tami delivering a can of Stephen's Chocolate Cinnamon Gourmet Hot Cocoa.  I KNEW it!!!  Birthday dreams really DO come true!!!!!!!

New Year, Same Me

So, I always have this vague, fuzzy goal to "exercise more".  Basically, since I exercise never, "more" could technically mean one time.  Today I met my goal.  I exercised more today than I have in months.  (I was a little motivated to do crunches after having Gray, but as soon as I lost weight, I gave those up for Lent.)

Anyway, Doug suggested maybe I could go to the gym once a week while he's home for lunch.  I couldn't really think of any reasonable objections.  I mean, we all know mornings wont work (for the obvious reason that I'm asleep) and nights are filled with dinner, putting boys to bed and USA shows or, alternately, Pottery Class.

But lunch?  The only thing I'm generally doing at lunch is eating lunch...and day dreaming about a nap.  Both of which--turns out--can be delayed.

So then it was a matter of motivating me to actually do it.  We all know (we married folk) that there is one sure way to bribe your husband to do whatever you want him to do...

And that is by promising to put all four boys in bed on any given night.  Teeth, scriptures, prayers, stories, cuddles, tuck-ins...the works.  It's a big job.  Pulls lots of weight.  (You didn't think I was going to say something else, did you?)

Unfortunately, the same bribe doesn't work for me.  As Doug brain-stormed, I threw out some suggestions:
"Ice Cream party?!"
"No."
"Ice Cream Sundae?"
"Nuh uh."
"Single scoop ice cream cone?"
"Nope."
"Pulling out one of your teeth with pliers?"  (Why should he get to have all the fun!?)
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Obviously he didn't like my suggestions.

None-the-less, even without a bribe in place, we put a date on the calendar.

Next problem:  "But if I go to the gym, whatdoIdo?  Just wander in to any old room and start "working out"? (whatever that means!)  Do I have to check in?  Are certain rooms off-limits?  Do I have to go through a locker room?  I'm scared!  It's scary!  Don't make me go!!!"

Solution:  Healthy Friend Janeen.  She teaches SPIN at the gym.  She goes to the gym of her own free will. SHE would take me and initiate me into the strange, sweaty/stinky world of the physically fit.

So today was the day.  Janeen brought her two little kiddies here for Doug to watch and we set off.  She told me she'd help me and it wouldn't even be scary.  After a brief tour and a "warm-up"(whatever!  That warm-up was HARD) she decided to introduce me to the TRX ropes.  (straps?)  We walked into a room where a smallish, very ripped man was beating the crap out of a punching bag.
It was scary.
I was scared.
I could envision him killing me with a single blow to the throat.

I persevered and did the work out anyway.

Just a few cinchy little exercises.  5 reps each.  No problemo.  This "working out" stuff is a breeze.

Thirty minutes later, we were walking out of the gym and my legs were already a little jiggly.

Now, hours later, sitting calmly at the computer,  my whole body seems to be gently (but painfully) vibrating.

I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be rough day.

I'm going to go take a nap.

Eating My Words

I found a photo folder on our computer P-Dougie had labeled:

"Mom puts child in danger for picture"

 Not true.  Gray was in no danger crawling and climbing around on the kitchen counter.  I was ready to drop the camera and catch him at any moment.  (As long as I got the money shot first.)  

Looking at these pictures made me laugh for several reasons.  See, I'm the youngest of five kids.  And I'm the first to admit I used to be something of a know-it-all*.  

And well, occasionally I saw fit to give my elder(ly) siblings some parenting and child-rearing advice.  

Gleaned from my years of...

book reading and babysitting experience, obviously.  They were always super receptive and appreciative.

Anyway, I remember back in those days having some pretty strong opinions about what kind of parent I would be.  For one thing, I would NEVER let MY child run around in only a diaper.

Even worse, a FULL diaper.

And no child of mine would ever be seen with a snotty nose.

I mean...that's just gross.

How hard is it to just get a tissue and clean the poor kid.

Pretty hard evidently.



*Now I actually do know it all!

Sunday Story

Last night I ran into the Commissary to buy a can of formula.  Yes, I'm still nursing, but we usually give Gray a few ounces of formula before bed to make sure his tummy is nice and full.

I grabbed the formula and then a box of Cascade Dishwasher detergent and ran to the check out.  All the lines were long so the Japanese clerk at Self Check waved me over seeing I only had a few items.  As she helped me, I told her I needed to pay for the Cascade three times.  I started to explain and since she didn't understand me, she waved a manager, also a  Japanese woman, over to help.

