Happy Mother's Day!

One Hot Mama!!!

At my mom's wedding to John

Baby Emily with Faezer in Cottonwood Hospital

Sunday, February 12, 1978
Three days after my birth.  From my mama's journal.  (Which she is letting me borrow.)

Sweet Emily...I sure love having her with me.  I talk and sing to her and she stares right into my eyes like she understands every word....It's peaceful, and a sunny day, and I sure feel happy and lucky to have my sweet daughter here at last.  I'm thankful and telling Heavenly Father real often how I love her and that I'll do my best to bring her and all the children back to Him.  My five babies have been my most faith-promoting experiences.  They have all been miracles--how can anyone doubt God's love and power?  The baby, in my opinion could easily have died in delivery, yet was born without one mark!  A perfect treasure to protect and give back to Heavenly Father still beautiful, pure and lovely!  What a challenge in these days.  I hope we can do our best with all five--they all belong to Him and have such great potential!

Hope you don't mind me sharing this, Mommy!  It sums up for me some of your greatest qualities as a person and as my mother:  Your strong faith in a loving Heavenly Father, and the tremendous love you have for your children.  (And now grandchildren.)  I love you lots and lots and can't wait to see you in August!  xoxoxo

Faezer holding Gabey-Baby

In Cape Cod after Gabey was born

Baby Gray's first "official" bath

And a special thank you to my mother-in-law Susan for raising such a great son!  He made me French Toast with caramelized peaches for breakfast, and a Thai feast for dinner today.  I think I'll keep him!   Plus, you're just a cool lady even without taking your exceptional off-spring into consideration!  We love you.  And some day I'll download a bunch of your photo's to show off on my blog! :)

To all the Mommies out there:  May you strive to be as cool as mine.

In front of Camino

To the FOUR boys who made me a mama:  Thank you for not leaving too many stretch marks.  I love you lots and lots.  Now please go flush and wash!

And to those of you who HAVE a mother (or two or three):  My mom can beat up your mom.  (If she wanted to, but she doesn't.)

Happy Mother's Day!!!

More on Mother's Day

Never, never, ever ever in my entire life time full of Sunday's have I ever gotten so many compliments during a single church visit.  Men, women, and children all noticed and complimented my Mother's Day gift from Maxwell!  

(See if you can spot it in the picture below.  Hint:  I'm wearing it around my neck.)He made me a necklace!!!

He found the shell at the beach and then came up with the idea to make it into a necklace--for me--all by himself.   (Doug drilled a small hole in it and hung it from a small copper wire loop.  Then they hung it from string.)Pretty stylin', right?  And definitely a show stopper!  Man, I love that kid! 

Speaking of Mother's Day gifts, Doug got me the book (at my request) "In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms" by Dr. Laura.  I'm only a few pages in, but reading those first few pages last night and this morning, made me feel an additional surge of gratitude for my Mother who was not only a SAHM, but a HOMEMAKER who made our home a nice place to be.  

***Pardon me as I get a little introspective here for a moment:***

It made me want to reevaluate my feelings about homemaking and think of it as more of a blessing than a curse.  I've always been happy that I'm able to be home with my kids.  It's the job I've always wanted.    

But I've never been thrilled with the rest of my job description:  i.e., housekeeping.  Let's face it:  I'm not good at it.  I skip from task to task in my usual easily- distracted way leaving the detritus of half-done chores in my wake.  And cooking tends to give me a back ache so it's not my favorite either.  (Plus, I'm really bad at thinking of WHAT to make for dinner every night.  That's half the battle right there.)  Oh, and did I mention how much I loathe laundry.  I do.  I loathe it.

BUT!  This is the life I've chosen so I need to get my attitude in line.  (And maybe start using my pottery money to hire a Mamasan to help me clean...?)

I remember my mom saying once that it always made her a little sad when her kids were potty trained.  (Me:  "HUH?")  Because she enjoyed being able to ensure that they were always nice and clean and cared for.  Talk about a paradigm shift!  I'd never looked at diaper changing in such a positive light!   But it's true!  Not only is diaper changing time the perfect time to give zerbets, but I can also be sure that my little angel/demon's bottom is in pristine kissable condition when I'm finished.  (Even if it sometimes means wrestling him to the ground, enduring shrill screams, and the use of 58 wipes.) 

Anyway, those are my early morning ponderances (<----possibly a made-up word) for what they're worth.  (Do I hear 25 cents anyone?  A dime?  A nickle?)

So to all you mom's out there, you deserve a Bon-Bon.  And the rest of you, you all have mom's so you may as well have a Bon-Bon too.

