Ode To My In-Laws!

I've been married to my husband for almost 5 years. Before we started dating, a girl we both knew called Joe "the best kept secret in the ward." She had NO idea how right she was. She'd never met his parents. Honestly, if I'd met thousands of people who could possibly be my future in-law's, I would have chosen Cathy and Larry, hands down.

I often hear horror in-law stories, and sometimes wish I could add my $.02 (just because I like having something juicy to talk about), but I can't think of a single negative thing to say. My contribution to the horrible in-law conversation would be this: "My mother-in-law is awful, because when she watches my kids, she also cleans the stains out of all their clothes. Can you believe that?" Or about my father-in-law: "He provided the best living example to Joe of how to live within your means. I sure wish he'd encouraged debt a little more."

I can honestly attribute every good quality that Joe possesses to his parents--his parents that I am so thankful my kids get to call grandparents.

My father-in-law's birthday is today, and my mother-in-law's tomorrow. All they wanted for their joint birthdays was a day in the temple with the whole family. And while we all should have been responsible to make sure it happened, they were the ones arranging babysitters (or paying the babysitters we'd found), feeding all 18 of their grandchildren, and all 6 of their own children and spouses so that our pre-temple evening wouldn't be hectic. We should have been the ones feeding them!

I don't think a day in my MIL's life goes by that she doesn't happily give multiple acts of service. In addition to caring for her own elderly mother (which should really give her the right to say "no" to anything else requested of her), it's a rare day when she's not also tending multiple grandchildren, sewing blankets for premature babies, making dinner for someone who's sick, inviting someone else to dinner, etc. She's Wonder Woman multiplied by 10 million. She really does it all.

She has the amazing ability to see the good in all people, and all situations. But she's also really good at making those of us who sometimes like to complain--like me--feel validated. If she were normal, as in not-the-model-of-perfection that she is, she'd probably be thinking, "Girl, you have no idea what hard is...you only have two kids...I had six." But she sits and listens, and I guarantee that thought doesn't even cross her mind. Because of her ability to listen with love, my mother-in-law has become one of my closest confidants. I'm a lucky girl.

My father-in-law is just as incredible. He often claims that he's going to make it into heaven hanging on for dear life to his wife. But we all know that they will march together, side by side, equally worthy. I will forever be grateful to Joe's dad for the things he taught his children. He taught them self-reliance. He taught them hard work. He taught them service. He's one of the most talented men you'll ever meet, but unless you see him in action, you'd never know, because he's also one of the most humble. He won't boast of the homes he's built, the websites he's created, the cars he's fixed, the organ he plays, the Monopoly games he's won, or the service he's rendered. You just have to see it. If Joe has a project he's working on, his dad volunteers to help. If Joe needs advice, his dad has the right kind to offer. If we have a new game needing playing, he joins right in. Teenage-me would never have believed that my favorite people to hang out with are...parents!

So for your birthdays, Mom and Dad G, I hope you know how much we love you. I hope you know that I am watching everything you do, praying that just a little smidgen of goodness will rub off! When I married Joe, I had no idea I was landing myself on such an incredible goldmine. You were Joe's best kept secret! I love you! Happy Birthday!

P.S. I know Joe's parents will be horrified when they read this. They hate this kind of attention. But too bad. Some people are just too good to go un-recognized!

Cruise Photos

I know I've taken WAY too long to stop already with sharing the details of our Cruise that ended a month ago today, BUT I just have to share a few more things.

We traveled with the travel gurus, Matt and Erin. And let me tell you, traveling with them is THE. WAY. TO. GO.

1. They research every aspect of every minute of the Cruise, sorting through the necessary information to help you plan the BEST trip ever.
2. They are easy-going, and not discouraged when their hours of planning are destroyed by a slight itinerary change. Stupid Swine Flu! Your well-planned Western Caribbean Cruise turning into a last minute Eastern Caribbean Cruise doesn't phase them.
3. They stay up all night researching the new ports!
4. When your husband would rather eat at the midnight buffet, your SIL Erin will dance with you!
5. Erin will also sing karaoke with you!
6. They are the only dinner mates who won't think you're crazy for ordering 5 different entrees. And appetizers. And desserts. Every night.
   
7. They will let you use their calling card to check on your babies.
8. They will make you laugh 'til you cry.
9. They will make you feel good about your scary Gloria Estefan karaoke performance.
10. They will bring along a really expensive camera, and send you the eleventy billion pictures!
11. A few of the pictures will look like this....

THE FOOD
THE BEACHES

THE FORMALS

THE STOMACH-ENLARGING FOOD

THE BEST TRIP EVER!!!

Thanks, Matt and Erin! We'll travel with you again anytime (even without the big, expensive camera!)

