"Count Your Many Blessings Name them One By One"

The opening song in sacrament meeting today was Count your many blessings, so I'm gonna... (but just today's blessing 'cuz this is gonna get long)

1. Sis. Levi smiling when she sings this song. It made me giggle because I don't see her smiling when she conducts very often. Maybe I'm just not usually looking.
2. A little CTR 6 girl that always waves wildly as she passes by us and sits a few seats in front of us.
3. My husband being a worthy priesthood holder and his friend inviting him to the circle to bless their new baby.
4. The sacrament and my opportunity to renew my covenants with my Heavenly Father each and every week.
5. Youth speakers who give short talks and look up briefly, probably because their mom told them to or they learned it at school.
6. A talk on obedience. "I will go, I will do, the things the Lord commands." I'm back in that place, after a short sabbatical.
7. Colored pencils. They don't mark on beautiful dresses like markers do.
8. Sweet babies reaching over the pew to pull on my shoe.
9. Funny toddlers laying on the floor and eating a gummy that I believe had been there at least a week. (I didn't tell his momma)
10. Standing to sing a patriotic song. I giggled again. What's wrong with me?!
11. Bishop Randall and his awesomeness. (If that is not a word, it should be and it would list him as an example.) Ask and ye shall receive: I asked him for a copy of his talk and he emailed it to me. I'll get to that tomorrow morning.
12. Email and working computers. (we only have one that works, but I like it)
13. Talks that bring it all together and make a lot of sense, at least to me. I must have a youth mind, because Duclos is in charge of the young men now and this is the first time that what he's said has really hit home with me.
14. 16 cable channels.
15. Movies.
16. My husband realizing that the grin on my face has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that "da Bears" just got a first down because although I was looking at the TV, I wasn't actually watching it.
17. Fresh pinto beans that actually get soft once they are cooked.
18. A daughter that can follow a recipe for cornbread and has almost mastered the cleaning up part as well. Yum.
19. Sad 4 year olds that actually let them hold you when they are upset.
20. Christmas trees with twinkle lights.
21. Dishwashers and the "dish fairy" that comes and empties the dishwasher.
22. Harry Connick Jr. He is just plain talented. How can I possibly know it's his song just by the introductory instrumentals? Nice voice, and not too bad to look at either.
23. Cheerful people that dot their i's with little hearts.
24. The temple. (so sad that it will be closed for 2 weeks, what will I do?!)
25. Temple lights. Who wants to go?!
26. Blackberry pie... even though I haven't had a slice. I'd like it heated with real vanilla ice cream, on the side.
27. Choir practice, directors, songs I can sing, sectional practice, and fun. I got the giggles again! It must be something about the music.
28. Tithing.
29. Bishopric.
30. Cell phones.
31. Good friends.
32. Resurrection.
33. Christ's birth.
34. Forgiveness.
35. Repentance.
36. Prayer.
37. Faith.
38. New York.
39. Tempe.
40. Family, my mom especially.
41. Old people.
42. Young people.
43. "In between people."
44. Sleeping babies that sleep on me even though I'm not their mom.
45. Relief Society.
46. Primary.
47. Fun service projects and making plans to get together with friends to sew, sew, sew.
48. A husband that realizes that you are at your wits end, sends you off to choir practice an hour early, lets you come home an hour late, AND makes you a pizza-dilla for dinner.
49. Snoopy.
50. Sleeping children.

I'm gonna stop here though because this is just getting out of hand. Count your own blessings, it will put a smile on your face, and might give you the giggles!

More answers...

1. Man, this dude's got dogs. I don't do dogs. The Italian Job
2. You're a flat, lying, curd dog. Pure Country (George Strait really can't act, but he sings well and isn't too bad on the eyes)
3. You're killing me Petey! Remember the Titans (we use this quote a lot when we can't believe what someone said or did.)
4. You mocked me once, never do it again. Princess Bride, of course. (I say this to Bill a lot)
5. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. Finding Nemo (this is good if you are doing something over and over and want to forget that it is a really boring task)
6. You broke THAT jaw? Tango and Cash
7. My boyfriend likes them because they make his junk smell like pie. (Juno, this movie is worth the watch just for the unbelievable banter between the characters)
8. No, what you heard was the President's girlfriend telling her boyfriend that she had a bad day. An American President
9. Who else would order lettuce and tomato without something like tuna? Sleepless in Seattle
10. It-lee? What are you doing in It-lee?! Only You (Fisher Steven's character Larry says it)

The bonus quote was said by William Petersens character, Cecil "Stud" Cantrell in Long Gone. I'm ashamed to admit that I watched this movie about 10 too many times while I was in high school. My friend and I thought it was a riot. When Bill went to rent this movie about 5 years ago he could only find it in one teeny video store in Scottsdale. He stopped by on his way home from work and couldn't believe it was only available on VHS and was cheaper to buy the dang thing than it was to rent it. So now we own it if you want to borrow it. But like I said, don't judge me. It's a baseball movie, what can I say? I love baseball.

