Heaven for Today

Jay--some weird rash under/beside his left eye, sore back and stiff neck from wrestling and snow sports with Parker, back at work and glad of the break from home

Parker--stir-crazy after a week of no school and being snowed in

Merr--runny nose and whiny attitude, "I want to play in the snow too; the snow's too cold; I can't walk in the snow; carry me; my nose is running; waaa."

Spencer--snotty nose with a dried, green booger stuck on the end that he won't let me clean off, ouchy diaper rash, probably 2 ear infections and a grumpy attitude

Me--mastitis (considering myself lucky--it's the 1st time ever and with 3 kids!), sinus headache/infection maybe, stiff neck from lack of sleep, stir-crazy from being snowed in with three monkeys

And ya know what? I wouldn't change anything, except maybe the runny noses and boob troubles. I sure love me some crazy monkeys!

Random Brain Clutter

1. Don't underestimate the determination of a 3-year old with a monstrous sweet tooth (hint-notice the icing or lack thereof):

2. I've decided to read what I want from now on. I CAN return a book I haven't finished and even stop reading one I don't like. Life's too short to read depressing, sad books, which is too often what's chosen in my book club. TV's full of either cop shows full of dead bodies and horrible, icky crimes (Is the world truly full of such demented, twisted people?) or doctor shows where the patients, ill with some exciting disease and never bunions or hemorrhoids, take a far back back-seat to the steamy looks and slobbery kisses exchanged over their bodies. I know the highest acclaimed and well written books are full of pain, agony and sadness but I don't want to always live it through them. What's wrong with a happy ending? I read for escape and I sure don't want to escape to Sophie's Choice or A Thousand Splendid Suns. Any suggestions for good books with happy endings? Mormon fiction is just too cheesy for me and I'm bored with cooking, gardening and parenting books...

3. Isn't this the most beautiful little boy you've ever seen? He's 9-months on Friday and growing way too fast. I could eat him up, and do gnaw on his cheeks on occasion.

3. I ain't no Facebooker. A few peeps have inquired and that just ain't my scene, baby. :) First of all, I hated high school; why would I want to find people I have no care to see/talk to again in this lifetime? Although, I am interested to see how fat and bald they are and their ugly kids. Jess, can I borrow your login for some harmless stalking? Second, I was not even the closest to cool back at ol' Bryan Station (hence my hatred for the experience) and so in rebellion, I eschew anything that hints of popularity. You say that everyone is reading Twlight? Then I shall not. The whole planet, minus a few tribes in the Amazon, has seen Titanic? I am a tribe of one. Everyone is on facebook? Well, not meee! Instead, I stalk friend links on friends of friends' blogs to find people I'm interested in catching up on and just read. Totally anonymous and no one I have to "friend" or send a flower to or write in their yearbook or some such something or other.

4. Twin snot trails and red eyes on a cute, sick baby are still cute, no matter what you say.

5. Say no to crack, even on pretty little girls. (New Years at our friends', the Clarks.)

That's enough for now, I guess. I still have intentions of putting up Holiday pictures and such. We'll see if those intentions last.

His Father's Son

Parker comes home today from kindergarten and shows me a paper from his backpack: "Carly gave me her phone number, Mom, so I can call her some time so we can get together and play. And I gave her my phone number, too, so she can call me."

It's already started and he gets it all from Jay. I never had those skillz at 25, much less 5. He's the only 5-year old I know that can go to playland at the mall, find the two cutest girls there and get them to chase him around and around. He'll be hopeless after puberty.

Where were you?

Sitting in the van in Wal-Mart's parking lot with the heater going, eating my Wendy's grilled chicken sammich with Parker, feeding Spencer his Mixed Veggies and Bananas in my lap, trying to hush them both so I can listen to history on my radio. I didn't vote for him-I voted for the old, wrinkled white dude, but it's still historic and I heard it.

Did you?

Jets from Heaven

Parker: "Mom, I think it's almost time for Bowen to come back."

Me: "Why do you say that?"

Parker: "Cause Grayson and Sterling came back and so Bowen will be coming back soon."

Me: "But Parker, Grayson and Sterling were only in China and Bowen's in heaven. It's not just a quick plane ride from heaven to come back."

Parker: "Yeah, but Grayson and Sterling are back and I think Bowen's coming back soon, too."

I wish my faith was as simple and pure as Parker's. I'm hoping it'll be soon, too.

Mine for '09

Savor.