FYI

It really is best to twist the talcum powder top completely closed
before stuffing it in your suitcase and then sending it on an airplane!!

The next person who checks out my library books are going to be treated to a puff of "powder cloud" each time they turn a page or set the book down.

And as an extra special treat....when brushing my teeth last night, there was a curious "baby powder" flavor about it! ;)

Dis-Connected

I think I may have been one of the last one in the Modern World to get a cell phone! (At least it seemed like it.)

I didn't get one until January 2003.
{Everyone *GASP*}

I was 32 1/2 yrs. old.

This comes in real handy when my kids voice their desires for their own cell phone at their young ages.

Kids, I was 32 before I got my own cell phone!

To which they reply, Mom, cell phones weren't even invented when you were YOUNG!
(See how well that's workin' out for me!)

I didn't really think anyone needed a cell phone.

I know I didn't need the expense of one.

And the sentimental side of me doesn't like things to change from the good ol' days.

Ya know, the good ol' days when I ran out of gas, and I went to the nearest house and used their phone to call for help. And when I practically cut my finger off one day, went to the Dr. for stitches, and my husband never knew about it until he got home from work. And when I'd wait 2 HOURS for my Mom to come pick me up from piano lessons. And when my parents never knew where I was....OR when people had to call me at home to talk to me - when I was home - not when I was out on a HOT DATE!! (imagine that!)

Anyway, so I got my first cell phone back in 2003 -- ONLY BECAUSE my husband's company provided us with them. As in, his company bought our phones for us AND pays the monthly bill! If we hadn't been offered that benefit, I'd probably still be cell phone-less.
......And I wouldn't be facing the problem I am facing now!

You see, I was leaving on a trip to Washington D.C. yesterday morning - my alarm went off at 4:45AM, but Miss B beat it by coming into my bedroom crying at 3:30AM, and I never went back to sleep - so in my combined state of sleep-deprivation AND my unfortunate adult onset A.D.D./losing my mind condition, I found myself going through the security line at the SLC airport.

I had put my cell phone in my pants pocket since I thought that would be easier access than trying to find it in the bottomless-pit-of-a-handbag I was carrying. So, I loaded up the bins in the security line with my shoes, watch, 3 oz. or less liquids/gels/aerosols in a quart size ziploc bag...I've done the drill dozens of times. And then I set off the alarm when I went through the metal detector. The TSA agent suggested a cell phone may be the culprit -- Oh yeah, I forgot it was in my pocket! So, another TSA agent held out a separate small, round dish-like container for me to put it in and then sent it through the X-ray machine....way behind all our other regular-sized bins. (This is a very important fact to note!) I walked through the metal detector again without BEEP. Phew! So, then I hurriedly grabbed my shoes and handbag and urged my teenager to "get a move on it" up to the Gate to catch our flight. We took the first leg of our flight and landed, had a layover in another airport, boarded the second plane of our connection, and while preparing for take off, I heard the announcement to "Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices until further instructed during our flight." I reached into my pants pocket for my cell phone -- NOTHING!


OH NO! The morning TSA series of events came back into my mind. I never picked up my cell phone out of that second container! It was still back in SLC and I was en route to Washington D.C.

(Jill, good thing I didn't get myself one of the fancy, schmancy "My Touch" internet phones you told me I "needed!")

I turned to my husband, {GASP!} I left my phone at Security! I frantically squeaked/wailed out.
YOU LEFT IT THERE?!? My husband firmly asked in disbelief. WHY?
(Because I'm a doe-head, OK?!?)

I did notice that this "interaction" we were having caught the attention of the woman sitting beside me - and out of my peripheral vision, I could see her gawking at us, listening intently, enjoying her "front row seat" of our unfolding drama. (I think she was concerned about my well-being, and was trying to identify if I had an "abusive" husband, or something! :) haha!)

So, here we are in D.C. now.....feeling TOTALLY LOST and OUT OF CONTROL since we have ONE cell phone (Matt's) between us travellers.