A Near Perfect Day to Begin the Season

My mom is the best and I don't do enough for her. She will be 75 this year and is still working so hard. There are a million pine needles laying around her house in Forest Lakes that need to be raked up so she can have peace of mind come summer time and the fires are a blazin'. Every year I intend to go up and help her but never seem to make the time. This year I decided to enlist some help and asked Crystal if I could take her 2 oldest kids with me, thinking that they would help Kyra to work a little bit. Well, to my surprise, the whole Lee family asked to come up for the day. Of course you can come, silly people, the more the merrier. Then I told my mom. My mom, the worrier. My mom, the worrier, that watches the news and the weather reports and drives me insane with her constant obsession with what could happen on the roads when there is anything other than a sunny day.

Fast forward a week and we make it to this Friday...

Bless the Lee's for taking Tasha in their van for the drive up to Forest Lakes! What a delightfully argument-free road trip that was. I can even deal with sitting in the back seat while Cyrena was carsick because I did not have to listen to the smallest little bit of whining from either of my children. Aah, sweet peace, even sweeter with the addition of a wonderful Christmas CD that Crystal gave me right before we left. Gotta love me a little Harry Conick Jr. Yes, yes.

But the biggest surprise of all was SNOW!!! There was snow on the ground at my mom's house. Not just any snow either. Snow that could be rolled into a giant snowball to form a snowman. Snow that could be packed together to build the wall of a fort. Snow that made the best snowballs that I have ever thrown. It was perfect 35ish degree weather, the sun was shining, and we had great friends with us to deflect some of the arguing that would have undoubtedly ensued had they not been there. The kids built a snowman first thing, but then sacrificed it to build their wall larger. We launched snowballs at each other throughout the day and the kids didn't do too much whining about being hit. The adults had to be careful with our aim, so it was probably good that it didn't get too competive. They then sacrificed their wall for the sheer fun of destroying it. Silly kids that never see snow! We had lots of wet clothes, used the dryer a few times, and they enjoyed some hot cocoa to warm their little bodies. I was sweating just watching Cyrena drink her hot drink, inside, with her coat still on. My mom got to play with Brandon a little bit and witnessed Tasha's absolute obsession with that little boy. She also learned that Ethan just really wasn't going to respond when you call him Nathan.

We had some lunch, played some cards, raked some pine needles, put up my mom's Christmas tree, played some bananagrams, ate some dinner, and did a lot of laughing. If you know me, and like me, you like my mom. I learned to laugh from my mom. Not only do we appreciate a good joke or a funny situation, we both know how to laugh at ourselves and things that others might be offended by. Things like "oxygen day". Wednesday at Fry's is what Crystal has named "oxygen day" because they give a discount to senior citizens and all the old farts are wheeling around with their oxygen tanks in tow. Now I know my mom, and I know that she would appreciate this new term, but the Lee's don't know her as well. I don't know how the subject came up, or who said the term first, but it was out there and they went immediately into defensive mode trying to make it sound a little less anti-old people. Again I say it, my mom is the best. She thought it was a riot and there was no tension whatsoever.

I forgot how much time my mom spent coming to our ward last spring after she had foot surgery. She knew Crystal as my "short, dark-haired friend" from Relief Society and said she always appreciated her comments during the lessons. (The "short" is in reference to her hair and comes with a hand motion above the ear because my mom can't talk without her hands.) She also knew Jared and was used to seeing him on the stand with the bishopric. My mom said she enjoyed talking with Jared and was surprised that they knew some of the same people from the same small little town. The funniest part though was when she said he was such a "typical man". This has to do with the putting up of the Christmas tree. I was busy with Tasha so I didn't see or hear the whole thing. All I know is my mom told Bill and Jared how the 3 piece tree was supposed to go together, they didn't listen and did it their own way, then they took it apart and reassembled it the same way my mom said it needed to be done. Typical men.

All the kids did really well most of the day. Tasha had a moment when Derek and Ethan were playing together and she felt left out, but I think hunger was taking over then. Cyrena was a bit sad when all the kids went inside and she wasn't done in the snow. Ethan and Tasha annoyed their mothers as we tried to help them play a game that was way over their heads. The real meltdown came when it was time to leave. We were making seating arrangements in the vans and Tasha just lost it! I don't know how Ethan and Derek faired through the final decision (each family rides in their own van) because I was inside with Tasha screaming and running at the door as I deflected her little 30 pound body back into the living area. All I know for sure is that had I not just spent the whole day with Crystal I would not have handled the situation nearly as well. She has this calming influence on me that allows me to let things roll off and act more like an adult. There would have been a lot of yelling (on my part) and crying (from both kids) and my mom would have been devastated as we left with 2 screaming children. As it turns out, I never lost it, both my kids calmed down, we found an amicable solution for everyone, and were all able to hug and kiss my mom before we left. When I called her later she didn't even mention the incident, so I know she isn't dwelling on it.

