White Minivan

A Few of my Favorite Things

2011-03-04T12:09:00.001-08:00

Just emerging from the post-partum fog to share with you a few of my favorite things about Charlotte Daisy. (With apologies to Julie Andrews. Feel free to sing along.)

Smiles and softness and multiple chins

Downy white fur on her pink wrinkly skin

Yawns like a hippo

and little crossed feet
These are a few of my favorite things

Male pattern baldness

with cute little sideburns

Sleeping in nightgowns

and cuddles with sister

Practicing looks she can use in her teens
These are a few of my favorite things

When the poop leaks
When I don't sleep
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad.

Thanksgiving: plates, pies, and honoring the past

2010-12-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

Allow me to squeeze in a few thoughts from Thanksgiving before the avalance of madness that has now become Christmas overtakes me entirely.

As large families grow even larger, we have, over the decades, witnessed the ebb and flow of family gatherings. Families grow, bursting their homes at the seams, and then over time, the younger generation comes of age and becomes hosts to the older generations. Families are dispersed to manage their own smaller Thanksgivings, and then over time, children have children and suddenly the home isn't big enough any more. This Thanksgiving was one of those: bursting, loud, full of youth yet flooded with memory.
My mother is a traditionalist: she insisted on a sit-down affair with real china and silverware. We used every piece if china in the house, from mom's own silver-rimmed wedding china from Auerbach's to great-grandma Chamberlain's famous fish plates with the little lavender flowers. The silverware was Grandma Clark's. Even the raspberry Jell-O resting on a lettuce leaf on a separate salad plate was an homage to a bygone era.

When I observed Jane drinking from one of Grandma Ginny's blue glass goblets, I was overcome with the feeling that we were literally surrounded by history. Not just any history—our legacy from our own flesh, witnessing to us the great abundance that we share.

The kitchen was crammed. Every horizontal space had food on it.

The "kids table" was the largest one.

And of course, using real china and silverware means doing dishes for hours.

And what is Thanksgiving without (count 'em) 13 pies.

Oh, pie. The quintessential homage: nostalgic, humble, American, sweet, tangy, buttery, and altogether symbolic everything I love.

Raspberry-Cherry Pie

Apple with sweet pastry

Not all Thanksgivings will be like this. Some will be more simple affairs as we turn once again to our own growing families. But these will be the ones I'll remember because they were like the ones from my own childhood: overcrowded rooms, fancy plates, steaming windows, giggling through the prayer at the kids table, and a feeling of abundance, fullness, gratitude in a home literally overflowing with family.

Around the summer in 60 seconds

2010-08-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

Hey, internet. Long time no chat, and since brevity is the soul of wit, here's the whirlwind tour.

First, I planted a garden. This is what I harvested this morning. That big pile of green hiding the zucchini is more basil than I can shake a stick at. I'm also revving up for some serious canning. Yes, that last statement makes me feel like an old Mormon mom. I'm living the dream, baby.

June was eventful. Most importantly it was my parent's 50th wedding anniversary, which is so amazing that I will save my more thoughtful comments for another post. Suffice it to say there was lots of good food, a great band, a slideshow, and of course, a program by the grandkids.

My artist extraordinaire brother Clark helped me with the cake.

And here is the final product.

I ran the Wasatch Back Relay again, along with 10,000 others who had the same crazy notion.

It turned out great and I ran hard, which isn't bad for a burned-out, in the weeds mom. We were team Speedy Deliveries, because you just can't have enough Mr. Rogers in your life.

Me rocking the Ragnar.

My sister Laura, who gets my vote for both most inspirational and most eligible (c'mon guys, snap her up!).

Our team plus or minus a few.

I baked a little.

Our kids swam on the local swim team, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

We took a trip through Wyoming and fed Llamas in Lander.

Stopped at Devil's Tower (cue the Close Encounters music...)

And drove on to South Dakota, where I had some major gastrointestinal distress at a bar called Mustang Sally's in Deadwood.
(sorry, no picture here)

And went to Mount Rushmore.

Awe-inspiring, although I must say I felt conflicted as I was currently reading Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and how the Americans stole the Black Hills from the Native Americans, but again, I guess that's a blog for another day.

We also paid too much money to go to Bear Country and see some bears.

But the best wildlife was in Custer State Park.

We rounded out the trip with a tour through Wind Cave National Park, which was also really unique.

So that's it, plus or minus a few sunburns. Stay tuned for something entirely more thoughful. It's in here somewhere.

While you were blogging

2010-02-09T08:26:00.001-08:00

To the four people who read my blog and have been missing my world-class posts and biting humor, here's a taste of what I've been up to these days.

I've been cleaning up this:

And this:

(Jane trying to put toast in the CD changer)

And this:

Not pictured because I was laughing or crying or curled up in a ball in my closet: Jane climbing onto the countertop and walking along the edge, Jane eating half a cake layer I had baked for someone, Jane learning how to climb on the oven drawer and pull open the oven door (whee!), Jane throwing towels into the bath water, Jane plunging her fingers through the fondant of a fully decoated cake, Jane unwrapping an entire package of pantyliners (each one is like a little present with a sticker inside!), Jane climbing into the bath with her clothes on, and Jane "rearranging" all of the following: the bookshelf, cd cabinet, dishes, clothes drawer, household chemicals, baking pans, garbage bin contents, makeup drawer, filing cabinet, etc.

Share how this makes me feel? Okay.

5% I'm going Thelma and Louise
15% I hate me life
22% I love my life
58% Profoundly grateful

And the leaves that are green...