I told them that the last time I was in the Commissary, I put two boxes of Cascade on the bottom of the cart.    When I went to check out, I didn't notice them and made it to the car without paying for them--and then didn't have time to run back in.  It had been bugging me for a week and I was happy to finally be taking care of the matter so I could finally take the boxes into the house.

Once both women finally understood they looked at me wide-eyed and praised me for my honesty.  (I felt like saying "I'm a Mormon.  We don't shoplift--unintentionally or otherwise!*" but instead I just smiled.)  Then, before I left, the manager told me a story:

An old man had walked into the store and asked to pay for something he had acquired under similar circumstances to mine.  She had also praised him for his honesty and he replied; (and the story teller touched her head, ears and heart as she said;)
"I don't have my hair, I don't have my hearing, but I have my dignity!"

Awesome.

Reminded me of this story; "Three Towels and a 25-Cent Newspaper" 

...Some 30 years ago, while working in the corporate world, some business associates and I were passing through O’Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois. One of these men had just sold his company for tens of millions of dollars—in other words, he was not poor.

As we were passing a newspaper vending machine, this individual put a quarter in the machine, opened the door to the stack of papers inside the machine, and began dispensing unpaid-for newspapers to each of us. When he handed me a newspaper, I put a quarter in the machine and, trying not to offend but to make a point, jokingly said, “Jim, for 25 cents I can maintain my integrity. A dollar, questionable, but 25 cents—no, not for 25 cents.” You see, I remembered well the experience of three towels and a broken-down 1941 Hudson. A few minutes later we passed the same newspaper vending machine. I noticed that Jim had broken away from our group and was stuffing quarters in the vending machine. I tell you this incident not to portray myself as an unusual example of honesty, but only to emphasize the lessons of three towels and a 25-cent newspaper....   (Read the whole talk HERE.)

Richard C. Edgley, Presiding Bishopric

Any similar stories you have to share?

Happy Sunday!

*I can not speak for all Mormons.  But I can safely say that I'm just not all that special.  Any and all of my friends or family would have done the exact same thing.

The Chosen

He was to be our unspoiled vessel.

Our protected and pampered perfect fourth son.

The one child never introduced to junk food--the healthiest of us all.

And then we went to San Diego last October and Aunt Bethy fed him "Swirls" chocolate frozen yogurt.  (Not a terrible start to a life long sugar habit in my opinion...it is quite yummy, afterall.)

And then to clinch matters, there was this:

 Sammy left his (M&M tube-given-as-a-prize-at-a-party) candy out.

 Based on family statistics, it's all down hill from here.  Next thing I know he'll be sneaking spoons-full of white sugar from the pantry!

"Why didn't someone tell me about this stuff before???"

Oh well.  


Better luck next kid*.


*There will me no next kid until/unless someone gives me a baby girl**.  


**GIVE ME A BABY GIRL!!!

Sunday Thought

When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies?  The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods?  Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?  When the surf of the centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will be standing, because it is a celestial institution, formed outside telestial time.  The women of God know this.  

                                    --Neal A. Maxwell

FYI, Neal A. Maxwell is Max's namesake.  He was extremely intelligent and an eloquent speaker. I always admired his usage of big words...even if I didn't always know what they meant!

Christmas Day Re-cap

Remember how last year was the best Christmas morning in the history of Christmas mornings?  Because Max and Sam both got exactly what they wanted from Santa and couldn't have been happier???

 We had high hopes that this year would be just as awesome.

 Foolish mortals!

Sure, he looks happy now...

Not so much.  I believe the quote we got from Sam was:  "I didn't get ANYTHING I wanted this year!"  (Said as he played with the Buzz Lightyear Lego ship he specifically requested in his letter to Santa.) But hey, you win some, you lose some.  (And by "you" I mean YOU SANTA!  Ya loser!)

Sam=what it looks like to be underwhelmed. At least Gabe is excited by his "Ting fwum da BX wif da two Piewats!"

"Eh, it doesn't suck!"

Max likes his yukata

Gray-Bear eating his "G"

Of course, Santa is not totally to blame, see--Sam decided to change his wish list three days before Christmas after a kid in his class told him about all the different video game systems he'd be getting for Christmas.  Leaving Sam with delusions of electronic gadget grandeur dancing in his head.  (Thanks a lot spoiled tech-saavy first grader!)