So, for all her worrying and fretting over icey, snowy roads, my mom is just going to have to live with the fact that we had a safe trip and no harm came to any of us. I'm sure to use it against her in the future. We'll laugh about it, and she'll keep on worrying. Worrying is one thing that I did not inherit from my mom, and it drives her crazy! You're the best, mom, and Bill agrees. He said it a few times today.

Tis the Season

...for a survey on your holiday traditions. Thanksgiving is officially over, I had turkey with Bill's family at 6:30ish this evening and the kids are now tucked safely in bed. The livingroom has been cleaned and rearranged, ready to put up the tree. The navity is set out and the stockings are hung. So here goes, feel free to copy and paste and add it to your blog.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like to wrap the packages and not label them to keep the kids (and Bill) guessing. I have a way to tell, but they don't know until Christmas day.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, I'm allergic to pine
3. When do you put up the tree? Whenever we get around to it, but before Christmas Eve
4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever we get around to it, hopefully before Valentines Day
5. Do you like eggnog? About a 1/4 cup per year. Eggnog shakes on the other hand... yummy!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A pom-pom making kit that I did while my grandpa drank coffee and the rest of my family slept.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My nephews as they grew up and had everything they could possibly need or want
8. Easiest person to buy for? Kyra
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yep
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Starbucks coffee, from a student. (It's the thought that counts!)
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Miracle on 34th Street (I believe!), Charlie Brown is also good, and I like to watch When Harry Met Sally even though it's not really a Christmas show.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Black Friday, if I'm lucky
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Last year I found a car sponge that we had put in Bill's stocking the year before and he hadn't used it. We put it back in his stocking and he said, "didn't I get one of these last year?"
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Peppermint bark, but I'm off chocolate this year
16. Lights on the tree? of course: some twinkly, some solid, a bubble strand, and some gingerbread men (I try to pick up a funky strand at the after-Christmas sales)
17. Favorite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard On High (I can almost sing the alto line without help!)
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Whatever it takes. Next year we'll be at Disneyworld!
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Probably, if there are 8. (plus Rudolph, and Olive)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? An angel until Christmas Day, then the new star appears
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning Santa leaves a gift unwrapped for everyone and the stockings are fair game, then we open the rest together.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Bell ringers, they make me feel guilty
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? it varies from year to year
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Christmas Eve we have chili and tamales that I helped assemble
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Peace on earth, financial security, good health, a happy family, and good friends.

$5, the Mean Girl, and I've been slammed!

What is it about getting a $5 rebate in the mail that makes you want to jump for joy? It's not the $5, even if you do really need to buy butter and milk (which I already had). I think it's the fact that when you read the ad you were excited that you could get such a good deal. You went to the store, bought the specified items, tore off the proof of purchases, copied the sales reciept, enveloped it up, and sent it off... doubtful that you would ever get a response. But wait! Low and behold, just when you had given up because it was the end of the "9-45 week processing" time, you receive the check in the mail. WooHoo! 5 bucks, whatever shall I do? Maybe I'll frame it to prove that rebates do come through.

I was walking past the livingroom, listening to the girls argue with each other about nothing in particular. I said, "Hey, mean girl?" and Tasha answered, "what?". Are you laughing? I was.

Then I open an email that was in response to an email that I had sent earlier that day. We'd been debating back and forth for a while and I wasn't making much sense for who knows what reason. I think I ususally make sense, but today was an off day. I finally found a quote that totally summed up my thoughts and sent it away. The response I got? Here goes: "That is a coherent, well-thought out statement.Where'd you quote it from, cause I know you didn't think it up." OOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUCH! I actually said that out loud. The kids asked me if I was alright. I think I'll be fine. What a riot.

Now I'm going to go enjoy a scrumptious turkey pot pie that I actually cooked all by myself, from scratch. Well, the crust was sort-of by scratch, and looks atrocious, but it all smells delish!

My Garden...

Oh, just kidding!

This is what I am greeted by as I walk up to the school that I tutor at. Aah, what money and free time can buy you. They were all transplants, probably from a posh, uptight, and overpriced grower in North Scottsdale. That's what I'm going with anyway.

OK, here's my real attempt (sorry if you're bored with movies by now)

Yes, they are easy. So the rule is (at least for #4 and #5) that you have to answer with another quote from the same movie.

1. Man, this dude's got dogs. I don't do dogs.
2. You're a flat, lying, curd dog.
3. You're killing me Petey!
4. You mocked me once, never do it again.
5. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.
6. You broke THAT jaw?
7. My boyfriend likes them because they make his junk smell like pie.
8. No, what you heard was the President's girlfriend telling her boyfriend that she had a bad day.
9. Who else would order lettuce and tomato without something like tuna?
10. It-lee? What are you doing in It-lee?!

The bonus quote that only Bill will get. Don't judge me, it was a memorable line:

"When God made man, he made 'em outa string. He had a little left so he made that little thing. When God made woman, he made her outa lace. He didn't have enough so he left that little space. Thank you God!"

Hint: The actor played a lead role in one of the CSI's and he was very young in the movie. In CSI his character really loves bugs.