2009-10-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

Time hurries on.
And the leaves that are green turn to brown,
And they wither with the wind,
And they crumble in your hand.
Once my heart was filled with the love of a girl.
I held her close, but she faded in the night
Like a poem I meant to write.
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
--Simon & Garfunkel

It's time to take a walk in the canyon. No friends, no extended family, no cell phones, no Hannah Montana, just us.

Jane apparently likes the possum's-eye view, because she kept giggling and throwing her head back.

Over and over,

And over and over,

And over and over.

And time marches on, the girls growing more beautiful.

We walk in the woods, knowing that the moment where Beth absently takes my hand and walks with me can't last for long. How wonderful is it when your child holds your hand!
And then there will be the year Emma decides that gathering leaves of every color is dumb, but not this year, as she runs to me with fistfulls of leaves, each one more beautiful than the last.

________________________________________________

While I'm feeling thus grateful, I want to thank all family and friends who have been praying for Jane's smooth adjustment to her BiPap machine. Jane has been diagnosed with severe central sleep apnea.

(BiPAP stands for Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure and assists in breathing and helps keep the airway open and the lungs inflated. It differs from CPAP (Constant Positive Airway Pressure) in that it is not a constant pressure, rather it goes up and down with each breath. For example, Jane's rate is set on 8/4 (8 over 4). That means the pressure is 8 LPM (liters per minute) of air when she inhales and 4 LPM when she exhales. The idea is to give her a boost on the inhale so she has more air in the lungs and thus takes a deeper breath. )

This is what the BiPap looks like. It's about the size of a shoe box and is very quiet.

Here's a picture of her mask (w/o the ugly head gear).

We've decided not to put any pictures of her wearing the mask because it just looks sadder than it really is. While she hates initially putting it on, she is sleeping better and longer, and we have you all to thank for your prayers and support.

Love Notes

2009-09-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

I just realized what romance is. It's finding love in the unexpected. Last weekend I was wiping the sawdust of the wood paneling of a room we were painting. Ed had gone to Lowe's to buy paint. While he was gone, I found this.

Isn't it strange how a simple expression traced in dust can leave me so profoundly grateful, happy, and even relieved. Relieved that in the midst of busyness, schedules, changes and challenges, there can--and should be--romance. It's the best love note I've ever received.

There are many ways to say I love you.
by Mister Rogers

There are many ways to say I love you.
There are many ways to say I care about you.
Many ways, many ways,
Many ways to say I love you.
There's the singing way to say I love you.
There's the singing something someone really likes to hear.
The singing way, the singing way,
The singing way to say I love you.
Cleaning up a room can say I love you.
Hanging up a coat before you're asked to.
Drawing special pictures for the holidays
And making plays.
You'll find many ways to say I love you.
You'll find many ways to understand what love is.
Many ways, many ways,
Many ways to say I love you.
Singing, cleaning, drawing, being understanding,
Love you.

Going Swimmingly

2009-09-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

With the first of the fall coolness in the air tonight, it is with great urgency that I toss up the last evidence of this of summer's adventures.

For the first time in almost 15 years, I taught several swim classes. It was fun to be back "blowing bubbles" again with so many cute kids. I also worked with Jane quite a bit in the water. Turns out, she's very comfortable there can can float several feet without any help.

The girls had loads of fun swimming, and even had a "spa" day complete with banana smoothie masks, painted nails, and cucumber eyes.

Our one vacation was a weekend jaunt to Bear Lake, where we, along with half the population of Northern Utah, swam, jet skied, and with it being a family reunion, ate our guts out.

My sister-in-law reserved this great cabin, called "The Gathering Place".

Here's Jane loving the canoe ride.

She even enjoyed her time out on the jet ski with dad.

Of course, no family gathering would be complete without a massive fort-building endeavor by all of the grandchildren. They're inside there somewhere, watching a movie.

Now, well into September, I'm not sure why I was so anxious for the kids to return to school. Sure, those last few weeks in August can be trying for even the best parent. And yet, here I am, up to my neck in schedules, dance lessons, therapy appointments, field trips, work, canning, church responsibilities, home improvements, and the PT-freakin-A, and a small part of me is yearning for just one more week of a lazy, dazy summer.

Good Cabins Make Good Neighbors

2009-07-12T08:59:00.001-07:00

Everyone should have a cabin. Well, everyone should have friends that have a cabin. Okay, scratch that. Everyone should have a really great friends that have a cabin, a very nice camera, and an invitation to visit the beautiful town of Oakley over the Fourth of July weekend.

At the cabin, there must be beautiful trails,

a rope swing,

(Can I just tell you how happy I am that my girls still love a good rope swing. A few more years and they'll be sitting in the car texting their friends. Don't grow up. Not yet.)

and a river to throw rocks in.

Too small for the rope swing, Jane opts for the thrill of being toss precariously in the air.

Not to be outdone, Ed throws her just high enough to make mom nervous.

At the cabin, there should be plenty of reading material...

and pleasant walks nearby...

where your children can be free to be themselves...

Of course there must be a porch swing...

And if you can manage it, find a small town parade. Nothing fancy, just people in their folding chairs, watching the pretty girls on the horses and catching handfuls of salt water taffy.

Otter Pops would also be good.

After the parade, there must be a chicken chase at the rodeo grounds.

Separated by age, of course...

Or least a 50-cent-piece chase. They move a lot slower than the chickens.

It doesn't hurt if the boys there are insanely cute with their cowboy hats and huge belt buckles.
This summer we haven't had the resources to go on an extravagant vacation, but I've thought about what we have done. It reminds me of Dallin H. Oak's talk, Good, Better, Best. In it he reminds parents that the best activities are often the simplest.