While he's attending his Conference, he has NO IDEA where we are and what we're doing or when to meet up with us.

If he gives us his cell phone to use, he has NO IDEA what time it is, since he has long since quit wearing a wrist watch.

When he starts getting extremely sleepy during a class, he can't request my help to counteract his situation with the text, "Talk dirty to me, Babe!" :) hahaha.

And when I'm in the Smithsonian, I can't text him (back at the Conference), "This 45.5-carat Hope Diamond is NOTHING compared to the wedding ring you gave me! ;)

It's FRIGHTENING how my opinion of cell phones has changed over these last 8 1/2 years!!

I experienced the same TRAUMA and completely OUT OF SORTS feeling when we went to Cancun earlier this year. I got there one day before Matt, and, although I managed to get through TSA with my cell phone on that trip, it did not work over there. It was "Searching" the whole time! I also did not have any computer with me. I couldn't get in touch with him very easy at all! I didn't know if he got on the plane, I didn't know where he was, I didn't know when (or if) he would get to the resort....It was a very freaky feeling. I finally did a credit card call from the room @ $45.00/5 min. - and an international exchange fee. Ouch!

It's gone from just appreciating the convenience of "modern connectivity" to being quite DEPENDENT on it! It's like I've been rendered disabled without it.
It's crazy, I tell you. CRAZY!

BTW - plz if u can tell me how 2 get help it would be gr8. thx. lol.

Kids Say the Darndest Things - July '11 Edition

Taken from the sidebar....

(Background Info) Often when we're looking at old family photos [pre-Miss B life] she will ask where she is and we explain to her, "You weren't born yet."
So, Miss B was carrying around a photo of herself this morning.

Me: "Who's in that picture, Brookelle?"
Brookelle: "Me. Just me. Not you, Mom - You weren't born yet!" 7/11

Female Bonding

On a recent day, I put Miss B's hair in pig tails.

Everyone thought it was soooo cute!

But, when anyone told her so, she responded with one of her classic grumpy looks.

So, then the other girls decided that's how they wanted their hair done the next day!
And to make their GIRL PIG TAIL DREAMS complete, they begged me to also do my hair that way, so we could be quadruplets!!!! OK - just the perfect hair do for a 40 yr. old! :)
And these pig tails came in handy since that was the day we happened to go to the Bingham Copper Mine -- always a WIND TUNNEL-esque thing going on there!!

THIS should earn me "Mommy Brownie Points" right?!?

I Just Don't Get It

Ever since we moved to Farmington, I have made it a tradition to run the 5K/10K races on our town's annual celebration, "Festival Days." With the exception of one other year, I have been the sole participant from our family, although everyone else is always welcome. (And it has been a "dream" of mine that we all run it together.) When we were writing our "Summer Bucket List" at the beginning of June, I was pleased that one of Ryan's SBL items was running the Farmington Festival Days 5K as a family. There were some snickers, rolling of eyes, looks of "yeah, right!" and general lack of enthusiasm, but it was NOT vetoed off the SBL.

Soooo....I have spent the Summer getting up early five mornings a week and going out "training." I have got up while Matt was still snoring away in the bed next to me. I have wished I could still be in the bed next to him! I have, most mornings, NOT wanted to get up and go run. BUT, I have. I have while Kyle & Katelyn waited, hiding in the cubby hole under the stairs, until I left so they could sit there [on their butts] watching on early morning T.V. I have gone out while Ryan & Haylee were still dead to the world in deep slumber. And when I returned home from running, the "activities" of my family still resembled that of the life of a SLUG.

Prior to the race, Matt & the boys went out a total of TWO different evenings running/walking/jumping around (Kyle).

Katelyn had WALKED a little over 2 miles with me - ONCE.

Haylee had NEVER gone out and trained whatsoever.

However, Miss B has become quite the proficient "stroller rider" - she has years of experience!

