Hooray for Antibiotics

Today I've spent my day grateful for modern medicine and how miraculous our bodies are. Just yesterday I was feeling so crappy. My throat hurt, I was so tired, I was just plain sick. I got in two naps before I even had to pick the kids up - my lucky break. I had to shuffle the kids to their dress rehearsal for their school talent show and it took everything I had in me to do it. We even left early which was frowned down upon but I really couldn't hang out there. Chris came home from work and I swallowed my pride and went to the late night clinic. I got in about 9o'clock, and the Dr. checked me out. It was strep throat as I suspected. I got home at 10:00 with my drugs handy and went off to sleep. I woke up still feeling miserable, took some motrin and by 12:00 my throat wasn't hurting. I love drugs!!! It must have been such an exciting breakthrough when penicillin was discovered. So I've spent my days amazed at how a little tiny bit of medicine can work so quickly and effectively even with the complexity of our bodies. I know I probably still have it and am not at 100%, but the difference in one day has me so happy. I should go to sleep now seeing how it's already after 11:00 and I'm sure so many of these night in a row is why I got sick in the first place.

My one and only sister

I just wanted to wish my one and only sister a very happy birthday. Today is her big day!! I could write something I love about her for each year of her life but thought I shouldn't rub in her old age. I'll just say that I feel lucky to have her in my life. From the time I was little she's watched over and cared about me in a way no one else has. I know I bugged her as a kid always wanting to be everywhere she was, doing what she was doing but it was because I looked up to her and wanted to be like her. She's wrapped up in all my childhood memories. Sleeping in her bed, throwing my Sunday shoes at her, trying to figure out how she got chocolate out of a Hershey's chocolate notebook and having sleepovers with her after she went to school. She taught me how to dance, how to be creative, how to be crafty and above all thoughtful. I know of nobody else who is as good at remembering somebody else's special days. She was always there to teach me, wish me good luck, make me care packages and travel packs. Now she does the same for my kids as well. She never missed one of my events while I was dancing, cheerleading, and doing plays. She was always, always there. She taught me how to dance, through all of my performances she was the behind the scenes story. The song Wind Beneath My Wings has always reminded me of her because while I was winning awards, getting recogniation and tonz of attention she was in the background. I so appreciate the endless sacrifices she made for me to see me succeed and feel like I'll never be able to give that back to her. I love to laugh with her, play games, make fun of ourselves, travel and take the average age down of people. I'm sad that so many states separate us and that I can't be there for her. This has gone on and on and I now can't see the screen because my eyes are filled with tears thinking back with a grateful heart for my sister. So Ang just know that I love you and have a happy happy birthday. Sorry this is cheesy, not your favorite thing.

Sweet Talkin

I just returned home from bookclub, a few hours earlier then the normal. I think we're all getting old and have less energy. I guess that's what the 30's do to you. I think the history of the bookclub originated in downtown Dallas 5-6 years back. Since then everyone has moved out to the suburbs but the club has stayed intact. That makes for meetings all over the place. I kind of the like the seperation from my everyday friends and ward. Anyway, I was driving the crowd out to Flower Mound tonight. We had 4 women and 2 babies in the mini-van from over here. I like to refer to the road trip as pre and post book club, because before we even hit our destination we've already covered so much. In the middle of the chit-chat I see the dreaded flashing lights behind me. Grrrr!! Why me, why now? As we were waiting for the cop to come up I told them to trust me and that I could get out of it. We quickly talked strategies and then I told them to keep quiet and that I'd take care of it. Then in my head I was certain I would get a ticket just for being so arrogant. I was nice, friendly, apologetic, and a little chatty. After he came back he said we could without a ticket unless anyone else in the back wanted one for some reason. SUCCESS!!!! It was the pride of my day. Now I'll go hit the sack a refreshed, rejuvinated and ready to be a better wife and mom. That's what my adult girl talk does for me. It fills my tank to try harder and keep going. It also helps that I come home to a neat and tidy clean house - I love my husband. First he lets me go have some girl time, second he cleans the whole house while I'm away. I can't wait to share my news with him in the morning that I got out of yet another ticket.