Elder Oaks says:

"In choosing how we spend time as a family, we should be careful not to exhaust our available time on things that are merely good and leave little time for that which is better or best. A friend took his young family on a series of summer vacation trips, including visits to memorable historic sites. At the end of the summer he asked his teenage son which of these good summer activities he enjoyed most. The father learned from the reply, and so did those he told of it. “The thing I liked best this summer,” the boy replied, “was the night you and I laid on the lawn and looked at the stars and talked.” Super family activities may be good for children, but they are not always better than one-on-one time with a loving parent."

Thanks, Scott and Wendy, for inviting us up, being great friends, and for taking such beautiful pictures. It was the best.

On the street where I live

2009-07-04T08:31:00.000-07:00

On the street where I live you can wake up see flags at every home, lifted by the morning breeze. Look to the east and you can see the the tops of the mountains, still streaked with snow. Below the snow, pines and aspens soften the edges with folds of green. Around the corner, there is a little park with a hill to run down. Across the street there is bigger park with giant cottonwood trees and a river that tumbles over the rocks, carrying the melted snow.

Walk further and you will see a church where my family can worship, and even farther down there is a store with everything you could want. If you drive a little further you will get to my parent's home where my dad still picks the tomatoes and peppers and pears for us to take home and my mom waits to put her arms around me and ask me if I'm okay. A little further and you will pass my schools and the university where I received and education. Turn west and you will see the temple where I was married to an amazing man.

Return home and you will find three daughters, all unique, all beautiful, standing in the driveway waving sparklers in their hands. You will find enough food in their cupboard and enough places to sleep. You will see their mother, perplexed at the many blessings that surround her, overwhelmed with gratitude for the sacrifices that others have made for this life to be possible.

For my parents, for deciding to have another baby and raising me safely and teaching me well. For my pioneer ancestors who sacrificed their comfort and their lives so that I can worship without fear. For those present and past that have given their lives to protect our country. For their wives and children. For my Heavenly Father, who, for some unknown reason, has placed me here at this time and place, on this beautiful street.

Running our Guts Out

2009-06-25T08:20:00.001-07:00

Well, we did it! We, a bunch of misfits ran the Ragnar Wasatch Back in spectacular fashion. (Meaning, we finished without major injury, illness, or incident.) This is going to be a long post, so get comfy.

We definitely had some highs and lows along the way. My lows 1) almost throwing up after my first run; 2) making friends with Gold Bond

My highs: 1) Running under a billion stars at 2 in the morning with nothing but the sound of my own breath and feet hitting the road; 2) finally passing that chick in the red shirt (you know who you are); and 3) hearing "go, mom!" through the rain as I ran my final leg.

Before the race, we had alot of fun decorating our vans with the "Hot Runs" theme.

Support the Movement.
We'll wipe out the competition.

Note the toilet seat on the roof.

Don't forget the plunger!

Between the 12 of us we ran 188 miles through the beautiful Utah mountains. Here at the race start there were a few in costumes.

I wonder how long that costume lasted.
Our Van 2 group shot, a few minutes before our first set of runs. (Yes, literally and figuratively.)

Our friend Tom set up a trailer in a church parking lot and kept us fed and rested throughout the race. We were the envy of everyone. We had a few random people stop in and use the bathroom, which was just fine by us, considering the alternative venue:
Ahhh, honey buckets! Yes, the porta-pottys were called "Honey Buckets". Nice.

Our team shirts looked great!
We encountered some spectacular scenery.
We also encountered a few fun costumes.

Here is a shot of a few random things around the van.

You thought we were just kidding about the Hot Runs, didn't you? We're deadly serious.
Paul burned it up on his last get. Go Paul!
Matt had the "Ragnar" leg, and he kicked butt. It's four miles uphill with about 1600 feet elevation gain.
Here's Matt passing someone, which happened quite a bit. He ran that leg without walking once!

Here's Linda and David. They both did awesome. Plus, I just love hearing the words, "Go, Mom!" along the route. It warms my heart.
Here's Laura finishing a steep dirt hill run to hand off to Paul. Laura could crush rocks with those thighs.
Here's Josh handing off to Cynthia, our last minute replacement and purple heart recipient.
Josh did a great job and had us wishing we were all 15-years-old.
Father and son, running along together.
Here's Joe on a very steep climb. It doesn't look steep, but it was. He's running. Really.
Jessica shows some enthusiasm during her run.
Here's Jan handing off to Joe. Note the race official checking her out.
Random van scense. Jan was a good sleeper. Sorry, Jan :)
Ed and the girls came up to Heber to cheer me on for my final leg. This was one of my favorite parts of the run. Hearing "go, mom!" and running through the rain, knowing I'd be strong enought to finish. It felt great!
Random van shot #2: ice pack and race#.
Here's the sunrise over Rockport.

More beautiful scenery.
One of the exchanges was on this guys farm.
Cathy hands off to Jan. This was my worst run. It was so hot, I felt nauseous the whole time. Ug.
I learned a few things along the way. #1) People don't like to get passed. #2) People don't like to get passed by girls, and #3) People don't like to get passed by big girls in skirts. Ha!
Breakfast of champions.
Cynthia, our cheerful last-minute replacement. Next year, Emily!
Alex wins the good-spirit award. He ran with such a happy demeanor. I run like I'm going to kill someone.

Here we are at the finish line, soaked and stinky.

Here are a few of our favorite vans we saw along the route.

Van No More Mom Jeans. I love it!

Sweatin' to the Oldies

Running Off our Excess Baggage

Ain't that the truth!

Hooligans on the Run (I really think there were some ex-cons in there...)

I Think I Can I Think I Can...

Sin City Saints - a team from Vegas

Beauty and the Beasts

Runaholics Unanimous - Drunk with exhaustion

Kickin' Assphalt

As you can see, we weren't the only ones to utilize a little potty humor.