Good game. 

Now it's time for me to get back to work.  I have laundry to do.

Hey Fae! Whaddaya Say? HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

I would like to publicly announce that my mom is in fact 

better than your mom!  

Sorry, but it's true.  

Deal with it.

Here are some things I've learned from The Faezerator over the years:

• The importance of Christ-like service and kindness.  She gives both freely and abundantly.  
• How to be thrifty, shop for bargains, and clip coupons.
  
• "You're skinny enough!  You don't need to exercise!"  (Reiterated throughout high school and college on the rare occasions I tried to start working out regularly.  Although she hasn't mentioned it lately...!)
• "It takes two to fight."  (Told repeatedly to my sister Jenny and I if we ever tried to tattle on the other person.)
• How to be a great Hostess--(you over-feed your guests, in case you were wondering...!) even if it was a role she didn't always relish.  (She did all the work while the rest of the family enjoyed the company.)
  
  
• How to make homemade whole wheat bread, cook a turkey, and make Taco Soup Stuff.
  
• If you insult someone you have to say three nice things to them to repair the damage to their psyche.
• Popularity isn't worth it.  (Not worth tears, and definitely not worth the price of Gerbaud Jeans or an Espirit Book Bag.)
• Doug is a great man, you're lucky to have him, quit picking on him, he's always right!  (She always takes the side of the in-laws, darn her!)  (Of course, I DID know the first part.)
  
  
• To love reading.  Starting in first grade, after being diagnosed with "borderline ADD", I climbed in bed with her every evening to read.  First she read to me, then gradually, I started reading to her.  I went from being a slow reader, to one of the best in the class that year.  Being a good reader is the only thing that made school bearable for ADD-me.
  
• To love good music.  I remember many dates to see Symphonies and Operas with her as a kid.  She was also the one who drove Jenny and I to weekly violin lessons, orchestra practices, and recitals.  (Plus, she listened to a LOT of church music which is why I know all the words to every Janice Kapp Perry song ever written--and who sings them.)
  
  
• To love children and find joy in motherhood.  You'll never find someone who loves or nurtures her grand-babies more.  And I know she was the same with me and my siblings.
• Laughter is the best medicine. 
• I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!  
• There's always hope.  (Even after getting breast cancer twice, losing a home, and being divorced.)
• How to be a great mom!  (I just try to follow her example.)

You're the best Mommy!   I love you lots and lots!!!

Another Fabulous Giveaway!

I have some great news people!  I already have another FABULOUS giveaway for you!!!  Just in time for MOTHER'S DAY!!!!  Yes!  So soon after the Frame-Name giveaway!  You should be feeling extra loved!  (If you are one of the five Frame-Name winners, be sure to cash in!  My dad wants to send you your prize!!!)

So here's a little back story since I LOVE back story:  

(Or you can just skip right to the giveaway details.)

When I was 16, I moved with my mom from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Carlsbad, California.   I (tragically) left a tight group of friends back in Salt Lake.  My best friend, Ang, fortunately didn't forget about me and we stayed close despite being a few states apart.  After I left, Ang did something unforeseen.  She got into Ska.  No, it's not some crazy illicit drug.  It's a musical style. (genre?)  Sort-of a mixture of Reggae and Punk and Big Band (high school band?) and abject silliness.

At some point, I think at a Ska concert, Ang met Kylie who went to another area High School and also liked Ska. (Alta?  Highland?)  And then at some other point, I met Kylie through Ang.  I'm thinking I met her in California.  But it's quite possible I met her on a visit back to S.L.C.  Anyhoo...

She's a super cool girl.  And she married the big brother (Jonathon who is super funny) of another friend of ours, Malia.  (Who stole my Moses collage freshman year.  I'm still waiting to get him back.)   And we kept in touch.  And whenever I threw a party with my roommates in Provo (Party-o) I invited Kylie and Jonathon to come down from Salt Lake.  And they usually did.

Since I've known her, Kylie has never stopped doing artistic and creative things.  First, she was in a band...(possibly still is?)  Then she went to school for Graphic Design and worked as a Graphic Designer doing really super cool stuff.  Then she and her cousin Shawna started their own jewelry business:  Snapdragon Jewelry 

 (Etsy shop here!)  

And they make some VERY COOL STUFF!  And they want to give some of it away to YOU!   Lucky, lucky YOU! 

Giveaway Details:  Snapdragon Jewelry is generously offering three beautiful prizes:  (All found in their Etsy shop.)

