I intended to write a post by this title about four months ago. That is when I managed to drop Jeffrey's blackberry in between the seat and the center consul in his car, and then, while trying to move the seat to access the phone, crunch it between the motorized components. It literally went, "crunch," and it looked just like you would imagine a phone that has been, well, smashed between two hard, metal devices.
Jeffrey tried really hard to look disappointed, even saddened over the loss of his blackberry. But, since he had spent the previous two years pining and lusting and coveting and committing all manner of sin (figuratively speaking, of course) related to his insatiable desire for an iPhone, he didn't pull off disappointment so well.
With some finagling of our various phone plans, we managed to replace the crushed blackberry (sounds like a type of sorbet) with a Droid X. (His early "Christmas" present -- since I had been planning to get him an iPhone this year already.) And, for the first time in my life, I found myself coveting something electronic.
I really am not a high-tech girl. I don't care how big the TV is, because I don't watch it that much. I don't need the newest devices or fanciest phones, so long as they can make a phone call. Generally, in our marriage, I get whatever is free, while we pay large sums for Jeffrey's electronics.
But, the Droid was really cool. It could do all sorts of things, and I recalled with some fondness the days when I worked for Congress and had my own, first generation, blackberry to use to send and receive email on the go. I really did like it. And this was like that, but WAY, WAY, WAY cooler.
And, I really kinda wanted one. Though I would only have ever gotten one if it was free with my standard Verizon upgrade.
Then, Christmas came this year, and Jeffrey sneakily bought me an iPad. I had told him I wanted one (which I did), but somewhat jokingly, since I knew it was well outside of our Christmas budget. But, he secured the funds, bought it, and then told me as I was opening that under no circumstances was I to even consider returning it. I had to swallow hard to not tell him it was too expensive; I exercised self-discipline to graciously accept the gift and not feel guilty about having it. And, then, I fell in love.
Seriously. It is awesome.
I have read books, watched movies, listened to music, sent emails, edited documents, tracked my spending, kept my grocery list, found directions, read the news, checked the weather, studied my scriptures, kept my calendar, and I don't know what else on it.
The problem is, now it is Jeffrey that is covetous. For the first time ever. Of me.
I feel a little bad for him. The Droid just doesn't seem to be cutting it anymore.
But, I remind myself that he has his ukulele [ click here for more details] to play whenever I decide to hang out with my new BFF instead of him.
I wonder how long the ukulele will suffice...
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Leave it to the Elves
This Christmas I had all sorts of grand ideas about gifts to give.
I love giving gifts, and once I get an idea in my head, it is hard for me to let go.
But this year, I stupidly came up with all sorts of gifts that I had to personally produce.
Before I commenced gifts, I first sewed Halloween costumes and a baptism dress for Mia (see previous posts for exhibits).
Then, I sewed two quilts for my sisters-in-law, assembled a huge floral arrangement for Jeffrey's parents, and commenced Christmas dresses for all three of my girls. I came up with a pattern that involved hand smocking part of the bodice of each dress.
Then, I thought, I would also make matching dresses for their dolls.
Then, I decided to make skirts for all the girls too.
And, their dolls.
Oh, and shirts for the dolls since I could not find any to buy that I liked.
And, aprons for the dolls too.
And, new stockings (since Elsie Jane has never actually had one before) for the whole family.
And assemble, paint, and design custom closets for their dolls to keep all of their new clothes in.
And, sew little shoe and accessory holders to go in the closets.
I don't know what I was thinking!!! I don't know why when I had not started on any of the doll projects by December 6, I didn't see the writing on the wall and scrap the whole idea.
Instead I stayed up to the wee hours of the morning the two weeks leading up to Christmas to insanely finish all of the projects. (And, if I am entirely honest, it was not without a toll and a pretty decent melt down on December 22.)
I love to make things, and I loved how everything turned out. But, in the end I am instituting a rule where all Christmas gifts that are going to be made must be completed prior to October 1 or they will not be undertaken. Anything, not finished by then, will just have to be produced by Santa's elves, not mom.