Van Running Guts

5 Jocks 1 Bra

There were a few vans that took advantage of current events:

The leveraged sellouts

Don't pass on threat of swine flu

More swine flu humor

Team No Pants was a huge hit among the men

Some just wanted to have fun:

The Zena Road Warriors - a perennial favorite

Race Official Stay Behind Me

Van Water Gun

Some were a little more mean-spirited:

Thanks alot!

Another One Eats Our Dust

A lot of vans kept track of "kills" (the number of times you passed someone)

There's an "I" in "Teim"

Runnin' Down a Dream

2009-06-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

It's T-5 days until the Wasatch Back. We are team Hot Runs. Yes, you heard me. Hot Runs. We're all twelve-year-old boys. Later on we might do a little blue-darting.

My awesome brother Clark helped out with the shirt design, my cool sister Laura is tracking down van decorations (toilet plungers, bathroom signs), and my great brother Paul's company, LACO Technologies, is our proud sponsor.
I've had some adversity leading up to this race. Running is still not fun, but by gum, I'm going to do this thing.

Meanwhile, the kids have been doing some running of their own. Yep, my kids are in the track club. I'm pleasantly surprised that they don't think this is the lamest thing ever.
Here's them reluctantly posing at the track meet. Everyone gets a ribbon. I love track.

Emma prefers the field evens like high jump and softball throw. I am not allowed to watch, but I take pictures incognito.

Nice throw, Emma! 36 feet!

Beth is getting ready to run the 100-yard-dash. She's getting the stare-down of intimidation from the boy the next lane over.

Get him, Beth!

Almost Golden

2009-06-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Today is my mom and dad's 49th wedding anniversary. I can imagine that beautiful June day in 1960, my dad's young face, my mother's tiny waist, walking the grounds of the Salt Lake Temple, with Arch and Ginny, Ellsworth and Dorothy, looking on. Who would have imagined, 49 years later, a brood of 7 children and 23 grandchildren, all who admire you and are becoming all that you are.

Thank you for staying together and providing a safe home. Thank you for that small kiss between you that we witnessed every day before you went to work. Thank you for all of your sacrifices, your late, worrisome nights, your prayers and your talks.

Thank you for making us feel rich when we were poor and being modest when we were rich. Thank you camping, and homemade cookies, for fixing our bikes and buying our prom dresses.

For dad, thank you for helping me with my garden and our home, for being our on-call handyman and advice-giver. Thank you for teaching me not to be afraid of work, and that a little sweat can be a good thing. Thank you for teaching us in the gospel, and for your good example.

For mom, thank you for somehow knowing when I've cried, for your tender hugs and prayers, for your passionate alliance with each one of us. Thank you for the thousands of loads of laundry, the cheers from the stands, and for defending us always. You are the ultimate mother bear: tender, nurturing, and fierce.

I cannot imagine a time when you would not be with us. Here's to may more years together.

O Remember, Remember

2009-06-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

In the immortal words of John Denver, some days are diamond, some

days are stone. In the even more immortal words of God, "...what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?". Meaning, perhaps, that what we get, good and bad, is all bread.

This day was bitter bread.

This day was sweet bread. Yesterday, she said the word "yes". Yes!

Elder Eyring's message today reminds me to remember the hand of God in my life. It's all bread, and it's all good. Click it. Now!

O Remember, Remember

The Flag in the Blanket

2009-05-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

I don't remember many church meetings from my youth, but this one I remember. It was one of the few times I've seen my dad cry.

Jim Patterson spoke. He was a World War 2 veteran, a POW, and a survivor of the Bataan Death March. He was a prisoner of war in the Phillipines. While he was taken prisoner, he and his fellow soldiers managed to hide amongst themselves an American flag. The Japanese soldiers were ruthless and killed the POWs for even the smallest infraction.
The risk was great. Knowing they could be killed for posessing the flag, they kept it hidden, rolled up in an old tattered Army blanket. On special occasions, such as Independence Day, the POWs would carefully, secretively, unroll the blanket and look at the flag. Months turned into years and still the flag remained undiscovered. Finally, Jim and the other POWs were released after 3 years of imprisonment.

Jim finished his remarks and stepped to the side of the pulpit. His old body bent over, and with the help of another man, he picked up an old rolled up Army blanket. The men held up the blanket at each end and slowly unrolled it to reveal his old, worn, American flag. A woman sang "God Bless America". Once the flag was completely in view, it was slowly rolled up again into the blanket and disappeared.

His incredible story remains imprinted on my memory and has taught me of the painful sacrifice that so many have made for me. It has also taught me that there can be a love of country and faith so great it is willing to face the threat of certain death, not in the heat of battle, but for posessing that old flag rolled up in a blanket.

Chasing Skirts

2009-05-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

It's getting warmer. My long black running pants are getting hotter. Put on shorts, you say? Nay. You see, I was born with certian anatomical properties that produce atomic wedgies in shorts whilst running. My mom considers it an inherited badge of honor. She gushes, "I could always tell which one was you on the starting blocks (high school swim team), even from way up in the stands!". Cheers, mom!

So I take a trip to Salt Lake Running Company. Approached by a friendly employee, he asks how he can help. "Uh, do you have running shorts for, uh, "big girls"? He laughs, in a knowing way, and directs me to the running skirts. Skirts? Is this 1908?

"Trust me," he assures. "They're way cute."

Skeptical, I disappear into the dressing room with half dozen skirts. They are cute. But I haven't worn a skirt this short since 1984. I settle on the "Happy Hour" skirt by SkirtSports. Happy hour? Happy is not the word I'd use. Still nervous, I make the purchase. This running gig is getting pricey.