Joe's "Chicken" Karaoke

I'm not the only one who sang Karaoke on our trip! First, Erin and I decided to do a little rendition of Tiffany's I Think We're Alone Now. We were pretty proud of ourselves in our matching black dresses......but we were put to shame by my cute husband. His "chicken" rendition of You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling won him lots of drunk friends. He proves that you can have fun without alcohol! We all vowed that "What happens on this ship, stays on this ship." But some vows were meant to be broken. (Although I'm pretty sure I'm not going to post my Gloria performance in video...come to my house if you want to see it!) Here's JOE! (Love you, babe!)

Let's Start at the Very Ending...A Very Good Place To Start!

I promise not to bore you with every last detail of my Cruise--I still want friends when I'm done! But I couldn't go without blogging about one of the scariest, yet funnest moments of my life! (I wouldn't be me if I didn't find SOMETHING, even on vacation, to stress me out just a little bit.) I found it on the first night of Karaoke: auditions for the final big show of the week on the Carnival Glory...Carnival Legends! Auditions were being held that very night for none other than Gloria Estefan! I signed up. I sang. I sat down. I waited for someone else to audition. NO ONE DID! So, by default, I won the audition! So throughout the week, while others on the beach listened to their own music, I listened to a little mp3 version of Rhythm is Gonna Getcha to prepare for my big night!

So I never made it past the first round of American Idol auditions, but I had my shining moment on the big Carnival Glory stage. I actually had a blast and decided that I'd WAAAAY rather sing on a big stage with lights shining on my face, in front of thousands than in Church! In Church you can see everyone's face. On the big stage, I couldn't see a darn thing!

Praying I'd remember the words...

Me with my "dancer-escort" at the end of the show...

Showing off the new look...

And the full Cruise-passenger cast...

I'm thinking about coloring my hair...what do you think?

By the way, if you're ever planning a vacation, plan it with a family photographer! My cute sister-in-law, Erin, documented EVERYTHING! Thanks to her, you're probably going to see way more pictures than you want. Stay tuned. (She may even have a few goodies from the beaches at St. Maarten...look out!)

Cruise, Glorious Cruise!

Hi, friends! Is anyone still there? I'm in denial that I no longer have a vacation to look forward to, so pulling myself together to post a blog hasn't exactly happened. And now that I'm ready to share with you all the blissful 8 days I spent away from my children, I can't find the camera cord. So instead I'll give you a few highlights of my Western turned Eastern Carribbean Cruise on the FunShip Carnival Glory!

• Food, Glorious Food!
• Sleep, Glorious Sleep!
• Sun, Glorious Sun!

That pretty much sums it up, but here are a few more glorious moments...

• Riding on the back of a motor scooter as my husband tried to remember to drive on the LEFT side of the road in Nassau, Bahamas.
• My husbands brother, Matt pretending he's a race car driver in our rented jeep on the island of St. John (while winding through the mountains also on the left side of the road!) Aaaaahhhhh!
• Island smoothies.
• KARAOKE! Joe did an amazing chicken rendition of You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling by the Righteous Brothers.
• Performing in the last, final big funship show as Gloria Estefan. I looked like a homeless person in the big, black curly wig, but I got to sing Rhythm is Gonna Getcha in front of a few thousand people! My years growing up listening to my dad's favorite Latina singer, Gloria, paid off. Aaaaahhhhh!
• Learning that you should NEVER, under ANY circumstances go to the beach on the island of St. Maarten unless you want to see lots of wrinkly, fully nekkid bodies. F.U.L.L.Y. N.E.K.K.I.D. Not what I signed up for. I'm still trying to get the images out of my sheltered mind. But the beaches were beautiful!
• Running (fully clothed) with my (fully clothed) husband on said nude beach.
• On Deck For the Cure
• Joe winning the free-throw contest
• Our cruise director, Butch from Minnesota...ya!
• Getting dirty looks from the drink servers everytime we ordered ice water.
• Being more tan than all of my Utah friends...won't last long, but I love it while it lasts!

It was great. It was even greater coming home to my babies. Sort of. But I'm ready for another sleep-ful trip.

Pictures will be up soon, if anyone's still out there. What have YOU been up to?

Parker's B-day!

Dearest Parkercito,

Three years ago yesterday, I entered the hospital. Twenty hours later, you finally made your grand entrance into the world. Getting you here was a long, slow process. But your birth was the last time I remember wishing you would hurry up.

I was completely overwhelmed with the newness of motherhood. Your Daddy and I were terrified to put your tiny little 8 lbs. 8 oz. body into a big scary car. We were even more terrified to get you out of the car and into our little apartment, because that meant that we were really in charge.

I remember crying a lot in those first few days and weeks. Motherhood was hard! And I felt so responsible! Responsible to feed you, to get you to sleep, and especially to make sure you were comfortable, and happy in this new, scary world. I loved you something fierce...even when your projectile poops reached 9 feet across the room.

