Movie Traps

One of the benefits of living in Wymount is that we have a fridge door AND a metal front door which we can clutter with magnetic stuff. I try to keep the fridge relatively clutter-free, so the door is generally reserved for toys and recent displays of creativity. For this reason, the "Word Whammer" calls our front door home.

Kallie has a lot of fun with this toy--not only does it provide letter names, sounds, and the alphabet song, the letters lend themselves quite well to sorting and organizing. It was in the middle of a sorting event that Kallie decided to line the letters up in a row, spanning the tiny crevice where door meets doorframe. With the row of letters lined up for a couple of feet, we explained that it looked like she was trying to booby trap the door. Now, any time she wants to feel sneaky, she lines the letters up across the crevice and says, "Look! I made a movie trap!" I think we'll let that mispronunciation slide for now.

My Day Off

Today, Ryan took the girls ALL day so I could have the day off to accomplish a few things before he starts his last semester. It was wonderful and I got so much done!

I planned and gathered all the supplies for sharing time tomorrow. It will just be me and my secretary tomorrow, since one counselor moved and the other is out of town. I hope it won't be too crazy with everyone gone!

And, I started putting together my "Home Management Binder." I finally nailed down the sections I want to include, put together calendars for my binder through the end of the year, planned a 6 week cycle menu (which took MOST of the time), typed up the recipes for my menu, and purchased papers to use on my dividers.

While I was doing all of this, Ryan fed and got the girls dressed, got them down for naps/quiet time, took them grocery shopping, and "fixed" dinner. I say fixed, but really, he picked up dinner from Cafe Rio. Perhaps I should have him cook more often! :) He is such a great dad and an amazing husband. I was so grateful to have a day when I could just get things done without interruptions every 10 minutes. I have to admit, I felt a little guilty turning my responsibilities over to him for the day. But, I'm grateful I was able to sit down and finally put together things I've been thinking about for weeks now!

Fireworks

Tonight, as I was walking out of Wal-Mart, I looked up to see fireworks from the nearby Utah Valley University baseball stadium. I absolutely LOVE fireworks, so seeing them made me happy. And, they brought back a memory that also made me happy.

When I was serving in Vilnius, Lithuania, we lived in the heart of the city so we were literally in the middle of it all during celebrations. Turns out those Lithuanians love to celebrate! It seemed that at least once a week, there were flags hanging from every building in honor of something. One night, as my companion and I were climbing into bed, we heard fireworks booming overhead. We ran out to our balcony in our pajamas to see what was going on. Unfortunately, the fireworks were on the other side of our building, so we couldn't see them although we lived on the top floor. Eventually we got used to this happening and stopped running out to see the colors reflecting on the buildings across from us.

Another night, as we were once again climbing into bed, we heard Baltic techo-funk music growing louder and louder. Finally, when it sounded like it was right outside our apartment, we had to check it out. When we stepped out onto the balcony, we saw a flat-bed tractor trailer someone had turned into a "discotech," complete with a DJ, flashing lights, and dancers. Behind the truck, snaking through the streets of downtown Vilnius, there were cars with all sorts of teenage kids hanging out the windows shouting, dancing, laughing, etc. It was crazy! My companion and I joked that since we couldn't go to the discotech, they brought the discotech to us. It was one of the strangest things I've ever seen in my life!

Random Journal Entry

Tonight, I was reading through a gratitude journal I kept back in 1999. There are many things about my 2 close guy friends who were on missions at the time, as well as one particular boyfriend I had during college. Then I came across my March 1 entry. The last thing I was grateful for that day was "Having fun @ FHE! (Polish hookers and gay cows)." I'm certain I knew what it meant at the time--but now it's only good for a laugh because I can't remember anything about it! Who knew BYU Family Home Evening groups could introduce such interesting topics?

The Death of a Nap

I'm sitting here listening to my girls singing and chattering to each other in their bedroom. As of this moment, we're about an hour and a half into nap time and the constant noise has been going on for about the past 45 minutes. I think we're finally entering the phase I have dreaded since Kallie was an infant--the loss of her one and only remaining nap. It's such a challenge when you KNOW your child needs a nap, but all of the lullabies and bedtime stories in the world can't convince her of this. It gets even worse when your not-quite-2-year-old is woken from her much needed nap in the process.

As a mother, you know that you have to give everything you've got, 24 hours a day, no vacations. I don't think this happens all at once, though. I have still been clinging to nap time--the precious 2 hours of quiet when I could actually accomplish something in real time--as "my" time. But, when I get down to the truth of it all, losing that quiet, calm time is just the next step in the never-ending process of immersing myself even more into motherhood.