I run in the skirt and its strangely liberating. I run with that "I'm a Woman" song in my head ("I can bring home the bacon, na na na, fry it up in pan, na, na na...".)

Meanwhile, I'm still reaching for the day that running feels like running and not jogging through water. I look forward to the time where I reach that elusive "runner's high". Until then, if you see a 30-ish gal with alarmingly white legs huffing and puffing through the streets of SLC, do not slap her butt with a yardstick.* Just cheer for her - she's pulling a big load.

There's a rumor that a pack of crazy teenages roam the streets looking for joggers to slap with yardsticks. Really.

Hope and Jane

2009-05-05T22:11:00.001-07:00

Developmentally delayed. I hate that word. Delayed. I suppose it implies hope, as in, "Mrs. Cheever, your train will be delayed, but not to worry, it shall arrive momentarily." Well, we can't see Jane's train, but we can hear its distant whisper.

We don't have all the answers, but we discovered a few things these past few weeks. A recent MRI showed the same damage initially seen on her first MRI. That is, scarring in the white matter of the brain that affects vision and vision processing. Initially not thought to be significant, they now think this is the primary source of Jane's issues. This scarring follows a pattern similar to premature babies, although Jane was full term. How the scarring happened is a bit of a mystery, although they think it occurred during pregnancy.

So, here we are with a little more knowledge and a little more hope. The damage is done, and she is moving forward and making great progress. No more seizures. Steps here and there. Small things, like how she quietly folds her arms for prayer, even though she doesn't say the words. A small, imperceptible wave goodbye.

What of her future? She'll set her own course, improving steadily and surely. It is a blessing I shouldn't forget. For my reality check, I sit in the neurology clinic at Primary's and watch the other parents. Some parents breeze in, navigating their wheelchair-bound child effortlessly, and check in with a smile. Whee! Other parents can barely hold it together. I watched parents of a teenage girl who was mentally disabled and they just looked so exhausted.

I don't know what kind of parent I am. I know I won't do therapeutic scarf-dancing. I know I feel guilty for sometimes wishing she were normal. I know I'm scared for her future. I know that I will hunt anyone down that is mean to her and run them over in my white minivan. Most of all, I just love her.

I love her gentleness, even when she "helps me file the papers".

I love her blonde curls and sweet smile.

I love her patient way of figuring things out.

I love her growing strength.

I love her curiosity.

I love her determination.

I love her.

Take the children bowling, take them bowling...

2009-04-22T15:10:00.000-07:00

Here's an embarrasingly late update on Beth's fun birthday party. What do you do when your daughter wants to invite 13 kids to her birthday party? Move to a secondary location.

Aw, Beth. Thank you for avoiding Birthday Brat syndrome.

Almost a strike!

What would a bowling party be without a perfectly ghetto bowling cake (isn't that redundant?).

Emma and her cute cousins.
Beth raked in some good loot, including a cute Webkinz from her friend Brittany.

I Dreamed a Dream

2009-04-14T22:47:00.000-07:00

If any of you have dreams unrealized, or think you're too old or plain to achieve anything, watch this. Susan Boyle is an unemployed, average-looking, middle-aged woman who lives alone with her cats. She's never been married, never been kissed. But she did something truly amazing. She got up in front of hundreds of skeptics and sang something so touching and brave.

Watch it, and then get to work on those dreams.

Susan Boyle sings I Dreamed a Dream.

An Artistic Diversion

2009-04-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a break from food today to tell you about an amazing artist and designer: my brother Clark Chamberlain.

Clark is not your run-of-the-mill graphic designer. He has such a breadth of experience--it will amaze you what he can do. I've included about .01% of his work below. To check out his full portfolio, click the link below.

Portfolio Home Page

Clark's email: clark.chamberlain@gmail.com

Logos and Graphic Design

(Click to enlarge.)

He did an amazing custom family tree for our family. Does your family want one?

Stage Events

Ever wonder why the Conference Center looks so amazing?

Or why a special event looks so good?

Concept Art and Illustration

Clark is one of the few designers that can actually illustrate. He's a classically trained artist that knows his stuff.

Retail Environments

Clark has done some really unique store environments.

Float Design

Ever wonder who does those cool floats in the Days of 47 Parade?

So Long Guiding Light

2009-04-02T22:30:00.000-07:00

So all I do now is sit around and eat bon bons and play on the internet all day. Well not really, but in the wake of the recent news that Guiding Light will be cancelled, it has occurred to me that the blogging is the new soap opera. Our precious time has moved from the tv screen to the internet screen, seeking out and writing our own soap opera lives.

I haven't watched soaps for years, but Guiding Light has sentimental value. You see, Guiding Light is my mom's show. All through the 70's and 80's we witnessed the ups and downs of their sordid lives. Roger is having an affair with Mindy? Scandalous! When will Josh and Reva get together (again!)? Beth: Get some self esteem! Gus and Harley, Blake, Alan-Michael and Eleni getting married in Greece!

She'll never admit to watching it, but I'll ask her on occasion, "So, how are Reva and Josh?", and she'll give me a full update. We have good memories of watching GL. When I was younger, I don't remember it much. I do remember another soap called The Edge of Night. I remember being freaked out by that dark skyline and the announcer saying:

"Welcome to Theee Eeeeeeeedge...of Night!"

Briefly, I was unfaithful to Days of Our Lives in the mid 80's, but Guiding Light has been our constant. I remember many quiet lunches spent with my mom, chowing down on a Lynn Wilson burrito with ketchup and a diet Coke, catching a few minutes of GL before I had to run back to school.