So, help me understand HOW ON EARTH, THAT kind of "preparation" got these kind of results:

FIRST to finish from our family: Kyle (No adult available to take photos)

SECOND: Matt - pushing Miss B in the jogging stroller the whole way.

THIRD: Haylee
15 yards ahead of....

FOURTH: Ryan

And then they all hung around.....waiting....and waiting...and waiting. It was later reported to me by my kids that, while they were waiting, Matt was voicing concerns like Did they get lost? Did they get injured along the way? Is Mom passed out?

(Thanks, Honey!)

Until finally....

FIFTH: Katelyn
SIXTH: Me

They were all well rested, while my heart was still pounding and sweat was dripping down all over my body, by the time we were able to all get together for this post-race group shot.

I will say that I [took the higher road and] volunteered to stay with the girls, so they wouldn't get lost or be alone. Turns out, Haylee didn't even need me - she left me in the dust during the first half mile. She ran the whole thing. Never ran one step prior to the race and then beats the majority of us! I just Don't get it!

Katelyn, on the other hand, needed me repeating the mantra of The Little Engine that Could to her every other minute. I think I Can. I think I Can. I think I Can. Because after she ran the first mile and a half - SHE WAS ABLE TO RUN A WHOLE MILE AND A HALF STRAIGHT WITHOUT HAVING PRACTICED RUNNING BEFORE (I just Don't get it) - she spent the next mile and a half whining/crying/complaining, I can't do this, I'm NOT running next year, I can't do this, My feet hurt, I can't do this, WHY did you make me do this - I didn't want to, I can't do this, My tummy hurts, This is too hard, I can't do this, My ear hurts, I can't do this.

After she ran that first mile and a half, I let her walk, and held her hand most of the rest of the race.

Then we ran for five minutes.

Then we walked some.

Then we ran for three minutes.

Then we walked.

Then we ran for one minute. (I was losing her!)

Then we walked.

Then I pulled her, running the last stretch, because you HAVE to run the last stretch across the finish line - it's one of [my] unwritten rules...then sent/pushed her ahead to finish before me at the last moment. But, truth be told, our overall pace was very comfortable for me! I'm glad I had the "excuse!" :)

It was eerily similar to when I made Kyle do it with me four years ago when he was age 7. And now, fast forward to this year and look how far he's come, baby...

He got the "Gold Medal" - finishing 1st Place in his age group - with a time of just 22 minutes! I just Don't get it.

And THEN, during the medal ceremony, Matt's name [unexpectedly] got called, too! He got the "Bronze Medal" - finishing 3rd in his age group - running a faster 5K than I have ever run in all my years (30+) of racing with a time of 28:00. I just Don't get it. Matt did say it helped that, with his 40th birthday this year, it bumped him up to the 40-49 age group. He was considered the young, spry one in the group. But, still.....he ran twice this summer. The only other cardio exercise he can claim is playing on a Indoor Soccer team....but this summer, it's been very sporadic - only 1-2 times a month.

Even though "I just Don't get" (AND IT'S SOOO NOT FAIR!) with my family's training/performance ratio, I am glad we did it TOGETHER. It is a fun tradition that we will continue for years to come.

{Hopefully, it's like childbirth - and Katelyn will have forgotten the "pain" by next year!}

My "Smash"ogram

I turned 40 yrs. old 9 1/2 months ago.

Women know what THAT means.....I've moved into the "Mammogram years."

So, do you think I ran right out and got one 9 1/2 months ago?

NOPE.

Do you think I've had the written orders from my Dr. for months and months just attached to my magnet board at home?

YEP.

I guess my avoidance of the "experience" is part rebellion that I actually have gotten old enough to need one, part fear that the test might find something BAD, part dread of the inconvenience of having to arrange care for or (heaven forbid) take my little ones to the appointment, but MOSTLY it's been my qualms about the pain associated with having my boobs smashed flat as a pancake.