It was one of those days

I just returned from a YW board meeting at 11:08 p.m. That's right. I love working with the YW and love love working with the other leaders. I sometimes joke that our monthly board meeting is my social life. But honestly we laugh our heads off every time. Tonight we re-wrote the lyrics to the Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mamma, la la la song with modesty lyrics. When we perform it I'll try to record it and post it.
Prior to YW this is how my day went down....
I found this on Sunday and just laughed and laughed. My favorite part... I've got some time to myself so I'll brush my teeth. All the lyrics though really hit to close to home and yet I love my life and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Celebrating May 5

Cinco de Mayo and a new fresh month's of minutes for my cell phone. Two things worth celebrating. I think I'll get takeout tonight.
Charlotte told me she was tired and needed a nap. I told her to hold out and go to bed early. She seemed all concerned that she'd miss our "party". I told her it wasn't a real party just one where we order some yummy mexican food and tell each other "Happy Cinco de Mayo" that's as festive as it gets. I think she was dissapointed. I guess she thinks I abused the use of the party word.

Mother's Day Preview

Today I took my kids out into the swine flu filled air, hand sanitizer on the ready, to take care of Mother's Day and my sister's birthday (May 8th). That in itself is a huge success because I'm never prepared ahead of time. We went to the church bookstore because I had some returns and needed to make my family some money (see earlier posts) ha ha. That really was a laugh because I came out spending way to much. Let me just quick brag about the steals I found. "The Wednesday Letters" by Jason F. Wright, New York Times bestseller, regular price 19.95 was 1.99. There were tonz of them. I haven't read it myself but I bought three because well, they were only 1.99. Who knows what I'm going to do with them but I couldn't resist. I also picked up two Leven Thumps books (book2&3) hardback for 1.99. Then I splurged and bought myself "Project Organization" by Marie Ricks (my sister always shares tips from her and I need it!)some dough enhancer and gluten just because.
My success ended at this point.
My next stops, and my failures will briefly be described below.
1.Distribution center - closed for renovation
2.Borders to pick up Guernsey Literary book for Chris's mom (because I love it and know she will too) was all sold out. Next pick "I Capture the Castle" all sold out. What?? Bad Luck
3. The cute little local post office to pick up cute new stamps since they up the prices on Monday. My mom would like them because of practicality and Chris's mom would like them because she's the master card sender and stamp collector. Of course all they have left were a few forever stamps, but that wasn't the point. The point was to get some unique ones because that's fun, the new price starts the next day and I'm a thoughtful daughter.
4. The big huge, long line, real Post Office. I waited in line for a few minutes, asked a dude if they had really neat stamps, I was told no and left.
So in all of my intentions to think of Mother's Day a little earlier then normal so that a gift might actually make it to them before the big day failed.
What am I going to do, what does everyone else do? Someone enlighten me. I'll trade you a few 1.99 books for some good ideas. Please, anyone? I might even throw in some gluten.

I've been Elected

I'm happy to announce my new office - the Graham Family Historian. I don't think I've ever been elected to anything. I've tried and been the big loser a few times so I had to make up an office that was automatic and no one could vote me out of. (Chris made it clear he didn't want to run or be appointed).
With my new office comes new equipment. Presenting my new toy/headache...

Toy because of the many possibilities, headache because of my limited technical abilities.
Anyway, this device allows me to put all of my old unwatched media onto DVD's. I can put any VHS tape, our 8mm camcorder days and our recent miniDV's. My kids love home videos and in the past they've been such a pain to hook up, wires, wires, wires, change channels, change inputs, it doesn't work try it all again, I can hear the sound but can't see the pictures, you know the drill. Not any more, put in the DVD, select which scene you want and you're off. I'm so excited!!!
After I get the stuff transfered I'll be able to piece, add music, add still pictures and make movies.
Another responsibility of the family historian is to scrapbook. Unfortunately my goods are in a far away closet getting dusty. I can't get rid of them because I do enjoy it but don't have it in me to do right now. In the meantime shutterfly photo books are doing the tricks. They're not as personal, but they get the job done and that's the survival mode I'm in right now in my life.
I'll be up for re-election as soon as one of my own is capable to take over. Actually I'll probably just resign and enjoy the fruits of someone else's labors. I'll deserve it.