Anyway, the timing of all of this is funny because I've had promptings that I need to curtail the online activities and spend more time on things that really matter. I figure that I'd better get a jump on Conference Weekend repentance and renewal and compel myself to get my priorities straight.

The Iron Maiden

2009-03-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not a runner, but I have a rich fantasy where I am one. I've been training to run in the Wasatch Back, this summer. It's a 180-mile team relay that takes place over two days. My participation garnered a confidence-boosting eyebrow raise from my doctor last week. Thanks, doc! Admittedly, training has been a lot more difficult than I imagined, but by darn I'm going to do this thing.

I don't attend the church of Oprah, but she has endorsed the Enell Sports Bra, and if Oprah loves it, and I mean she's pretty generous in the curve department, then maybe I should give it a shot. The bra is $64. So I waited, and put it off, and otherwise stayed in denial.

Then at the gym I had an epiphany. I was slogging along on the treadmill and I'm surround by the beautiful exercisers. You know the type. Glistening, tanned, and toned. Pastel spandex short-shorts and matching bra/top. Blonde ponytail bouncing to the beat of her pastel ipod. Meanwhile I'm chugging away with my ghetto t-shirt, red face, white legs and yoga capris. I'm sweating profusely and my hair is soaked through, and I'm adjusting my pathetic bras (Yes, bras. You women know what I mean.) I'm thinking, maybe I could change just a couple of small things. How about some cute exercise clothes? How about that cool bra?

So I get the bra. Yes, in this economy. I'm a size 1. This thrills me. I have never been a size 1, not even when I was 1. So thank you, Enell, for using small numbers and not some other humiliating sizing like: queen, ample, clydesdale, plus, husky, or heiffer.

It takes about five minutes to put on. There are actual instructions on how to get it on. It has 10 hooks. Ten, ten hooks! Ah ah ah ah!

It's awesome. I'm flatter than Kansas. Watch out, blonde ponytail girl. I'm coming after you.

Jane the Destroyer

2009-03-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

I feel like leaning my head out the window and screaming, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!". Or is it "It's my money and I want it now!" Either one would work fine.

That's not what Jane's thinking. She's looking out the window and thinking, "The world is my oyster, man. I gotta get out there!"

I'm just going relay a little taste of the insanity that has become my daily life with Jane. Jane (bless her heart) has turned two. Over the past week, Jane has:

broken my favorite mug, a dinner plate, a salad plate, and my favorite platter from grandma.
dumped out my wood floor cleaner into a huge puddle and sat in it (nice - I smell like oranges)
pulled out Ed's beloved records from the cabinet and emptied many of them from their sleeves (I want daddy.... oh, here he comes!)
has discovered how to climb up on the kitchen table. I left the room and returned to find her sitting on the laptop (feel the power of the internet!)
has repeated tried to order AOL by reaching up and typing random keys on my desktop keyboard (it's a conspiracy!)
learned that pulling random unseen items off the kitchen table is fun and exciting (what could it be? ketchup? mom's camera? a steak knife?)
emptied out a laundry basked full of folded clothes
ripped pages out of my scriptures
ruined a half a box of Tampax by unwrapping them, disassembling them, and either chewing on them or dropping them in the toilet.

I needed to take a shower, but not wanting to risk another broken plate or injured child, I decided she could have a bath whilst I have a shower (we have a separate bath).

During my shower she:

emptied the shampoo bottle into the tub
poured a cup of water onto the bathroom floor, and
unrolled the roll of toiletpaper into the tub (and ate some, for good measure)

This newfound sense of adventure comes with a price. Jane has also:

fallen off the step stool at least 3 times in the last week. The last time she gave herself a bloody nose
pulled a small (nearly empty - don't call child protective services!) end table dresser onto her herself and cut her upper lip
fallen down the stairs
fallen off then kitchen chairs

In addition, here are some regular activities she does at least 3-4 times a day:

"rearrange" our cd collection (love the clackety clack sound!)
crawl over to the open dishwasher (hurry! it's still open!) and pull out the dirty cutlery to see if she can find any snacks.
emptied out the newspaper recycle basket (ahhh, tearing paper...)
empties out any cupboard, closet, purse, wallet, shoe basket, toy box, or sack. (I just love chewing on my mom's mp3 player!)
play drums with all of my plastic bowls and storage containers
wreak havoc with the television buttons (I know how to get mom off the couch!)
rubs her eyes and hair every time I happen to feed her something containing tomato sauce (how else am I supposed to get in the bath and make a mess?)
wakes up and cries the moment I put her in bed (must get into mom's bed, must get into mom's bed....)

It's a good thing Jane is just about the sweetest, mildest, cutest child you'll ever see on the face of this earth. I love you Jane, more than you'll ever know, but I'm so tired.

All the World's a Stage. I Need an Intermission.

2009-03-16T23:48:00.000-07:00

Emma's been rehearsing long hours for the school musical Doo Wop Wed Widing Hood. The performance was a few nights ago and it was amazing. It was quite a site to see dozens of grade-school kids singing and dancing to some great choreography, to say nothing of the funny script.

Emma's role was a narrator, but she has a lot of lines and actually controlled the action with a fake "remote control". I'm so proud of Emma, who definitely has the "performance" gene from Ed's side of the family.

Emma also played her last Jr. Jazz basketball game last weekend. She has come so far and is a good competitor. (That must be from my side of the family. Rip her head off, Emma!) Her team won a majority of their games and did a great job on their last game.

(Would have won if the other team hadn't, well, cheated. It's so funny how all is fine and well until the mean girl from the other team starts getting rough and breaking rules and then the mommy bear claws come out and I start making plans to run them down in the parking lot in my white minivan. Glad to get that off my chest. I'm okay now.)