A few other problems included: me being completely exhausted and having a really really really hard time staying awake.  Seriously.  Christmas morning.  Normal for me most mornings, but never on CHRISTMAS morning!  Also, some gifts (many books) ordered from Amazon didn't arrive.  Also, I didn't make the breakfast dishes I usually make.  (Sticky buns!  Breakfast casserole!) And did I mention I was just really tired?  I don't really actually remember most of the unwrapping though I've been told my eyes were open and I was in fact in the room.

BUT after a mid morning nap for me, things started to look up.  We had our great friends The F's over for the (also traditional) Ham-Feast-with-the-F's-on-Christmas-Day dinner.  And it was yum-my.  Erin makes the best crescent rolls in the entire world.  The.BEST!

Are you starting to be suspicious that I pick friends based on their cooking skills?  Well, I do.  All my friends are excellent cooks.

I bring my incredible good looks and hot chocolate making skills to the table.
That's how we roll around here.  (Also, my knowledge of hip hop high-school-speak.)

So yep.  We had some great food holidays around here.  Good food, great friends, good times.

Oh, last thing:

My FAVORITE gift received this year?  Glass!  Some "reclaimed" glass floats from Doug and colorful Romanian friendship balls from my sister Jenny!  Beautiful!!!  {Picture forthcoming}

(:  Also, the yummy treat an anonymous friend left on our front porch Christmas Eve!  :)

The end.

A Few Little Things

*THANK YOU to all those who offered to help me acquire the World Market ornaments!  My friend Diane got me two sets and she says they're on the way.  (Yay!)  :)  Dear Diane,  Just so you know, I've been searching this country high and low for a Japanese-y snow globe for your daughter.  I haven't found one yet, but I'm still looking.  I have high hopes for Doug finding one in Sapporo next month.  Cross your fingers for me. (Keychain=no problem.)

(*) (Speaking of Diane, we met and became friends when our husbands were co-residents in Lil' Rhody.  We also had babies about the same time. This is one of my favorite blog posts ever and it happens to feature said babies.  And yes.  That is Jaren's real hair.  And Gabe's real lack of hair.)

*Interested in an irrelevant kid movie review?  I'm talking about "Up" and "Despicable Me" over here.  (Spoiler alert:  Despicable Me wins!)

* Baby Gray is nine months old and cuter than ever.  He knows how to wave, is very good at making kissing noises, (he doesn't cuddle without being forced) and he arches his whole body and throws his head back to signify extreme hunger.  (In other words, he gets himself into nursing position.)

Now that he's mastered crawling (finally) he follows me around the house from room to room wanting to be picked up.  He's hard to resist when he pats my legs and looks up at me with his pretty gray eyes.

(Yep. Still gray!)
(And yep.  Another drooler.  Nerf ammo notwithstanding.)

*Gabe is still obsessed with the word "Peacock".
Enough said.
Peacock!

*Guess what Doug and Max got to go see?

 *Sam says it's not appropriate because they're not modest.  Sam sure is cute when he's not being a punk!

and speaking of Sam and who(m?) he wishes he could live with instead of us...

*Dear Roxanna,
Can we still be friends even though I always blame my family illnesses on you and tell people to call you Roxie?  Please?  I promise to start hurling accusations elsewhere!  Pinky promise!


Goodnight All!

Christmas Eve

Following tradition, we had to have Mexican food for Christmas Eve.  To go with the theme, we invited our Mexican friends, The P's, for the third year in a row.  Actually, only Roxanna is Mexican and a fake Mexican at that.  (This has been declared--by me--based on the fact that I know more about Mexican Christmas traditions than she does.  Plus, she thinks there's no such thing as Mexican Oatmeal Cake although clearly there is--we make it every time we go camping.  I mean, it has cinnamon in it for crying-out-fuerte!  Oh, and I suppose the kids are "half" if you want to split Mexicans hairs, but whatever.)

Anyway, the job of the P's was to make the homemade Tamales.  Yuuummmm...homemade tamales.  Mind you that is not the only reason we invited them.  I repeat, we are NOT using the P's for their tamale making skills!  (Though they are really, really good.)  No no, the tamales are just an added bonus.  And I suppose that means Roxie (she loves to be called Roxie) may have a little Mexican in her after all because she can make one mean tamale.  (And by "mean" I mean "nice".)