Three years ago, I never dreamed that you would grow up to be a walking-talking-running-laughing-memorizing-brilliantly-talented little boy. I only saw the tightly swaddled, feisty little baby.

And my how you've grown! By your first birthday, you could say over 10 words. By your second, you could speak in 10 word sentences. Now, on your third, you're "reading" books. Your favorite to recite is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I squeal with delight everytime I hear your cute little voice saying, "They ROARED their terrible roars, and gnashed their terrible teeth, and rolled their terrible eyes, and showed their terrible CLAWS!" You remember everything.

Parkercito, you have the ability to think and reason beyond your years. I give you two options and you choose the unspoken third. You're a master negotiator, with frequent bouts of defiance.

Yes, you are a stinker, and have yet to accomplish some of the goals I set for you for your third year. Yes, you've learned to poop and pee on the potty...but only on your own terms. You still growl. You also still sleep in a crib. (Daddy and I aren't ready for the independence you'll gain from a big-boy-bed.) But you're an amazing big brother, you have your colors straight, you say your own prayers, and you've given us daily hugs and kisses all year long. Four out of seven ain't bad. I've learned that some things just can't be forced...especially with an independently stubborn little boy.

You have an amazing zest for life. You love people, and people love you. You have a sense of humor, and work to make me laugh every day. You also have a tender heart, and hate to see anyone hurt or sad. When Daddy and I left you for eight glorious days last week, you were the one telling me not to cry.

I love having a constant chatter-box with me all day. You are a master conversationalist, and can keep the conversation going for hours. "So mom, how's your day?"

I'm not going to lie, it's been a rough year with a defiant, tantrum-throwing two-year old. But now that you've stepped beyond the terrible two's (most likely into the terrible three's), I feel mostly grateful for the chance I've had to witness the development of your fun little personality. You're one of my best friends, little buddy. If I had to choose someone to spend my day with, you'd be at the top of the list.

Happy Birthday! Let's hope that by next year you're officially out of diapers!

We love you little guy!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Fun and Not So Fun Activities...

FUN: Going on an Easter Egg hunt with your oldest cousin, Spencer.NOT FUN: Trying to keep your kids from eating too much candy. NOT SO FUN: Smiling for the camera.FUN: Digging for gold...

FUN: Eating at Grandma's House

FUN: Playing with toys at Grandma's House.

NOT FUN: Falling asleep in the highchair at your own house!

NOT FUN: Spending an hour curling your hair.

FUN: Being dressed up to sing!

NOT FUN: Trying to get all the Primary kids to hold hands while they sing in the ward talent show.

FUN: Watching the Elders' Quorum perform synchronized swimming, singing with your friend Kandis, and watching your husband excel while playing the cowbell.FUN: Having a clothes dryer that works.

NOT FUN: Having your dryer clogged with a huge bird's nest!

NOT FUN: Swine flu! Finding out that your Mexican ports have been cancelled on your Western Carribbean Cruise.

FUN: Getting to go on an Eastern Carribbean Cruise instead!

NOT FUN: Babysitting for a week.

FUN: Leaving your kids with babysitters for a week! Thanks Mom G. and Kandis! Good luck!!!!

We'll see you when we get back...hopefully nothing NOT FUN will be reported!

Happy Birthday Month, Mom!

So, yesterday, dear Mother, I looked at Michael's blog

My heart completely dropped.

I've lost my mind. Where, oh where did time go?

On your birthday, it forgot to stop!

An unwritten rule we have in our fam,

That on B-day's we must post

a tribute to the special one

To whom we'd like to toast.

But April 8th, it came and left.

And not one post you read.

"What's wrong with my family?" you surely thought.

When not a word was said.

So here's my "tribute apology"

To the one who gave me life.

To the one MOST deserving of all:

My mom, my friend, dad's wife.

When I was just a wee, wee babe,

I learned to count on you

To hold my hand, to kiss my cheek

To help me as I grew.

I'm pretty sure I was quite a brat,

Major attitude every day.

I am probably the #1 reason

Dad's hair has gone so gray!

But you loved me, you taught me,

You watched, and you knew

The things I needed the most.

You loved me and became my best-mommy-friend

Yes, the coolest mom, I'd boast.

Remember the time I broke my leg?

We really bonded back then.

Or after the birth of Parker, my boy?

When reality was sinking in?

You laughed as I cried. His "food" had come in.

I had turned into a milking cow!

"It's not funny," I sobbed, sitting topless with a pump.

Good thing we can laugh at it now.

Throughout my life, there have been ups and downs.

You've helped me turn "downs" into "ups."

Every experience I've had has taught me some thing.

Like when Duchess lost all her pups.

I think the number one thing I have learned,

From dear and sweet mama-you,

Is the importance of just coming together.

Instead of just coming un-glued.

In this life, a family is all,

yes all that we've really got.