The Ending of an Era

For as long as I can remember, the brown and blue Deseret Towers dorms have stood on the corner of 9th East and 1430 North. They weren't much to look at, but every time I drove south past them, I would glance up at the 7th floor of U Hall, third room in, and feel a wave of memories wash over me.

I remember moving in as a 17-year old freshman. So many girls were completely boy crazy and I refused to be part of them. So, instead of posting, "Will cook for love," in our window, (which I DID see posted in a dorm window my freshman year), my roommate and I hung up the word "BOYS" with a huge X through it. I'm not sure too many people could see it from ground level, but the statement itself was more important than the visibility at the time.

In spite of the sign, I remember talking to one particular boy on the phone for six hours! He was truly just a friend, (we never went on a date), and had we been actually talking face-to-face, I'm sure our conversation would have died after the first hour or so. We talked for so long that I had to move the phone into the hall so my roommate could go to bed.

Speaking of phones, I remember the old campus phone system that would let you send messages without calling the person. After studying for a while, we'd turn around and see that the little red "message" light on the phone was blinking. It was always fun to know that someone was thinking of you, (even if it was only long enough to forward a phone message)!

I remember waking up at 4:30 a.m. to walk to the Provo Temple and participate in baptisms for the dead. Since my first class wasn't until 10 a.m., I went home and went back to sleep when we finished. The same 6-hour-phone-call boy called me every morning to provide me with a weather report and let me know whether I should carry an umbrella, wear a sweater, or put on my snow boots. (I didn't realize back then that he liked me. Duh.)

I remember one girl who came in late every night and always announced her presence when she got off the elevator. Later that same year, this cute girl went to the hospital and was admitted to an eating disorder program. Who know that the attention-grabbing techniques were really just a cry for acceptance and help?

I remember sitting in the utility room talking with my next door neighbor. Hours upon hours of conversations filled with hundreds of tangents. I've kept loosely in touch with her over the years and she's done some wonderful things with her life.

I remember one of the lonliest times of my life. I had just come back from spending a great Christmas vacation with a friend who I had reconnected with the night before I came to BYU back in September. My parents were unreachable on a trip, (this was before the days of cell phones), and I didn't want to be back at school when the connections I felt were still tied so closely to people at home. Although it was tough, it was a time of learning to trust in the Lord, learning to extend myself a little more, and learning to enjoy the opportunities presented to me.

Now, I live just a block from the remains of those memories. Deseret Towers was torn down a few months ago and a dirt patch has taken its place. I won't be able to show my kids where I lived during my first year of college--but at least the memories I gained will be readily available for the rest of my life.

Progress, Part II

This has GOT to be the second fluke in a row! Seriously, people! Today, while getting ready to leave my parents' house, I saw Whitney toddle into the bathroom and heard her lift up the lid. This usually means there's already a hand and/or foot in the potty. I stumbled over children and shoes strewn across the kitchen floor, (there were five kids, age 5 and younger, running around all day today there...), and made it to the bathroom door in time to see Whitney clambering onto the potty. I scooped her up and put her back on the floor, when suddenly an idea popped into my head, "Maybe she needs to go potty..." When I asked her, she said yes--so I put her on the potty. She grinned and said, "Potty! Pee-pee!" I was in the midst of reassuring her that yes, that's what we do on the potty, when the unexpected actually happened. She PEED in the potty! I was, once again, shocked. I seriously can't believe that my not-even-2-yet child is already scoring big on the potty. Although I don't see this really going anywhere in the next few months, I suppose stranger things HAVE happened...

Progress

A few weeks ago, I posted about Whitney confusing the bathtub for the potty and now I have an update. (Since you were all waiting on the edge of your seat for the next installment.) Knowing Whitney's lovely little habit, I'm much more attentive and tuned in to what she's doing when playing in the bathtub. Last night during their bath time, Whitney looked at me, pointed to her bum, and said something that sounded like potty. I figured maybe she was trying to tell me something, so I whisked her out of the tub and sat her on the potty. Sure enough--she pooped in the potty!! I was so shocked. I figured it's never too early to start rewarding appropriate behavior, so she got 3 m&m's for her communication and the result.

Now, lest you think she'll be potty trained next month--she's really not ready for that yet. While she can SAY potty, she can't undress herself, nor does she ever have dry diapers when she wakes up. I figure we've got about another year before we get to that point. BUT--if we can at least make a change where the bathtub is concerned for now, I will be one happy camper!

Kallie's Cafe

If Kallie were to ever open her own cafe, the menu would be VERY short. Each week when I plan our family menu, I ask Kallie what she would like for dinner that week and she ALWAYS says mac n' cheese and chocolate milk. If I press a little further for some originality, she'll probably come up with chicken "maggots", (her pronunciation of nuggets), which she only gets when we take her out to eat--and that doesn't happen often.