I love giving gifts, and once I get an idea in my head, it is hard for me to let go.
But this year, I stupidly came up with all sorts of gifts that I had to personally produce.
Before I commenced gifts, I first sewed Halloween costumes and a baptism dress for Mia (see previous posts for exhibits).
Then, I sewed two quilts for my sisters-in-law, assembled a huge floral arrangement for Jeffrey's parents, and commenced Christmas dresses for all three of my girls. I came up with a pattern that involved hand smocking part of the bodice of each dress.
Then, I thought, I would also make matching dresses for their dolls.
Then, I decided to make skirts for all the girls too.
And, their dolls.
Oh, and shirts for the dolls since I could not find any to buy that I liked.
And, aprons for the dolls too.
And, new stockings (since Elsie Jane has never actually had one before) for the whole family.
And assemble, paint, and design custom closets for their dolls to keep all of their new clothes in.
And, sew little shoe and accessory holders to go in the closets.
I don't know what I was thinking!!! I don't know why when I had not started on any of the doll projects by December 6, I didn't see the writing on the wall and scrap the whole idea.
Instead I stayed up to the wee hours of the morning the two weeks leading up to Christmas to insanely finish all of the projects. (And, if I am entirely honest, it was not without a toll and a pretty decent melt down on December 22.)
I love to make things, and I loved how everything turned out. But, in the end I am instituting a rule where all Christmas gifts that are going to be made must be completed prior to October 1 or they will not be undertaken. Anything, not finished by then, will just have to be produced by Santa's elves, not mom.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Maggie is 5!
Maggie turned five this week.
Maggie is so much personality packed into a five year old's body. She is just as picky and opinionated and volatile as ever. But, she is also so sweet and sensitive and tender. Here are five of my favorite things that Maggie has said over the last while and what they reveal about her.
1- "Y-E-S" or "N-O"
Maggie is excited about learning to read and spell. So, if you ask her a question or she says something and she knows how to spell the word, then she will do that rather than speak it.
Regularly conversations sound like this:
"Maggie who does that toy belong to?"
"M-I-A."
"Does she know you are playing with it?"
"N-O."
"Will you give it back?"
"Y-E-S."
2- In response to me asking her to turn off her music and come to lunch: "Mom, I am not in an eating mood, I am in a dancing mood."
Maggie continues to love dance and music. Maggie spends about an hour every day practicing her dancing. She is working hard to learn how to do a cart wheel. And, very longingly, pines for a pair of pointe shoes (which I have told her she cannot get until she is 12). She also loves to listen to music. She hangs out in her room, changing her clothes and fixing her hair, with her music on her i-pod player (And, yes, she has her own i-pod and she got a i-home player for it for Christmas.) turned up way too loud all the time. Seriously, I wonder sometimes if she isn't 15! Her favorite song is Bubbly by Colbie Cailat, to which she knows every word. She also has been begging for a year and a half to play the violin. I don't know many three or four year olds whose top gift wish is a violin, so on the chance she actually has an adeptness for it, we bought her one for her birthday, and she is SOOOOOO excited to learn to play.
On the flip side, Maggie continues to be the hardest child I have ever known to feed. She has expanded her repertoire a bit in the last year to include oranges (sometimes), apples (sometimes) and smoothies with spinach. So, at least, if I am diligent, she eats a little fresh food in her diet. She loves having a birthday cake and plans far in advance how she wants to have it decorated, but she hates frosting. So, usually she does not actually eat her cake. On her own, she requested a chocolate mousse cake for her birthday this year, which she did like, and which is the first birthday cake of hers she has actually eaten!
3- "Mom, will you get Mia a piece of water?"