#1 Black Onyx Chandelier Earrings

Description:  Try our sleek and whimsical Black Onyx Earrings! They are hand-wired Chandelier Earrings with black Onyx beads, sterling silver wire and hooks.

I love these because a) I love black, and b) they would make a statement without being too heavy.

#2  Charcoal Glass Earrings
Description:  Our sleek and sophisticated Charcoal Earrings will add glamour to any style. Made with Charcoal colored foil glass beads hanging on hand-shaped sterling silver hooks; Hangs about 1.85”  You could basically wear these every day and look super hot and chic.

#3  Carnelian Earrings

Description:  Try out our beautiful crimson Carnelian Earrings. They're perfect for Mother's Day! Deep red Carnelian beads and sterling silver wire and hooks; Hangs about 1.25”

I love red.  LOVE IT!  Red is the perfect color to add punch to whatever you're wearing!  So pretty!

Here's the dealio:  To enter to win, leave a comment on THIS POST saying which jewelry item you love the best!  Either one of these three, or something else from their fabulous Etsy shop or Snapd website.

To get an EXTRA TWO entries, put a link to this post on your blog (and tell me you did it in the comments.)

Anything from Snapdragon Jewelry would make a GREAT Mother's Day gift for YOU (If you are married just do the shopping for your husband.  He'll thank you for it!), or your WIFE, (I know I have 5 or so male readers out there!  You can thank me for this fabulous gift idea later.) or your MOM!  (Honestly, you should be giving your Mom a new house since she DID give you life.  But she'll love this jewelry just as much.  Mom's are good that way.) 

And since not everyone can win, (especially if you're too lazy to enter.) Snapdragon Jewelry is offering a generous 20% discount on their already affordable items to my readers.  

(To take advantage of the 20% discount: e-mail snapdragonjewelry@gmail.com with the item you'd like and "acte gratuit" for the promotion code and you'll get an invoice e-mailed back to you. OR purchase directly from the Etsy store.  Enter "acte gratuit" in the "message to seller" box and DO NOT finalize the order...Kylie will send you an updated invoice first.)

So chop-chop people!!!  Mother's Day is coming right up!!!

We're going to give this 5 days!  You have until noon on Monday to enter (Japan time) and winners will be announced shortly thereafter.  (Which is Sunday night for all y'all.)

 I leave you with--

A few other little beauties to tempt you...

(The above sets were found on www.snapd.net.  Happy shopping!!!)

Happy Mother's Day!

(One hot mamma!!!)

"Hey Fae, whatdaya say? Wanna go play? Down by the bay? I just may!"*


This was a common refrain from me in High School when I wanted to torment my mother.


Oh, and this;

"Faaaaaeee! Is this corn hand shucked?"**


Sometimes this;

"Fae, you're the devil!"***


Her inevitable response was "DON'T CALL ME FAE! Call me MOM!!!" and/or "I am NOT the devil!!!" But she could never keep a straight face and usually started laughing so I just taunted her a second time.****



*****

(In front of our Camino house in S.L.C. I love that she's barefoot!)

When my friends asked me why I called my mom Fae I'd reply, "With a name that cool, how can I not?"

But really it was just to tease her. (Until it became an unbreakable habit, that is.)
Now I either call her Fae or Mommy. One or the other.

Old habits die hard.


My point here is, Fae is awesome. She has a great sense of humor and doesn't take herself too seriously. When I'm dealing with my kids, I use her as an example of how to be a good mother. She was always extremely patient with me. I can't speak for the older kids, (they were a LOT naughtier than me) but I don't ever remember her yelling. All she had to do to discipline me was show her disappointment and I'd apologize pretty darn quick. Her good opinion was that important to me.


Recently, my mom remarried. At first I was really excited when she got a boyfriend. Then I started getting a little (okay, a lot) jealous (having always been her favorite child/human). But now I'm just happy she's happy. Even though I have to share her attention and affection.


Faezer, you're the best mom I could have asked for. I love you lots and lots!!!


Lot's of love,

Your favorite child, Emily

P.S. There have been a LOT of other great Mom's in my life. Especially the mom's of all of my High School and College friends. But I'm especially grateful for Doug's mom for raising such a fabulous son. (And one with low enough standards to marry me!!!) Thanks Mom-Susan!

*Adam Sandler in "Happy Gilmore"

**Bill Murray in "What About Bob?"

***SNL skit with Mike Myers and Nicole Kidman. "I'm a hyperactive hypoglycemic. I'm a hyper-hypo!"

****Frenchman taunt from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"

*****Yes, I know I need to get some original material.