Since school got out, and I have 2 "live-in babysitter" now, at least one of my "hang ups" was gone, so I thought I could finally try to make an appointment. Now, even though I was calling, I thought I still had quite a bit of time. You see, I was completely expecting it to be more like my Pediatrician's office when I call in for an appt. there,

"It looks like Dr. Fruin is booked out until the end of October...."

(Just goes to show that MORE parents are trying to get their kids in for their school shots and Football Physicals than there are women taking care of their own mammograms) but that wasn't the case! The "Women's Imaging" department at the hospital had available appointment that same week! Like in a few days. Luckily, some out of town trips and my work schedule prevented that from happening, but I still got me an appt. within 10 days of calling.

YIKES.

That was too soon for me!

The day of the appointment, Ryan asked me if I was nervous. I admitted that I was.

He said, "Don't worry, Mom, I saw a billboard on the freeway about mammograms. Did you know that with early prevention, Breast Cancer is 99% curable?"

(Yes, I know. I'd seen those same guilt-inducing billboards prodding me over the last 9 1/2 months!)

I told him I was not so much worried about that as I was the pain. To which he had a question about WHY is would be painful. So, I got to explain to my 15 yr. old son about the boob torture machine.

He was horrified - mostly because of what he was thinking about. His next question let me in on his thoughts? "Do they have to do that to screen for Prostate Cancer, too?!!?"

So....I made it to my appointment....

When they questioned me, I turned out to be a real boring patient. No Breast Implants, No chance of being pregnant, No Breast Cancer history in my family, Not currently Breast Feeding, No Breast Surgeries, No discoveries in my self-exams (that's because I DON'T do them! woops!)

Getting in the right position took longer than the smash-and-X-ray part of it. Turns out I have breast tissue up to my chin, in my underarm regions, and around my back - and they needed it ALL on the compression plate.

The tech gave so many instructions:

Lean forward

Stick out your butt

Lift up your arm

Relax your shoulder

Straighten out your hips

Put your weight on your right foot

Come closer

Don't stand on your tippy toes (I'm too short, they need to bring the machine down)

Bend your left knee

Lift up your chin

Hold your other breast out of the way...but flatten out your hand, so it doesn't get in the picture.

Move your hair back

Hold perfectly still - don't breathe.

{It was a QUAD workout, let me tell you!}

Finally, when I still wasn't in the optimum position, the tech just started manhandling (cupping, pulling, moving, shifting, lifting) my boobs herself. Ya know, 20 years ago, I would've FREAKED OUT over that (at my first GYNO appt. for my pre-mission physical, the nurse had to practically hypnotize me in order for me to survive!), but strangely, that day, after 5 baby births, several female surgeries/procedures, and dozens of "special woman exams", I was pretty OK with being topless in front of and groped by the nurse. :) hahaha.

I made it...but my ANGST about the pain, it turns out, WAS VALID. I drove straight to the Maverick afterwards and got some "pain meds" in the form of a large Diet Dr. Pepper.

And I texted my husband warning him that he may not recognize his wife now! ;)

Wouldn't Ya Know It

I hoard money.

I'm scared to spend it....because then I MIGHT RUN OUT!

{What's THAT kind of Paranoia called? Bonus Points if you know!}

This mostly applies to Tax Return Money, Savings Account Money, and Gift Money that I receive. I just deposit it - and let it sit there....in case I NEED it, ya know?

Thus, we don't have any of the things "Everyone else" has - much to my son's dismay, as you may recall.

While some people have their Tax Return spent before they even get the check in the mail, I still have LAST YEAR'S Tax Return sitting in my account when the CURRENT YEAR'S Tax Return comes. WHEN that happens, I can start using LAST YEAR'S. That's how I spell, S-E-C-U-R-I-T-Y.

{That's probably how the REST OF YOU spell, W-E-I-R-D.} :)

So, since we've had the CURRENT YEAR'S Tax Return for a few months now, my fear of finishing up using LAST YEAR'S dissipated, so we did. Except THEN I went against my usual hoarding practice recently and decided to ALSO use THIS YEAR'S money to purchase something [right now.] AND it wasn't exactly a "Need-to-have" purchase, either. It was definitely a "Nice-to-have" purchase. And it took a big chunk from THIS YEAR'S money, too!