In the mean time, Ed and Beth had a daddy-daughter excursion to a U of U basketball game. They had a great time and we even won. Go Utes!

Beth has also been swimming hard in the swim team's "pre-comp" program, which is like swim team with training wheels. Hopefully she'll get to participate in a swim meet soon, as she's anxious to start bringing home some ribbons. (That's my girl!)

Jane is doing great, and has decided that crawling is easier that walking. So while she can take steps, she needs to get a bit more confidence in herself before she starts walking all of the time. She also started a new "Play & Learn" preschool that is run through an early intervention program. So she gets to "play & learn" while mommy "shops & showers". It's a great arrangement.

See Jane Walk

2009-03-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

Jane has started to take her first steps, and we are so happy that she is learning and growing, however gradual it may seem. Learning to walk, like many things with Jane, has been an excruciatingly slow process, but we are so excited to see these little steps. We know it won't be long before they are big steps, and then she will walk, and then someday she will run, and then... who knows? Go, Jane, go!

We are so grateful to Shriners Hospital, DDI Early Intervention, and all the friends and family who have been so caring for Jane. We are extraordinarily blessed.

Sorry about the sideways shot. Try not to get dizzy.

On a side note, my niece Amanda got married this week to a great guy. I can't tell you how happy I am for Amanda and Jonathan. Tomorrow they are off to Ecuador on a humanitarian endeavor for five months. What a meaningful honeymoon. I wish them the best of luck and feel so fortunate that we have such loving, generous family. We had a fun bachelorette party at Laura's, where we sang Karaoke, told dirty jokes, and played games. What else are Mormons supposed to do?

Hannah, Emily, Amanda, Jerrea.

Congratulations Leah and Alex!

2009-02-06T08:21:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to our Leah on her marriage today. We are so happy for you, and wish you all the best.

Happy Birthday Jane, etc.

2009-01-13T21:18:00.000-08:00

Here's a few random pictures of the festivities of the last few weeks. It was Jane's birthday and we celebrated by attending a family reunion and bringing an embarrasingly large Costco cake. Jane's favorite thing lately is to play with everyone's ears. Here she is on her birthday playing with Ed's lovely ears.

Here's a great picture Emma took of Jane and me. She entered into the school Reflections contest. It's titled "Mom's Hands".

The girls have had a fun time spending a little Christmas money sent over by her grandparents and Uncle Wayne. Here's the outfit Beth picked out. She's quite fashionable!

Here's Emma having a nice cuddle with Jane before bedtime.

Lastly, as we are on our new year's diets we can look back fondly to the cookie-baking days of December. Oh how we miss you!

Happy Birthday, Emma

2008-12-17T13:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Emma. My first child, my only brunette and my only drug-free labor! I hope you have a great year. Nine years old is a great age. If I could be any age again, it would probably be nine.

The Top Ten Reasons I Love Emma

1. She does spontaneous cartwheels and handstands.

2. She still likes me (I know, give it a few years.)

3. She is Jane and Beth's protector and defender.

4. She is dang smart and works hard in school.

5. She helps me in the kitchen.

6. She is sensitive to others' needs and feelings.

7. She is sensitive to the Spirit and is spiritual beyond her years.

8. She is kind to others.

9. She has a great sense of humor, a great laugh, and a beautiful smile.

10. She is responsible.

And then there's this conversation, lying next to Emma at bedtime:

Me: Did you have fun at family night?

Emma: Sure. But we didn't have dinner all together, and I hate that, and then at Target we didn't even shop together.

Me: Well, nobody was hungry at the same time, and we just had lefovers, remember?

Emma: Yeah.

Me: And we were buying presents for each other so we had to split up, right?

Emma: I guess.

Me: Sometimes we try but things don't always turn out perfect. I wish I was the perfect mom but I'm not.

Emma: But you're the perfect mom for me.

Me: [I say nothing. I just smile in the dark.]

Happy Birthday to You (cha-cha-cha!) (To see what this cake put me through, see the food blog.)

Shirts from Justice for Girls. Whoot!

A basketball from grandma and grandpa! And a great card and gift from Grandma Freda and Grandad Jim!

Emma Song Peformance and Beth's Head Staple (family activites in the digital age)

2008-12-07T21:36:00.000-08:00

Emma's third grade class performed a song "I Can Make a Difference" during an assembly, and being the dutiful mother that I am, fought my way to the front of the gym, whipped out my camera and did the shaky hand-cam recording. First row, second from left, there she is singing her heart out. Emma is a talented and enthusiastic singer!

Semi-related rant: How has blogging and the digital age changed the way you enjoy (or stress over) family activities? I wonder how our kids will feel never getting to see our proud, relaxed faces during such activities - only us jostling for the right camera angle with cell phones and cameras pressed to our faces. how do you feel about those who arrive early to save the first three rows of seats for all members of their extended family and set up two tripods from two different angles to catch the action. Are you one of them? Whether we bake a cake, see Santa, play a soccer game or have a piano recital, did it really happen if we didn't record it in some way?

I remember when Emma "graduated" from preschool. We were of course clueless and poor and had no cameras or recorders. When she got her diploma, we clapped and smiled, and felt stupid. But I still remember it and part of me wishes all activities could be like that: just clap, smile, and enjoy the moment.

Oh, and speaking of recording triumph and tradgedy, here's Beth's head staple after cutting her head on the wall. After getting her staple Beth asks, "are you going to blog my staple?" Yes, I'm guilty folks, of everying above (except for the tripods and seat saving. Seat savers make me grouchy!).

Grandma Ginny with Little Jane

2008-11-29T17:47:00.000-08:00

Byo-O bye-o little baby

Close your little baby eyes

You are mommy's little baby

You are daddy's little prize.