Just so dang cute, and so age 5! Maggie really loves her sisters. She definitely feels like she is the "middle child" a lot, but she is both Mia and Elsie Jane's best friend. She tries hard to keep up with Mia and often helps her out, offering to clean her room for her (Maggie is definitely the neater and better cleaner of the two!) and get her things she needs. She is also realizing in just the last couple of weeks that Elsie Jane is also becoming a fun friend for her. They were dressed up and dancing like princesses together the other day, and I thought, "Here we go again!" as Elsie begins to idolize Maggie just like she has idolized Mia.
4- "I am going to put you in jail."
Maggie is a fiery spirit. She cannot be false or pretend to feel something. So, if she loves you, it is with all her heart. And, if she hates you, it is with equal passion. When she is upset by something her dad or I say or do (like telling her she can't have more candy, or to turn down her music, or to go to bed) and she gets angry her favorite expression is to tell us she is going to put us in jail. Luckily, once Maggie gets all of her anger out, she is once again very loving. I have come to expect in a given day that she will regularly tell me she loves me and that I am the best mom ever, and that she hates me and I am the worst mom ever. It just goes with the personality.
5- "Please bless the sacrament."
During the last six months, Maggie has started offering the sweetest, most sincere prayers. It really is so precious to listen to her talk about how she loves her family and wants to follow Jesus and do what is right. Every prayer she also asks Heavenly Father to "bless the sacrament." I have told her that the sacrament is blessed every Sunday officially, and she doesn't really need to bless it too, but she does anyway. And, if you really think about it, anytime you have that many hands touching any food, extra blessings are probably helpful!
To celebrate Maggie's birthday her friends from dance class stayed longer to tie dye shirts, have treats, and play games. Then we had a family dinner: mac and cheese, fruit and jello. Maggie's favorites. She loved all her gifts, including a Barbie from Mia, a Rapunzel playset from her friend Emily, a Josephina doll from Grandma and Grandpa (with matching jammies), and her VIOLIN!
Just now, as Maggie ran from my room, she called out: "Bye, Bye. See you next time." That about sums it up.
Maggie is so much personality packed into a five year old's body. She is just as picky and opinionated and volatile as ever. But, she is also so sweet and sensitive and tender. Here are five of my favorite things that Maggie has said over the last while and what they reveal about her.
1- "Y-E-S" or "N-O"
Maggie is excited about learning to read and spell. So, if you ask her a question or she says something and she knows how to spell the word, then she will do that rather than speak it.
Regularly conversations sound like this:
"Maggie who does that toy belong to?"
"M-I-A."
"Does she know you are playing with it?"
"N-O."
"Will you give it back?"
"Y-E-S."
2- In response to me asking her to turn off her music and come to lunch: "Mom, I am not in an eating mood, I am in a dancing mood."
Maggie continues to love dance and music. Maggie spends about an hour every day practicing her dancing. She is working hard to learn how to do a cart wheel. And, very longingly, pines for a pair of pointe shoes (which I have told her she cannot get until she is 12). She also loves to listen to music. She hangs out in her room, changing her clothes and fixing her hair, with her music on her i-pod player (And, yes, she has her own i-pod and she got a i-home player for it for Christmas.) turned up way too loud all the time. Seriously, I wonder sometimes if she isn't 15! Her favorite song is Bubbly by Colbie Cailat, to which she knows every word. She also has been begging for a year and a half to play the violin. I don't know many three or four year olds whose top gift wish is a violin, so on the chance she actually has an adeptness for it, we bought her one for her birthday, and she is SOOOOOO excited to learn to play.
On the flip side, Maggie continues to be the hardest child I have ever known to feed. She has expanded her repertoire a bit in the last year to include oranges (sometimes), apples (sometimes) and smoothies with spinach. So, at least, if I am diligent, she eats a little fresh food in her diet. She loves having a birthday cake and plans far in advance how she wants to have it decorated, but she hates frosting. So, usually she does not actually eat her cake. On her own, she requested a chocolate mousse cake for her birthday this year, which she did like, and which is the first birthday cake of hers she has actually eaten!