Vain at 3

Mason has been way into both his age and looks lately. He keeps on saying the funniest things. He's very into his clothes, picking them out, laying them out for the next day before he goes to bed and making sure they match just right. Then after he gets dressed he likes to look in the mirror. This is when he starts talking like this "How do I look??? Hey guys, do I look good?" "I'm a handsome guy". This is all while he's staring and beaming at himself in the mirror.
Along the same clothing lines, he always checks his tags and lately has refused to wear anything that doesn't have a 3 on it. If it's 2T or 4T I might as well just pack it away. This gets frustrating because he has some great outfits that aren't size three. Another obsession - his braided belt. He has to wear it everyday. This means only pants with loops will work. I'm sure you can imagine the problems he has with his shoes that are size 8. He just can't figure it out. "He this isn't right, these are Charlotte's shoes, Charlotte is 8". It just cracks me up how much these sorts of things mean to him when my girls never thought twice about any of it.
The last funny thing about being three is that he won't use the term "me too" when I ask the kids if they want to do something. He'll only say "me three" so he specifically waits for someone to say "me too" so he can use his age appropriate "me three". He then smiles all proud of himself like he just tricked everyone.
Someday I wish I could freeze this "3" stage. It's just such a funny one.

31 Posts

A brilliant idea to motivate me to post just came to me. "One a day in May". So starting today is the begining of 31 posts to come. I have so much to catch up on and never have it in me to do all at once so maybe if I spread it out I'll enjoy the process more. Since I'm slacking at my own personal journal I need to be at this. I still hold that reading everyone else's is way funner then writing one.
So brace yourself, daily updates are coming your way - I know you can hardly wait for the scope on our super exciting lives.
I'm so glad I got this in at 11:28p.m. and that it's still May 1st.

2 Reviews

A book and a movie...

Book - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - by Mary Ann Schaffer and Annie Barrows.
Movie - Bedtime Stories

The book is one of my new favorites. I haven't read a book I enjoyed so well in a long time. I loved the characters, loved the story, it was totally PG rated (love that) and I laughed right out loud so many times.

I always love finding a movie that both me and the kids enjoy and we had a fun family night with this one. There also was alot of laughing and I thought it was clean enough for the fam.

Go experience them for yourselves if you haven't already.

So Happy!!!

This is from a tag a long time ago, 8 things about me that make me happy (beyond the obvious).

1. Cinnamon rolls - always a weakness of mine, I just can't get enough.
2. Yummy smelly things - car jars, room sprays, Bath and Body Works, and my new favorite is anything Scentsy. I love their warmers!!! I love coming home to a delicious smelling house.
3. Goose down comforter and feather bed. We have both of these on our bed year round, even in the heat of the Dallas summers, to comfortable to take off. I love my squishy soft bed, it makes me so so happy. I could lay in it all day.
4. Game shows and reality T.V. Growing up I never watched T.V. That was until after I was married and reality T.V. started up. I love watching people in real life (or totally fake:)) Current favorites, American Idol - (Kris Allen) and Biggest Loser, I just can't make it through an episode with crying. The Price is Right, I cry everytime someone comes running down all excited.
5. I enjoy a good cry. Give me a good book or movie and let me just cry. Once Chris called home while I was reading a heart wrenching book and sobbing away, he told me I should probably stop reading it and put it down. Call me crazy but I love a good cry. My most recent was "Marley and Me" and anyone who knows me knows how much I hate dogs and even that book made me cry.
6. BYU - I'm one proud cougar alum.
7. Free food, i.e. company dinners paid for by NSAI, receptions, parties, samples. Is this embarassing to admit to??
8. Returning things - I have a messed up mentality that makes me feel like I make money when I return things. The truth is that I don't buy things with plans to return them but I have bad buyers guilt and often my purchases go back. I also never try clothes on at the stores so clothes are returned all the time. Instead of realizing that I've spent the money and and are just getting refunded for it, I see it as money already spent and that I get some free money.
People I tag - do it it's fun! StreetWalker, Angey, Megan