This is just a post to say a few words about grandma. A widow for 46 of her 90 years, she as been our determined, beautiful matriarch. As she nears the end of her life, she told me what she thought was most important. She said she didn't care about what church callings she had, or what people had thought of her. She just wanted to be a good mother. She loves her family with a love so strong it has kept her alive beyond her years.

Grandma loves Jane. Even before Jane was born, they had a special connection. I cannot help but hope that Grandma will watch over Jane for many years to come. I don't think Grandma will be with us much longer, so we will cherish these quiet moments.

Sweet Jane

2008-11-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

It's time for an update since so many new things have been happening to Jane. In October she was fitted for DAFOS (little feet braces) to give her extra support as she learns to walk. This was done up and Shriner's Hospital, which operates on donations and allows patients to be seen and treated without payment. Thank you Shriners!
First Jane had to be fitted for the braces. Here they are putting a cast on her leg.

This cast is removed when it dries and provides a model for the braces.
When we first walked into the room, we were greeted with this ominous table. It looks like some sort of torture device. Fortunately, the table was neither spoken of nor used.
Then there was the part where we felt like we were picking out curtains. The doctor came in and tossed us a ring with all of the patterns and colors available for the braces. I don't know, it just seemed funny at the time. We went with the always fashionable "Hawaiian Package" with a lovely flowered strap with red foam and white plastic. It was funny and profoundly sad at the same time.
A couple of weeks later, the braces were finished!

Here's Jane bouncing around with her new braces.

Jane also has physical therapy at Shriner's once a week. This is her great PT Holly. Holly works with Jane to improve her strength and balance, and gives me suggestions on what I can do to help her at home.

Jane and the Big Mean Ball of Torture

On a related note, Jane has seen some great improvements as she has temporarily stopped taking her seizure medication. The side effects were not good (nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness, etc.) and now that she is off of them she seems much more alert and happy. We're hoping that the seizures won't start again, or if they do, we can use a different medication.

What a ride this has been. I have learned many things and hope that Jane can continue to make improvements. I've learned that "normal" is overrated, that God knows all of his children, and that scarf dancing, while perhaps being a good therapy for others, is enough to send this mother head first into an existential crisis and should never be attempted again.

Fall at Wheeler Farm

2008-11-03T23:21:00.000-08:00

The kids were out of school on Halloween, so we killed some time at nearby Wheeler Farm. Strum and Brittany (w/respective moms) met us there for lunch. It was such a beautiful day, and it was great spending some time with friends from the "old neighborhood".

Emma's so cute it's scary.

Here's Jane trying to catch up to the kids. Come on Jane, you're almost there!

I'm so glad our girls are not too cool to climb trees. I know we're just a few short years away from "whatever, mom, I'm not climing that tree. I might drop my phone."

These geese, or as our friend Scott calls them, "rats with wings", are being pretty aggressive once they disover that the kids have food.

Storm Mountain with the Swiss Chick

2008-10-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

This past week we the international group Up with People was in Murray, and we had the opportunity to host an awesome Swiss girl named Gwen. We had such a great experience with her, and were impressed for her enthusiasm for life and her sensitivity. Gwen is a vegan, so that proved to be and adventure. For more information on our foray in vegan cooking, you'll have to check out the food blog later today.

On Sunday, along with about ten thousand other Utahns, we drove up the canyon to enjoy the fall colors. Here are some pictures from our walk around the Storm Mountain area.

Gwen in the meadow. This is what happend after we spun around and sang "the hiiilllls are alive.."

Jane's not walking yet, but that's not going to keep her down.

Gwen got on so well with the girls. They'll miss her.

This morning we dropped off Gwen and they're off to Cheyenne for the next Up with People stop. Auf Wiedersehen!

Last Splash of Summer

2008-09-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a few friends over for one last paddle before the weather turns cool for good. We were a little wary of the pool when we first moved in, but we love the pool and the kids have had a blast, despite the extra work and worry.

Here's Beth with her friend Bella, trying to stay warm.

Beth, Brittany, Emma, Sariah

As the sun sets on one crazy summer...

Autumn Leaves in Millcreek

2008-09-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Let me just say that I love Millcreek Canyon. I've biked it, hiked it, gotten lost & frost-bitten cross country skiing it (thanks, Mike!), had campfires, dates, and family breakfasts there. Mt. Aire, my favorite hike as a student, is there. Anyway, going there is like going home, and I love that we live so close to it now.

For Family Night we went up Church Fork and hiked part of the pipeline trail. It was pleasantly cool and the girls collected leaves, got a little muddy, and otherwise savored all the fresh air. As you can see, the girls were feeling pretty photogenic.

A Walk in the Park

2008-09-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

We have a great little park in our neighborhood. Here's a few pictures of our night out. We discovered, unsurprisingly, that Jane loves the swing and laughed uncontrollably when Emma was pushing her.

Among other essentials, First Grade has helped Beth is perfect her monkey bar skills.

An abstract of Emma's feet.

Jane's EEG

2008-09-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

Jane's been having some funny eye movements lately, so she had an EEG on Monday as the doctor's want to make sure she's not having any seizures.
Here's Jane getting on the wires glued to her head. So far so good!
After all of the wires are attached, they wrapped her head in gauze. Things are starting to go south.

Okay, things are better now.

Jane likes to eat wires.
She did alright, and it only lasted about 45 minutes instead of the two hours that they planned on. Jane is such a good sport. If only I could be that patient (we're still waiting to hear from her neurologist).

The Return of the White Minivan

2008-02-24T20:41:00.000-08:00

I've decided to update the family blog. Stay tuned!