Our other guests were our Thai friend Jeena and her beautiful toddler Jane, (no relation to the theme, but we like them none-the-less) and Shannon-a friend from the dental clinic-and her adorable baby Anthony.  It was a fabulous group and I'm kicking myself for not taking any pictures before the little ones headed home!!!  (I'm going to have to try to get some photo's from them and add them later.)

Anyway, lets get to the important stuff:  The Menu!

I made two 9x13's of enchiladas, one vegetarian and one chicken, veggies, no salad, (forgot) Mexican Rice (thank you Goya) and Tres Leches for dessert.  Nothing too exciting, but edible at least.

Jeena brought some homemade spring rolls that were absolutely divine, and Roxanna brought the Tamales. Unfortunately, she misread the recipe.  She thought they needed to steam for one hour, but really they needed to steam for three hours.  Sooo--they were more like "Second Dinner".  Or maybe, Post-Dessert.  Or something.  Either way, they were absolutely DE-LI-CIOUS when we ate them around 9p.m.!  So yeah, dinner pretty much rocked.

After dinner and dessert (but before second dinner/post dessert,) we did our traditional Nativity program.  

Mark read the Christmas story from the scriptures while the kids (with direction from Doug) acted it out.

Gray was the very confused (and inappropriately dressed in baseball sweats) Baby Jesus. 

 (Still cute and sweet though...!)

 Little Q was the adorable angel:  "Glory to God!"

After the Nativity re-enactment,  Jeena and Shannon had to take their little ones home, and then it was time for jammies.  And tamales.  Ummmm.....tamales....yummmmmmmmy.


Gray would rather have paper any day though...so he did.

 Janelle and Baby Gray both got footie jammies and loved them.

We've decided that next year we're going to coordinate and get ALL the kids matching jammies.  Different continents and countries not withstanding.

Aren't they all adorable?

We love our friends and we love Christmas!

(and we love tamales.)

World Market Shopping Help Please!

Do any of you live near a Cost Plus World Market?  If so, can you PLEEEEEEEEEEASE go buy me these ornaments?

The website says they're only available in the store!

But they're HALF OFF!  (Only $5 for all three!)

And I collect glass ornaments!

And they're JAPANESE!!!

So please...can anyone help?  I'll reimburse you all the costs if you ship them to me!!!  (Two packs would be even better than one since my boys might break one!)

They're on sale half off right now, so you have to hurry!

I'll be your new best friend and send you some Japanese Sea Glass for your trouble!!!
:)

With Sugar On Top,
Emily

P.S.  I was on the World Market site buying mugs to go with my Hot Cocoa maker and I love them!!!  (Mine are actually plain with no polka dots, but that set is sold out.  Love these ones too, though.)

P.P.S  Snow has come (too late for Christmas) to Japan!  Hence, I'm Internet shopping while drinking hot chocolate from my new mugs.

Welcome 2011

We had a great Christmas and New Years with friends again this year.  As soon as I have gathered all the necessary photos, I'll blog about 'em.

The boys are FINALLY back at school (well, the oldest two) and all I want to do is crawl back in bed and hide from the laundry.
BUT, it's a new year and this year, I'm resolved to conquer my laundry dilemma--not let it conquer me.  (If I throw away half of all the boys clothes, it would be physically impossible for them to dirty so many, right? RIGHT???)

In other news, my poor little Baby Gray is sick.  He has a low fever and cough and is, therefore, not currently the most smiley baby in the world.  It makes me realize how spoiled I am that normally he lets me set him down occasionally and plays happily.  This week he only wants me to hold him in-between his 5 minute cat naps.

Gabe is also sick with a seriously stuffy nose (the kid refuses to blow his nose!) making him talk with nasal voice (think Ruprecht from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)  "Mother?  Not Mother?  I wanna peanut buttah fandich, Mother!"

My coping mechanism to get me through the long cold winter is the same as it's always been.  No, I don't hide in the kitchen with a bottle of liquor (I'd say "Jack" but that would imply I know what I'm talking about and I don't.)  No, no, when the kids are sick and the laundry is piled up, I hide in the kitchen and drink...

Hot Chocolate.

And this year, I bought myself this handy little gadget to facilitate my addiction.
The Cocoa-Latte Hot Drink Maker from Back to Basics.  I walked into the BX one day and they randomly had two of them.  I took one and ran and didn't look back.

My (Japanese cow) milk consumption has increased ten fold as I'm sure my weight will if I stop nursing right now.

Well, my baby wont stop whimpering so I guess that's my cue to call Urgent Care.
...and then I'll make some hot chocolate.