Now that I think about it, there would probably also be an entire list of vegetables on her menu: broccoli, peas, corn, brussels sprouts, carrots, etc. In our home, we usually have to bribe her with vegetables to get her to eat the rest of her dinner. (i.e. "Kallie, you need to eat 3 bites of chicken before you may have any more brussels sprouts.") Whitney is the same way, though. Hmmm...I must have strange kids!

Two Pillows

Since Monday, there has been one pillow on my bed. It looked quite lonely there all by itself. And, although it did a decent job at holding up the decorative pillows from the middle of the headboard, it all looked just a little lopsided and slumpy. I decided it that's just the way it was going to be until Friday.

Usually, there are TWO pillows on my bed, but Ryan remembered to take his with him when he left on the annual Father/Son campout his family holds every year. Like that single pillow, I do a decent job without him here, but I feel a little lopsided and slumpy when he's gone. And, I'm not the only one. This year was the first year that Kallie really knew what was going on. She missed her daddy terribly! When we pulled away from dropping him off on Monday morning, I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw her beautiful big eyes filling with tears and her little chin quivering in her quest for bravery. She kept telling me in a trembling voice that she was really going to miss her dad. I told her I was going to miss him, too. From that point on, we were counting sleeps until daddy came home--there were 4, (not counting naps).

Then, last night, after Kallie had gone to bed, Ryan called to say they had done everything they had wanted to do and they were coming home a day early! Wah-hoo! I didn't tell Kallie until AFTER her nap today because I knew she wouldn't be able sleep from the excitement of it all. When she found out, though, she couldn't wait to see him! Tonight, as we reviewed her day before she said her prayers, she said, "We went to Rick and Brenda's house to pick up daddy. And he was stinky. And he was wearing a hat." And, that's exactly what she said in her prayers, too!

As for the pillows, my pillow is no longer lonely in the middle of the headboard. There are two of them standing side by side once more. The decorative pillows are standing tall and everything seems balanced again--just as it should be.

The Inevitable Olympics Post

I am a fan of the Olympics--and I have been for as long as I can remember. There's nothing quite like watching someone hit their landing, win by 8 hundredths of a second, or just seeing the people of the world come together to cheer. This year has not failed to diappoint.

To begin with, the Opening Ceremonies were amazing. There have been spectacular shows in the past, but nothing that really compared with Beijing's. I couldn't believe the choreography of 15,000 people who moved in unison, making perfect rows and shapes, all while running around. That alone was astounding to me, not to mention the incredible technology, and that huge painting--what a great idea!

During the Procession of Nations, I was struck by the differences between all the people, as well as the distinct beauty in each face. Isn't it amazing that we all live on the same planet? I also thrilled to cheer for the four nations I have lived in, (U.S.A., Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia), as well as gave mini-shout outs to the nations my brothers have lived in, (Phillipines, Korea, and Taiwan ("Chinese Taipei" during the procession)). We let Kallie stay up to watch most of it, although she got a little slap-happy at the end when I taught her to say, "Woot!"

I jumped up off the couch and shouted for Team U.S.A. when they won the men's 4x100 relay race. Who could have planned a more exciting race? And, although I haven't struggled to train as those men have, my heart was bursting with pride in their accomplishment. Last night, I watched the Men's Gymnastics Team earn the bronze metal. It was the first Olympics for all of them--and they medaled! Their celebrations choked me up! I wish Japan could have been as excited about their silver as Team U.S.A. was for their bronze. Once again, I swelled with pride in my country and in the people who work hard to represent us at this amazing sporting event. I can't wait to see what other "Olympic Moments" lie ahead!

As a side note, I cannot fully appreciate the Olympics without giving a shout out to Little Caesar's pepperoni, Blue & Red Funfetti cake in the pan, figure skating, and an artistic Olympic pedicure. That was certainly a gold medal night! :)

Whitney's Newest

Whitney has been so much more verbal lately. And, the ways she is expressing herself just crack me up! The other day, Ryan was sitting down on the couch to read with the girls. Whitney started going after the books, so Ryan moved them to his other side. As he was doing so, Whitney said, "HEY! No, no, no!" Both Ryan and I just started laughing! ("Hey!" is one of her favorite phrases right now.)

Whitney has also started taking great pleasure in simply letting us know she KNOWS words. This morning, she brought an open Little Einsteins book to me. She was pointing to a picture saying, "Dile! Dile!" When I looked, sure enough, there was a crocodile. She then went through all the names of the "Steins" (as she calls them) and smiled a HUGE smile when she finished.

