just hum a merry tune

Since looking at that picture of cookie dough made me feel sick everytime I opened up my blog I decided it was time for another post no matter how short. Here is a video of William from this afternoon. He has been really into humming lately so I thought it was about time to capture it on video.

Poor little boy has the flu (as if we haven't been sick enough around our house). If only I were this pleasant when I was sick!

listen to your grandma...

I remember making cookies with my grandma, sneaking some of the dough and being scolded. "There's raw egg in that," I was told. "You'll get sick." If only I had listened. (Of course I remember seeing grandma sneak some one day and she said "Even grandma's need a treat sometimes.") Thursday night Rich and decided that we needed a treat so half a batch of cookie dough was promptly mixed up. Boy was it yummy! We watched a show and played a game--all while snacking on this uncooked treat. By bedtime I wasn't feeling so good but I blamed it on the fact that I ate a TON. I won't go into details but by 3 or 4 in the morning I felt like I was dying. Around 10 0'clock Rich had caught up to me. We were two sick puppies. Thank goodness for Rich's mom who watched our boys while we slept at her house all day. And the boys were so good! They both slept all night long and when William woke up this morning he just played by himself instead of waking us. The think the worst is past but you won't find us eating cookie dough anytime soon!

America for me!

Friday night Rich and I were able to attend a potluck and fireside of sorts. A man in our ward who has a PhD in History gave a speech about America--possibly the best I've ever heard. He spoke of God's hand in the discovery of America and the founding of her government. He quoted scripture and recited speeches from founding fathers such as Patrick Henry and quoted from Thomas Paine's Common Sense. By the end you couldn't help but feel patriotic! What a great country we live in! How blessed we are to live in a country founded by great men. As President Wilford Woodruff declared, "those men who laid the foundation of this American government and signed the Declaration of Independence were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits … [and] were inspired of the Lord." Wow. At the conclusion of his speech, Bro. Christensen recited the words of Henry van Dyke:

'Tis fine to see the Old World and travel up and down

Among the famous palaces and cities of renown,

To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings, --

But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.

So it's home again, and home again, America for me!

My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be,

In the land of youth and freedom, beyond the ocean bars,

Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars!

Oh, London is a man's town, there's power in the air;

And Paris is a woman's town, with flowers in her hair;

And it's sweet to dream in Venice, and it's great to study Rome;

But when it comes to living there is no place like home.

I like the German fir-woods in green battalions drilled;

I like the gardens of Versailles with flashing foutains filled;

But, oh, to take your hand, my dear, and ramble for a day

In the friendly western woodland where Nature has her way!

I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack:

The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.

But the glory of the Present is to make the Future free,--

We love our land for what she is and what she is to be.

Oh, it's home again, and home again, America for me!

I want a ship that's westward bound to plough the rolling sea,

To the blessed Land of Room Enough, beyond the ocean bars,

Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

musical memories

Today as I baked some blackberry cobbler I popped a CD into the player. As I listened to the fun sounds of Colors it took me back to another time... a time of building Mesopotamian fortresses in the living room and dancing on the kitchen table. Of sneaking freshly baked cookies into the library, apartment goals, and scavenger hunts. Of election night dinners (red, white, and blue), fajita nights, and celebrating hump days. Of pulling all-nighters, performing at the ward talent show (Dear John anyone?), and dance parties in the lobby. Of Lavina C. Fugal Hall and Southridge. Isn't it amazing that a song (or a CD full of them) can trigger memories like that? There are songs that remind me of church dances, sitting in Traci's car before school, singing with Katie at the Life Care Center, and even of being stood up. Songs that remind me of Rich--sentimental songs that remind me of our courtship or other songs that have become inside jokes. I'm so grateful for these memories and the songs that trigger them. To quote ABBA: Who could live without it, I ask in all honesty What would life be? Without a song or a dance what are we? So I say thank you for the music for giving it to me!

a new milestone

James had his first taste of rice cereal this weekend. Despite the disgusted faces that were pulled, he seemed to enjoy it--bite after bite after bite.

wonderfully william

Thank you Carrie for reminding me that even on bad days my life is truly blessed. Elder Henry B. Eyring has said,

... You could ask yourself, "How did God belss me today?" if you do that long enough and with faith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. And sometimes, you will have gifts brought to you in which you failed to notice during the day, but which you will then know were a touch of God's hand in your life.

President Hinckley has also said,

My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life, we "accentuate the positive."

And so with that I devote this post to a little ray of sunshine in my life--the wonderfully wacky William.