3- "Mom, will you get Mia a piece of water?"
Just so dang cute, and so age 5! Maggie really loves her sisters. She definitely feels like she is the "middle child" a lot, but she is both Mia and Elsie Jane's best friend. She tries hard to keep up with Mia and often helps her out, offering to clean her room for her (Maggie is definitely the neater and better cleaner of the two!) and get her things she needs. She is also realizing in just the last couple of weeks that Elsie Jane is also becoming a fun friend for her. They were dressed up and dancing like princesses together the other day, and I thought, "Here we go again!" as Elsie begins to idolize Maggie just like she has idolized Mia.
4- "I am going to put you in jail."
Maggie is a fiery spirit. She cannot be false or pretend to feel something. So, if she loves you, it is with all her heart. And, if she hates you, it is with equal passion. When she is upset by something her dad or I say or do (like telling her she can't have more candy, or to turn down her music, or to go to bed) and she gets angry her favorite expression is to tell us she is going to put us in jail. Luckily, once Maggie gets all of her anger out, she is once again very loving. I have come to expect in a given day that she will regularly tell me she loves me and that I am the best mom ever, and that she hates me and I am the worst mom ever. It just goes with the personality.
5- "Please bless the sacrament."
During the last six months, Maggie has started offering the sweetest, most sincere prayers. It really is so precious to listen to her talk about how she loves her family and wants to follow Jesus and do what is right. Every prayer she also asks Heavenly Father to "bless the sacrament." I have told her that the sacrament is blessed every Sunday officially, and she doesn't really need to bless it too, but she does anyway. And, if you really think about it, anytime you have that many hands touching any food, extra blessings are probably helpful!
To celebrate Maggie's birthday her friends from dance class stayed longer to tie dye shirts, have treats, and play games. Then we had a family dinner: mac and cheese, fruit and jello. Maggie's favorites. She loved all her gifts, including a Barbie from Mia, a Rapunzel playset from her friend Emily, a Josephina doll from Grandma and Grandpa (with matching jammies), and her VIOLIN!
Just now, as Maggie ran from my room, she called out: "Bye, Bye. See you next time." That about sums it up.
In a Nutshell
It has been two months since I last posted. Yep, you read that right TWO full months!
I have had lots to write about and NO time to write. Seriously, I am so very exhausted right now that I am not sure I can even remember all that has been happening. But, I am pretty sure that the summary should include the following:
1- After I finished birthday week and a trip to Jamestown and running my half marathon, we returned home in time to have Jeffrey's mom and sister visit for a few days, wash a whole bunch of clothes, host all the young men and young women from church at our house for their annual planning meeting, attend a slew of church meetings (including training meetings, stake conference meetings, ward council meetings, young women presidency meetings), and pack for our next trip -- all in a week!
2- We had a fun visit to Utah for Thanksgiving. In addition to celebrating Thanksgiving, eating turkey, hanging out with family, having family pictures taken and doing a little Christmas shopping, we also celebrated three family birthdays (Annie, Jenna & Julia). And, definitely the highlight, Mia was baptized!!!!
Mia had been so excited about her baptism. She looked so sweet and kept saying to me, "Is it time yet?" all morning. She even told me that I could not speak for too long, since she couldn't handle waiting any longer than necessary for the baptism. All of our family and several dear, old friends were there. I hope Mia always remembers the amazing spirit and the feeling of being encircled by so many people who love her.
3- We decorated for Christmas and trimmed the tree. We finished shopping and planned events. We visited Santa, twice.
4- Grandma and Grandpa visited for our annual pre-Christmas celebration. We enjoyed opening gifts with them, visiting the Botanical Garden and Smithsonian, eating good food, and having them here to watch Maggie and Elsie Jane dance.
5- We attended school Christmas programs.
6- I got involved in way too many Christmas projects... more on that in another post.