Maybe I still see Whitney as younger than she is, (since she's my baby right now), but I am constantly amazed by the things she has learned in the past 20 months. It is fascinating to see what a difference a few months can make. I am truly watching the miracles of life and learning happen right in front of me. I just can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

Bobs on the Tide

Tonight, I was doing a few things on the computer and Ryan turned on some old EFY music to listen to while we hung out in the office. WOW. The music is all stuff I listened to mainly on my mission and it really put me in a state of memory. I think about how I was as a missionary--it was certainly not an easy time of life, (what time of life is easy, really?), but it was an amazing time of my life. I felt so bold and so strong in my testimony of the gospel. I was so focused and ready to work. Now, there are so many distractions in my life that some days I really wonder what happened to that girl from a few years ago.

When I had about two months left in my mission, I was sent back to Riga--where I had been trained. I had left about 10 months earlier and Russian-speaking sisters hadn't served there for about 6 months. AND--I was to train a new sister, too. Within a matter of days, we reorganized apartments, got settled, and we were off. About 3-4 weeks later, another new sister, a native Russian, joined our companionship and I was then training these 2 amazing, but very different sisters. During the 10 months I had been gone, my very first convert, Lena, had left the church, but when I returned she took it upon herself to search me out and tell me everything that was wrong with me and the Church.

By this time, I was pretty used to Russians and I did not sugar coat ANYTHING for them, as they like it all up front. So, I got into a few discussions with Lena. She yelled at me and I boldly stated my testimony back to her. I testified of the apostacy, that the true church of Jesus Christ was restored through Joseph Smith; that God, who still loves His children, has continued to provide prophets on the earth since that time; that the Book of Mormon is true; and most of all, that Jesus Christ lives and guides His church. I remember one evening in particular, she hounded me for a couple of hours, following me around the church building in Centre. By the time I got home that night, I felt truly shaken. In spite of all of the miraculous and amazing experiences of the previous 18 months, (I came home about 10 days short of 19 months), my very first convert had me questioning what I had been doing for that "pohl-terah-godah" (year and a half, in Russian).

Honestly, I feel a more perfect opportunity could not have come to me at that time in my mission. It was my chance to really come to understand whether my efforts were accepted by the Lord and it was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen my own testimony. The next morning, I spent my usual time in the scriptures and in the Missionary Library books. And, by the end of that hour, I didn't have a single doubt in my mind. I knew that my short time of service had been accepted and appreciated by a loving God and a loving Savior. The next time I saw Lena, all I could do was quietly testify and tell her that I loved her and that I knew God and Jesus Christ loved her, too. And, then, I didn't see her again.

Even though that experience was so difficult, I miss it dearly. The great news, though, is that those experiences will always be part of me, not only for now, but forever as well. I think about meeting my people again at the "Ultimate Mission Reunion"--and I honestly look forward to it.

As for the title, that's a joke between me and one of my companions having to do with Russian grandmas and an EFY song. It would take too long to explain it here...but if you really want to know, leave me a comment and I'll explain in another post.

Saturday Night & Frog Eye

Last night, our little family headed up to Kaysville to get together with a group of friends from college. It's something that we do with this same group fairly regularly--Rachel, Roger and Ana, Rich and Kristi, and Mom and Dad Larsen. We met when we all attended the same ward where Dad Larsen was bishop of our student ward. And, we've all been family ever since. ;) We sat and chatted about people we knew in the ward while the kids kept each other entertained. It was such a fun evening!

And, as part of our little get together, we had a BBQ. I brought Frog Eye Salad and since the recipe was requested, I figured I would post it here for anyone else who was interested as well. It's a GREAT summer salad!

Frog Eye Salad
1 cup sugar
2 Tbl flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups pineapple juice, (drained from pineapple)
2 beaten eggs
1 Tbl lemon juice

Combine sugar, flour, and salt in medium saucepan. Gradually stir in pineapple juice and eggs. Cook over medium heat, stirring until thickened. Add lemon juice and cool mixture to room temperature.

3 qt. water
1 Tbl oil
1 pkg. Acini de Pepe pasta
2 tsp salt

Bring water, salt, and oil to a boil. Add Acini de Pepe and cook until done, (10-12 min.). Drain, rinse well, and drain again.

2 cans (20 oz.) pineapple tidbits, drained
1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained
3 cans mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup mini marshmallows, (I use more)
1 cup coconut (optional)
1 contained (12 oz.) Cool Whip

Combine Acini de Pepe with sauce mixture; add pineapple, oranges, marshmallows, and coconut. Lightly mix in Cool Whip. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Stores up to a week.
Makes 25 servings.