{GULP}

{Soooo OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE!}

AND THEN GUESS WHAT HAPPENED? Guess what happened when we prematurely used the money?

*Our Automatic Garage Door Opener broke.

*My Master Bathroom sink/plumbing went KA-PUT (and waterlogged 9 good rolls of extra plush Toilet Paper that were stored beneath!)

*A rock flipped up and caused a [most likely unrepairable] "spider web" in our minivan windshield.

*An unnamed child [Katelyn] tried doing pull ups (or SOMETHING) on the window blinds and it snapped right in two.

*The basement carpet got damaged due to our WET spring

*The wind blew a ton of shingles off our roof - time for a new one.

*We have a multi-cracked bedroom window.

*My In-Laws are coming home from their mission in a few weeks...but we've been using some of their furniture to replace our crappy stuff we threw out... so we could show our home better...and the plan was to buy our own before they came back, so they could have furniture, too....ACTUALLY, the plan was to SELL OUR HOME before they came back - but, WHATEVER!

*Our gyrating washing machine chewed up the laundry room flooring.

*And we need a new driveway.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY I MIGHT NEED SOME MONEY!!!

I guess I'll have to dip into my Christmas Gift money that's been sitting in the account. Merry Christmas to me!!

Murphy.....Leave me Alone!

Lesson learned. Go back to hoarding.

Hard to Come Home From....

All-Inclusive privileges at the resort's 11 Restaurants/Eateries

The Beach

Steak (or 2) every night for dinner, if you please (and he did!)

Napping on the beach

The VIEW from my BED!

First thing I saw when I woke up at 8:00 - or 9:00 - or 10:00 every morning. :)

(The kids had a different room, down the hall)

Feet in the sand

Girls' outings to La Creperie/Ice Cream Parlor/Waffle House ~ WHENEVER!

The Beach (again)

Unlimited Pina Coladas (virgin, of course)

~ they MAY have forgotten the "virgin" part on one of Kyle's Strawberry Daiquiris, he reported it tasted a little "weird."
This can neither be confirmed nor denied - he did fall asleep EARLY that night, though. hmmmm.....

Frolicking in the....

waves....

and on land

A clown to make balloon flowers - or animals - or swords, Oh my!

All You Can Eat Ketchup!

Did I mention The Beach?

The 3-Tiered Pool

Don't let me forget The Beach!

The "Adults Only" [with a dress code] Restaurant

The Beach

The Pyrotechnics

Our CANCUN Family Vacation

June 4 -11, 2011

My Summer Slave Plan

The Sonic Scrubber. It's like an electric toothbrush - FOR CLEANING. My intention was just to use THIS for tile grout, but when the kids saw me using it one day, they were fascinated.

WHAT'S THAT? They asked curiously.

So, I demonstrated.

They were attentive.

Can I try it? They eagerly responded.

They experimented on kitchen counters, garbage cans, light switch cover plates, sink faucets, stove tops, toys, chair rail, door knobs, cup holders in the car....

This is SO 'SICK'! I caught them saying.

This is FUN! I overheard.

M-o-o-o-o-m, Ryan's hogging it and won't let us have a turn! They griped.
(For once, I didn't mind the gripe.)

And then I brought out the Big Guns.....


FOUR [additional] Interchangeable Brush Heads they could also use!!

{Heaven}

Side note: I find it completely unnecessary to use the Sonic Scrubber in all the places they were using it, BUT, HEY, whatever WORKS!

Armed with this kind of power, Ryan had the courage and inclination to tackle a serious job.
(And later, going through my photos, I discovered he took the liberty - and pride - to document the event himself!)

First, you take the dish soap, and you squirt it, squirt it.....

Then, you take a grody refrigerator shelf, and you gag over it, gag over it....

Then, you take a clean refrigerator drawer, and you admire it, admire it....