I have been so impressed with William lately. He has been so pleasant and helpful the past few days. Just the other day I was sitting at the kitchen table when I see him grab a napkin. I didn't think much of it but a few minutes later he tells me "it's really dirty." And sure enough there were dust bunnies all over the napkin. Next thing I know he is getting the broom and dust pan and sweeping up under the oven--continually reminding me that it was "really dirty." (Note to self: ocassionally sweep under oven.)

In addition to doing these "extra chores" he's also getting really good at cleaning up after himself, putting his jammies away, putting his shoes on by himself (on the right feet), picking out his clothes every morning, sorting laundry with me, and helping me cook. I love that when he makes a mess he doesn't try to hide it but comes and tells me "mom, I made a big mess."

William is great at playing by himself. I love to hear him singing to himself or laughing while reading a silly Dr. Suess book. Anyone would enjoy listening to the dialouge he has with his toys. Lately he's been playing with his castle. Yesterday the conversation was "Are you having a hard day?" "Yes, I'm having a hard day." This morning as I searched the internet I heard shouts of "I love you, guy!" "I love you, King!" as William sent them flying down into the dungeon.

And I cannot say enough how it warms my heart to see how much my boys love each other! It makes me smile when I see William holding James' hand or when I hear my sweet James laughing because William is playing, what he calls "swim game" (jumping around saying "swim swim"). Or William's sweet voice saying "I love James" and "James really loves me."

Other wonderful ways of William: covering his eyes with the backs of his hands when he's being shy, always remembering to say please and thank you, saying sorry even when it's not necessary, telling me today that "those cookies might be good," singing along with any song even if he's never heard it before, telling me "I'm too busy mom" or "mom, I need your arm"... and about a gazillion other things.

I am so, so blessed to be able to stay home with my boys so that I don't miss out on these truly wonderful moments!

Tag! You're it!

I got "tagged" for two different things so here I go...

8 Random Things about Me:

1. When I was a senior in high school my sister and I went to a church dance. We took the wrong freeway on the way home and ended up driving in the shoulder toward on-coming traffic.
2. My dad and I were born in the same hospital in Ft. Sam Houston, Texas.
3. My whole life I wanted to be a teacher. My last year of college I changed my major to Marriage, Family and Human Development in order to graduate sooner. I ended up really enjoying it but it took me a long time not to cringe when asked what I studied in college.
4. Rich was my first kiss.
5. I went to EFY with and have a picture with Billy in 4C (from Dumb and Dumber).
6. I usually eat my pie: filling first, crust second.
7. I LOVE to play games... and I love to win. Rich and I can rarely play a game without having to have a rematch.
8. I am the oldest of 5 kids... 4 girls and 1 boy as the caboose.
   

Favorite four jobs I've held:

• MTC HR department
• Stay at home mom
• Mad Scrapper (scrapbook store)
• eKnowledge internet start up

Four movies I can watch over and over again:

• Return to me
• While you were sleeping
• Little Women
• Pride and Prejudice (BBC)

Four places I have lived:

• Austin, TX
• Corona, CA
• Provo, UT
• Norman, OK

Four t.v. shows I watch:

• The Office
• Lost
• Heroes
• Gilmore Girls (too bad its over!)

Four places I've been on vacation:

• California
• Illinois
• Missouri
• Utah

Four favorite foods:

• popcorn
• ice cream sandwiches
• fettuccine alfredo
• pie

Four websites I visit:

• lds.org
• feedyourfamily
• shadeclothing
• christysclipart

And I am now tagging...

all of YOU.

Have fun!

getting to know you...

As we were wandering around Catie and Tim's reception last Thursday night, I remarked to Rich how many people I knew. (This is my favorite part of wedding receptions... seeing old friends.) We've only lived in this stake for about 2 1/2 years and I surprised myself at the number of people I recognized. I say only 2 1/2 years... but that's really longer than I lived in a lot of places growing up, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It was so fun to see so many familiar faces. Of course, it helps that Rich grew up in this stake, so many people know who I am because I married "Richie Crane". More than once I've been told by older women that I am married to their favorite person. I'm pretty lucky!

I guess we're always getting to know new people and making impressions (good or bad). I was very impressed with the youth last night at mutual. We helped with an Eagle Scout project and I didn't hear one word of complaint... instead I heard them laughing and having fun. I think I'll have a blast with these kids.

So look around and you might realize how many people you indeed know!

ps. Aren't the boys SO CUTE! (random fact: William's outfit was worn by my little brother at my wedding over 4 years ago!)