The Host, Anyone?

Has anyone read "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer? Is it good? Is it worth reading? How does it compare to Twilight?

Hating Holidays

Is it okay to admit that I really do NOT like some holidays? And which holidays do I hate? Any holidays where my hubby has to work. I HATE THEM.

I think I have this deep-seated childhood expection that holidays are supposed to be social and special, and everytime I have a holiday that is NOT social and NOT special, I resent every moment of them. Then my hubby has to work and it just makes it worse. I look forward to the day when I have some sort of adult family that I can hang with on holidays, even when T has to work. (Sorry for the grouchiness. Happy Memorial Day.)

Happy Birthday Princess Couscous!

It was Couscous' birthday!! The highlight of her birthday was the beautiful summer princess creation handmade by Grandma!! She was ecstatic as she opened it and put it on right away. (Mom and dad bought something for her right off the rack and she hasn't deigned to try it on yet. Grandma definitely won the day! And rightfully so. Besides I'm so frugle that if Couscous doesn't want to wear it, I'll just take it back, no problem.) So here are some pictures of Princess Couscous!

The Election Results...Tonight!

So...who's going to win? No, I'm not talking about Obama vs. Hillary. I'm not even talking about the democratic nominee vs. McCain. I'm afraid this contemplating mama is living on fluff right now. Of course I'm talking about DAVID vs. DAVID. Who will be the next American Idol? That is the big question of the day.

Last night David Archuleta did so well. He sang his heart out and I was tingly all over again listening to his voice. Click to hear Round 1, Round 2, and Round 3. Nothing David Cook sang last night did anything for me. I love U2 and still that song did nothing for me. Granted, last week I LOVED David Cook's version of the Roberta Flack song "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". Wow. That was great. But I agreed with the judges, last night went to David A.

Now all that said, I did NOT vote for David A. last night. Why? Because I am so impressed with that boy. So, again, why did I NOT vote for him????

Because I can't think of ANY teenage talent phenom that didn't throw their life away! I can't think of one that hasn't found him or herself in a compromising situation or worse, a disaster of a life. Am I just too cynical? Can YOU think of any teen that could handle that kind of worldly pressure and rise above it and stay beautiful and true and wholesome? Here's hoping we've found one because no matter who wins tonight, I don't think the world will forget David Archuleta. I just hope that they remember why they loved him in the first place and that he can handle his new found fame.

Brave Mama

I spent this final week without my hubby doing something insane. (He's back now though for good!! WOO HOO!!) I went on a roadtrip with my 3 kiddos! They were awesome! With enough DVDs and snacks, peace reigned in the car. Their bladders were stronger than mine so we didn't even have to stop more than I needed to.

We headed to our old stomping ground to meet up with some of our dear, dear friends! It was so good to see them. It didn't satisfy my desire to visit with them, it only whet my appetite. I thrive on Jannika's suggestion that in a few years (read: When we can afford it) we get together from our different corners of the U.S. for a Girl's Only weekend. Oh, Jannika, I'm counting on that. So, Sarah, Jannika, where should we meet? Maui? Spain? Where do you suggest? Okay, maybe more reasonable, San Diego?

We pricelined a hotel with a great view from our window--the old historic courthouse.

We hit the Science Center, Zoo, and Botanical Garden. One of the favorite spots for the girls was the hotel pool. It was great!

Granted, we also had the experience of one daughter slipping in the mud head-to-toe, the lack of sleep sharing a room with 3 children brings, and the lack of PJs a braindead mama brings. But boy were the girls thrilled when they saw on the hotel map that there were BALLROOMS! We didn't see any princesses though. All in all, it was a successful trip and one that we will remember for a long time!

The Joy and Humor of Single-Parent Sundays

I'm back! I have experienced 3 weeks of single-parenthood and it stinks. I'm so glad my hubby's coming back from his long training session! We've missed him tremendously.

One of the only reasons that I survived was because my dear sister Carrie came out to help me. She brought along her own 2 bundles of joyful energy so my house was crazy and fun and Carrie and I were thoroughly exhausted. I don't know how she did it but she washed my dishes, ("Washing dishes is my way to relieve the tension of the day."), she slept on my futon ("Will you take your bed back? I think that the harder futon will be more comfortable for my back."), cooked me delicious meals (involving such glorious combinations as crepes, asparagus, heavy cream, and nutmeg) and folded my laundry. I don't know what I did. But by the end of the day when the kids were finally in bed, we only had enough energy left to stare at each other and to try feebly to find enough functioning brain cells to hold a conversation before we gave up and went to bed at 9:30. Because we knew that at least one of our dear children would be ready to go at the unholy hour of 5:30am.

I think the epitome of our time was during Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. I'm going to share each episode of our Sunday together, as well as some choice ones Carrie had on her own Single-Parent Sunday a few weeks ago. Carrie, remind me if I forgot some, okay?

1. Carrie's 2 1/2 year old starts singing at the top of her lungs during the Sacrament Hymn. Not the words of the hymn, of course, but she's got the volume. Carrie and I accidently make eye contact and have to stifle our laughing while everyone else is getting ready for the sacred ordinance.

2. My 1-year old rapidly crawls under the pew in front of me and then out into the aisle. I quickly grab him before he gets away, but unfortunately I also grab my skirt in the process and flash the entire Bishopric.

3. At the exact same moment my 1-year old and 3 1/2- year old melt down. The only course of action is to tuck one under each arm, football hold style, while my 3 1/2-year old is flailing and kicking her legs. I later got compliments on my style, strength, and skills, and a father familiar with life in the trenches commented on the challenges of going from man-to-man defense to zone-defense.

These next ones all happened in ONE of Carrie's Single-Parent Sundays:

1. As her 2 1/2-year old daughter is eating her snack bag full of crackers, Carrie takes one little piece from the bag and eats it. Her girl starts wailing very loudly, "Mommy, you just ate my crackers!"

2. While the same daughter is coloring, Carrie leans over and whispers,
"Wow, that looks great. Tell me about your picture."
"It's a fish."
"Oh, and what is that?"
At the top of her voice in the silent chapel, "Those are it's nipples!"

[At this point Carrie figures the bishop's taking notes, "She steals from her children, she teaches them questionable words..."]

3. But the grand finale was when her adorable 6-month old was standing on the pew and flirting with the family behind them...until he hurled all over the man's dry-clean-only suit.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day reminds me of Mother's Day 2003. I had one active young child, a husband with early morning Sunday meetings, and if I remember right, he even had to speak that Sunday which left me alone in Sacrament Meeting. I remember ripping my brand-new dress trying to get my uncooperative child picked up and out the door to church. All in all, I remember being filled with a sense of unfulfilled entitlement. I was MOTHER! It was my day, right? Where were my perfectly obedient child, my kowtowing husband, and lavish gifts of gratitude for my hard work?

A few days later I met with my dear friends Sarah and Jannika. As our daughters all played together we talked about our respective Mother's Days. I told about my feelings and Sarah shared her feelings of guilt at not being a perfect mother. Then Jannika said simply, "I just feel so grateful that I get to be a mother."

That was quite an "A-ha!" moment for us. Sarah and I reminisce about how poignant that was, and my Mother's Days have been more meaningful thanks to Jannika's beautiful perspective.

(It is an extra special time to remember this because the day after Mother's Day I get to reunite with both Sarah and Jannika for the first time since May2004! This is also the first time I get to see Jannika again since her miraculous victory over cancer. I'm so grateful for our friendship and the time we shared together maternity clothes shopping, supporting each other with our newborn baby girls, Thursday lunches, and later playdates with toddlers. Joanna, we'll miss you.)