We've gone country

We've had quite the cowgirl and cowboy fun filled events the past few months. One night Chris came home and decided it was time for him to buy some cowboy boots. I asked him when and where he planned to wear them and he was undecided, just certain he wanted some. Also a few times recently when I've gotten in his car the radio has been left on a country station. My husband's a new man, for sure this never would have happened 11 years ago when I first met him. If only he already had his boots to ring in the fun of two open houses and one wild wild west birthday party.
First Mason's open house - for months he's been reciting the words to Deep in the Heart of Texas. Unfortunately his big night was the exact same night as Rozlyn's open house. It was such drama for me. How could I ever miss either one of these nights. I went with Rozlyn and Chris went with Mason, we only have one digital camera so I took it with me and he took the video. Bad choice because we ended up with no pictures. I was holding Mallory the whole time and just couldn't do it. So here is a cute one of Roz after the event.
Charlotte really really wanted a pool party for her big eighth birthday and I really really didn't want to be responsible for all of her friends in a pool so I had to think of something even better to convince her. My idea: horseback riding, petting zoo, barn, bounce house - a sure sale!

Mason wasn't missing out on any of the fun


Here's most of the group. Charlotte insisted on wearing cowboy boots, even though they really don't fit. After about an hour of running around they came off. I was very disgusted at the idea of no shoes, I would pick blisters anyday over stepping in horse crap. Somehow they stayed off, and it's just now looking at this picture that I'm wondering how I ever let her get away with that. CPS might as well take me away now. I mean really what mom let's one of her own run around barefoot through a barn. I'm so grossed out, I can't talk about it anymore.

Family Pictures

Here are some family pictures we had taken right before Charlotte's baptism. I really wanted to get pictures of her in her dress and some pictures of Mallory for her 6 month birthday too!! Since half the kids would be dressed and pretty I made a poor judgement call to do all the kids. I'm really getting to be more and more of an anti-studio kind of gal but a friend had recommended this place and it was super cheap so we gave it a try. The experience wasn't all that great. It was my first time so I tried not to say to much because I didn't know the system. After taking a million ugly background family group shots, she informs me we're running low on time. I explained my main goal was to get pictures of Charlotte in her dress (which she didn't start out in - their advice) and some of Mallory alone. So then we're rushing, rushing trying to get what we actually needed. I was left with about two pictures to choose of the ones I wanted. Grrrr. If only it worked like a payphone and I could deposit money as needed to extend our session time, but that wasn't the case. We were herded over to the computer station where I got to sift through all the pictures while my four kids ran around unattended. Photo sessions with four kids are best handled at a 2:1 kid to parent ratio.

Two more things to say, does this make any of my photographer friends feel sorry enough for me that they could move here and also I'm supposed to publicly say that Chris didn't endorse the pioneer look on Mallory.

Baptism

We had the unique opportunity to travel to Vegas, a place not usually known for conversion stories, to baptize Charlotte. On Chris's side of the family there were three little girls born all within a month, who now live in three different states which was going to make getting to all these baptisms a logistical nightmare. The solution: baptize them all together in one central location. The other huge advantage was that my parents who are currently serving a mission in California were able to drive up for the day. The whole week went by so fast but was so much fun. We decided to do the drive. Overall it was a success, there were a few disturbing rest stop stories but they're still a little to close to the surface for sharing. We stayed in a rental home so all the kids could get in cousin time and all of the adults could have adult time. The bapitsm was on Saturday followed by a huge luau with a whole roasted pig.
I'm grateful for the circumstances that made it such a memorable day for Charlotte. It was so fun to see her getting ready, running around with excitment, giggling with her cousins as they were getting their jumpers on and standing on the side of the font dripping wet as they watched and waited until all three were done. I'm so proud of Charlotte, I love her so much for so many different reasons.
Her are some pictures from the big week and even bigger day:

Vacation Days

I just realized that I'm out of them. I had a fabulous weekend in Idaho reuniting with friends and family. True it was only three days but still a vacation. (oh and I'm so mad I forgot my camera, I almost blew the cash on a new one just for the weekend) This morning I was ready for another vacation until I realized I'm out of days and that it's not in my mom contract to take a day off. When I was complaining to Chris he told me to negotiate with the kids and see what they say. I'll see how it goes. If only my personal life mirrored the corporate world in that sense, that X amount of days I could just say "hey, I'm taking it off today". That however is the only benefit I can think of so I guess I'll quit complaining and be glad I'm a mom, no vacation days and all. I'm off to clean or cook or something...