We love and support no matter the weather.

And we talk to each other A LOT!

A family should be the bestest of friends.

The ones with whom we spend time.

You should love and support each other through life.

You travel, no matter the dime.

So mom, though it's late, I hope that you know

How indeed important you are.

I'm so thankful for a mom who continues to care

Although in a land somewhat far.

Way out there in Tennessee,

To you, I still call with all news.

The ups and the downs, you're the one I tell first.

When I'm happy, or singing the blues.

Happy Birthday, Mama-Nannu. We love you so much!

Like you, there isn't another.

I'm so very grateful that I have the privilege

of calling someone like you, my mother!

Delinquents in Training

Hello there. Have you missed me? I've missed you more than you know, little blog. See, the only thing that got me through last week was knowing that I had a good story to tell. The story that began early Saturday morning as our friends Colby and Kandis left on an airplane to some warm places of paradise, leaving us in the bitter cold with high hopes of a fun week with four kids under the age of 4. Before you get the wrong idea and think I am any sort of a Saint, don't. They're returning the favor in 24 days as we depart on our Western Caribbean Cruise. Sorry guys, but you're going to need another vacation. Why? These 4 kids are CRAZY! Let me introduce you to the little delinquents.


NAME: Parker
WANTED FOR: Peeing all over my floor.
CAPABLE OF: The defiance you would expect from a 16-year old.
NUMBER OF TIME-OUTS: 1,578
FORM OF COMMUNICATION: Screaming, whining, growling, yelling, screaching.
DISLIKES: Sharing toys.
LIKES: Taking friends into forbidden areas of the house.



NAME: Carter
WANTED FOR: Sleeping with scissors.
CAPABLE OF: Cutting up an old blanket, and stealing brother's binkie.
NUMBER OF TIME-OUTS: 543
DISLIKES: Sleeping in the basement.
GOOD AT: Being obedient (and staying in time-out), unlike partner-in-crime, Parker.
FAVORITE ACTIVITY: Filling bags, baskets, and boxes with toys to haul around the house.
NAME: Brooks
WANTED FOR: Happily eating spaghetti, then puking it up ALL. NIGHT. LONG.
KNOWN FOR: Being happy unless hungry.
ATTACHED TO: Binkie and blankie.
WANTS: To be one of the "big boys."
BEST KNOWN FOR: Climbing into the tub fully-clothed.



NAME: Avery
WANTED FOR: Breaking her arm when we weren't watching!
CAPABLE OF: "Limping" when crawling.
KNOWN FOR: Crying A LOT, and wanting to be held constantly.
DISLIKES: Sharing mommy's attention.
LOVES: Dancing.
TRYING TO: Walk.
LIKES: How hair sticks up when she rips her bows out.
RECENTLY: Dove head first into Parker's bath.

After 5 days at my house, Carter and Brooks were thrilled to see their Grandma and Grandpa at our doorstep. I have to admit that I wasn't too sad to see them go. But now our house is empty, my kids are bored beyond belief, and I'm ready for my next assignment. But this time, I'll just leave ice cream and cake out on the counter incase they get hungry, pillows on the floor incase they get tired, plastic on the carpet incase they get sick, or need to pee, a bounce house for Avery incase she decides to try breaking another bone, and scissors incase they get bored. And I'm getting ON the plane! Love ya, kids! Have fun, and don't kill each other!

Our Trip To Warsh-ington

When you decide to take a road trip to Washington, first make sure everyone's healthy. Baby vomit isn't the best odor to travel with.

A lways find a hotel close to your final destination last-minute to avoid passing the throw-up bug to all five of Brian and Carrie's kids.

Survive the first night vomit-free, and haul all your stuff to the all-too-generous-to-let-us-crash-the-place-house-of-fun.

Happily watch your almost-3-year-old play for three days straight with his cousins Allie, Josh, Andy, Rachel, and baby Nate.

Ignore the mischief Parker and 3-year-old Rachel are creating--he's never played this well with anyone in his life! There's hope for the social-future of Parker after all!

Never move Parker from the "spider man" twin bed to the floor as previously planned. It'll be easier to sleep in another twin bed with your hubby than to endure the sure-to-happen-scream-of-all-screams when you move Parker out of his "special bed."

Go shopping. Spend money. Get pedicures. Rejuvinate with the girls! (Carrie, Allie, and Grandma Cathy)

T ry (unsuccessfully) not to cry as Joshua gets baptized. (Or as he wins 4th place in the pinewood derby!)

Opt to stay awake talking, and playing Rock Band each night. Also decide to stay a few hours longer than planned on Sunday morning for a special pre-trip feast.

Nudge your hubby every-so-often to make sure he's awake as the rest of you doze off. Cut an hour off the previous 12-hour drive time with the new and improved vomit-free-travel!

Thanks, Brian & Carrie, for having us! We had a blast!