Now, My main job? Keep our home stocked with AA batteries!

THANK YOU SONIC SCRUBBER!! YOU'RE A MIRACLE WORKER!

**This Blog post was not paid for by the Sonic Scrubber company. I have received NO compensation for my product praising post -- BUT would not be opposed to it at all!!**

The Umbilical Cord Test

As mentioned previously, I am a Ranch dressing ALL-THE-WAY kind of gal.
No Thousand Island. No Italian. No French. No Caesar. No Thank You! Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing from the packet only. (Yes! I AM a Ranch snob!)
And as such....my offspring are also lovers of Ranch....after all, they received it (plenty) directly through the umbilical cord and developed the taste (not that it HAS to be a developed taste - it's just automatically GOOD from the first time you try it!) Born with the addiction - except I like to use the word "fondness" better. Kind of like "Crack Babies" but mine are "Ranch Babies."

It's not JUST for salad, either! Did you know that? It's for dipping carrots, celery, zucchini, French Bread, Garlic Bread, rolls, bread sticks, pizza, chicken nuggets/strips/tenders, fries, too-well-done steak, crackers, chips, burritos, Taquitos, Mozzarella Cheese sticks, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, tator tots, baked potatoes, Jalapeno Poppers, pretzels, sandwiches.....HECK, it even makes Spaghetti somewhat edible!

I've always joked about, but believed in, my getting-it-through-the-umbilical-cord theory about my offspring. While discussing this the other day with my family, I remembered something I ate often while pregnant with Kyle.

THIS:

Yep, I went to Sam's Club and bought me a whole case of this deliciousness and put it in my freezer. EVERY afternoon, after I survived the morning with my toddler and put Ryan down for his afternoon nap, I rewarded myself with ONE.

And, DO YOU KNOW WHAT?!? I only gained 17 pounds that whole pregnancy! AND I lost 30 pounds just by giving birth to Kyle. You do the Math! I think I'm on to SOMETHING!!! Do you think I should patent the "Whatchamacallit Diet?" I think I need to go on it again now! :)

ANYWAY, During this above mentioned conversation, I bet Kyle that he would probably LOVE Whatchamacallits since he received them (plenty) directly through the umbilical cord.

"What cha WHAT?!?" he asked, confused.

And then I realized that I had deprived my son of this great goodness his whole entire [post-womb] life!

How could I?

Since he hadn't ever had one - and I had piqued his curiosity with my pregnancy story - he began badgering asking me all. the. time. about WHEN he could have the OPPORTUNITY to try one for himself. (my verbal assurances and watering mouth just weren't enough proof for him that THEY WERE GOOOOOD!) He wanted to take me up on my bet!

Eventually, I [convinced myself that it was a good idea to go to the store with The Terrible Two and her older sister] and bought some.

I was SURE he'd LOVE them.

This prenatal treat would send him down Memory Lane.

It would be a HIT.

I was CONVINCED it'd become his favorite candy bar.

I waited.

I was EAGER to share this bond with him again. (And to test the umbilical cord theory.)

AND.....

I was so PLEASED!

I was a PROUD MAMA!

I was thinking about Science Experiments again! Oh Boy!

And then I had to go and ask him if he liked it. If he liked it a lot. If it was THE BEST candy bar he'd ever tasted. If his mama was so smart about umbilical cords. And if he wanted to take his mama to Vegas (I'm good at betting). I finally asked if it had dethroned his 3 Musketeers from the #1 spot.

He broke it to me.

No.

It wasn't his favorite candy bar.

It wasn't even his next favorite candy bar.

It was only his 5th favorite candy bar. (Following 3 Musketeers, Twix, Hershey's bar, & Cookies & Cream Hershey's)

I'm bummed.

Maybe I waited too long to re-introduce him to it.

So, does that mean my Ranch Theory was all just pure coincidence, too? Everything I always believed....down the drain.

Oh well, looks like I'll be on the "Whatchamacallit Diet" alone! :)