7- We baked cookies, wrapped gifts, and hosted our annual Christmas Eve party. It is fun to have friends to share holidays. We ate delicious food and the kids acted out the nativity. Mia was excited to be an angel and help narrate. Maggie was Elisabeth, Mary's cousin, and Elsie Jane was a sheep -- who decided to strip part way through the performance.
8- Santa visited our house. He came WAY too late this year and needs to be more prepared next year to stop by earlier in the evening. He did, however, manage to spoil the children -- and me. We then joined some friends for a yummy dinner and great time visiting.
9- We celebrated my birthday, New Year's Eve with a game night with the kids that wrapped up at about 9:45, and New Year's Day with a party for all the great ladies I work with in Young Women's at church and their husbands. We also took down Christmas decorations and cleaned up the house, had a long playdate with friends and a tea party, went out to the movies, and spent lots of time in our PJ's.
10- Then, this week, I spent a day catching up on laundry and stuff for church. Buying gifts, baking cakes and cupcakes and preparing for Maggie's birthday and the dance classes I taught on Thursday. Friday night we hosted all the young women in my church class for pizza, games and planning.
And, that is our last two months, in a nutshell. Whew! No wonder I feel so worn out and tired today.
I have had lots to write about and NO time to write. Seriously, I am so very exhausted right now that I am not sure I can even remember all that has been happening. But, I am pretty sure that the summary should include the following:
1- After I finished birthday week and a trip to Jamestown and running my half marathon, we returned home in time to have Jeffrey's mom and sister visit for a few days, wash a whole bunch of clothes, host all the young men and young women from church at our house for their annual planning meeting, attend a slew of church meetings (including training meetings, stake conference meetings, ward council meetings, young women presidency meetings), and pack for our next trip -- all in a week!
2- We had a fun visit to Utah for Thanksgiving. In addition to celebrating Thanksgiving, eating turkey, hanging out with family, having family pictures taken and doing a little Christmas shopping, we also celebrated three family birthdays (Annie, Jenna & Julia). And, definitely the highlight, Mia was baptized!!!!
Mia had been so excited about her baptism. She looked so sweet and kept saying to me, "Is it time yet?" all morning. She even told me that I could not speak for too long, since she couldn't handle waiting any longer than necessary for the baptism. All of our family and several dear, old friends were there. I hope Mia always remembers the amazing spirit and the feeling of being encircled by so many people who love her.
3- We decorated for Christmas and trimmed the tree. We finished shopping and planned events. We visited Santa, twice.
4- Grandma and Grandpa visited for our annual pre-Christmas celebration. We enjoyed opening gifts with them, visiting the Botanical Garden and Smithsonian, eating good food, and having them here to watch Maggie and Elsie Jane dance.
5- We attended school Christmas programs.
6- I got involved in way too many Christmas projects... more on that in another post.
7- We baked cookies, wrapped gifts, and hosted our annual Christmas Eve party. It is fun to have friends to share holidays. We ate delicious food and the kids acted out the nativity. Mia was excited to be an angel and help narrate. Maggie was Elisabeth, Mary's cousin, and Elsie Jane was a sheep -- who decided to strip part way through the performance.
8- Santa visited our house. He came WAY too late this year and needs to be more prepared next year to stop by earlier in the evening. He did, however, manage to spoil the children -- and me. We then joined some friends for a yummy dinner and great time visiting.
9- We celebrated my birthday, New Year's Eve with a game night with the kids that wrapped up at about 9:45, and New Year's Day with a party for all the great ladies I work with in Young Women's at church and their husbands. We also took down Christmas decorations and cleaned up the house, had a long playdate with friends and a tea party, went out to the movies, and spent lots of time in our PJ's.
10- Then, this week, I spent a day catching up on laundry and stuff for church. Buying gifts, baking cakes and cupcakes and preparing for Maggie's birthday and the dance classes I taught on Thursday. Friday night we hosted all the young women in my church class for pizza, games and planning.
And, that is our last two months, in a nutshell. Whew! No wonder I feel so worn out and tired today.
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