Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Tannon's Day, What a Day!

Tannon's Day

We have been trying to let each of our kids have a skip school day with Derrick this year. This week Derrick had a day off of work, so we took advantage of the beautiful weather and let Tannon have his special day. First, we let him sleep in since it's always a battle to get Tannon out of bed in time for school. He really likes his sleep.

Once awake, Tannon chose to spend his day outdoors with Derrick, and he even let Myah and I tag along. We loaded the bicycles into the pickup and headed to the nature park for some trail riding. Next, we grabbed some sandwiches and spent some time at our favorite park in Pocatello. There's a little something for everyone at Ross park. Myah loves the playground and the swings, and Tannon and Derrick like to play hide and seek in the cliffs and rocks.

After our playday with Tannon, I ended the day with a little yard work. I'm sure thankful to spend a little fun time with our kids. Tannon is such a sweet boy, and has so many great qualities. I don't know what I ever did to deserve such great kids!

It was such a beautiful, warm, happy day...and I think I'll be Ok when the temp drops back down to 40 degrees tomorrow. At least I think I can handle it for another day or two!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Here Comes The Sun!

I'm looking outside across Pocatello, and noticing something really strange. I don't see even one cloud in the sky! It's amazing. I've almost forgotten what blue skies look like!

It reminds me of when I was an exchange student in Germany. Most Germans speak farely good English, but my host mother didn't speak English at all. And since I don't speak German... I mean, I know a little of the vacabulary, but the grammar is a killer! So our daily conversation went like this...
It would start first thing in the morning when we would see eachother, and would end approximately 5 seconds later.

me: 'Guten morgen, die sonne scheint!'
translated: 'Good morning, the sun is shining!'
her: Sehr gute!
translated: 'Very Good!'

And that's all! But it was the unspoken words that really mattered. All of the above was said with a very sweet and very sincere smile. It's funny how two people can communicate without even speaking.

My host family was very good to me and sometimes I wonder how they are doing. I've even wondered about going to visit them, but I'm not sure if they would even remember me. And wouldn't they be suprised to see me at the age of 33 with four and a half kids, when Germans wouldn't normally even consider getting married until the age of 33. And after that, they may have one or two children. Wow, what a different life!

But today, in Pocatello I have a big smile on my face when I say, 'Guten Morgen, Die Sonne Scheint!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

BIG BOYS!

I heard it said once that 'Girls turn into women. Boys turn into bigger boys.'! Speaking of boys...Derrick just went on a 'guys weekend' (I think it sounds more manly than 'boys weekend') down to Moab on a four wheeling trip with my dad and brothers. I think they had a lot of fun, a lot of food, and a lot of nice warm sunshine. What could be better? Derrick forgot to bring a camera, so our pictures are courtesy of Jordan. Thanks Jord! And thanks to Ira, (aka 'agent Crawford', not like the special agent type, but the travel agent type) who had the whole trip planned perfectly!
I stayed home with the kids and we made it through 3 days of freezing cold weather & soccer games without any major drama...thanks to Papa Murpheys & Redbox! The Crawford family (minus agent Crawford) even came for a visit. We had a great time. Maybe one of these days the weather will decide to cooperate with our plans! (still FREEZING in Pocatello)


Friday, April 18, 2008

Tagged

A. Post the rules
B. Answer all the questions about yourself
C. After you are done posting, tag 5 people

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
Living in Logan, just about to have child number two, which we had been told through numerous ultrasounds, was a girl. Instead we had Zac, and I wouldn't have it any other way! It was by far my best pregnancy, other than spending a few days in the hospital with pneumonia.
2. Five things on your to do list today:
Laundry, grocery shop, exercise (maybe), put on some makeup (another maybe), think of something yummy to make for dinner.
3. Snacks I enjoy: fresh salsa and chips, homemade guacamole, popcorn (not the lowfat kind!).
4. What would I do if suddenly I were a billionaire? Give myself a gourmet kitchen, and get Derrick a nice camping trailer and a really great telescope, take both of our families on cruises, give to the perpetual education fund (what an inspired program!).
5. 3 bad habits; complete disorganization and procrastination, worrying too much about the details, neglecting housework in favor of yardwork.
6. 5 places I've lived: Preston, Logan, Ogden, Las Vegas, Pocatello
7. 5 jobs I've had: Big J's (yes, the one in Napolean Dynamite), weeding the bean fields for my dad (pure torture), Del Monte Bean Factory, clothes presser in a dry cleaners (lasted exactly one day), pharmacy technician.
8. 5 things people don't know about me:
*I love to fix cars (and most anything else). I always wanted to go to mechanic school, but then my hands would be stained dirty all the time! Probably not a good occupation for the nails.
*I am determined to learn spanish some day. I've always had an impression that some day I'm going to need to know spanish for a really special reason. Not sure why yet, but I best get learning!
*I wash my sheets every 3 or 4 days. It makes me so very happy to crawl into freshly washed sheets, especially washed in Tide.
*I have a strange obsession with nutrition. I read most any book I can get my hands on dealing with diet and nutrition and exercise. You'd think I would be a lot skinnier than I am!
*Last one...I'm an open book, so coming up with five unknowns is pretty tough. Let's see...I shave my legs daily. I know, who cares??? But I just can't stand having prickly legs. It makes me itch.

That's it! Now I'm going to tag Nicky, Becky, Jenna, Gabe, and Nicole. Have fun girls!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Do You See What I See?

Sometimes when I stand in line at the grocery store, I get such a laugh out of those magazine covers that show the Virgin Mary in the clouds or the face of the devil in smoke. Do people really buy into this? I think the power of suggestion is an amazing thing. Someone can tell me what I am seeing, and before I know it...the Virgin Mary really is there!



So that's what I was thinking while getting an ultrasound last week (while I wasn't busy thinking that Derrick was in soooo much trouble for telling me it was a girl). Sometimes I wonder if the ultrasound techs really see what they say they see, or if they are just keeping us entertained with their occasional comments of...'oh, see his cute little face', or 'there's the hands, and he's sucking his thumb'. Really?! The ultrasound tech could have told me that the baby had 12 arms and four eyes, and I probably would have believed her...because I just don't get it! I know that these techs are educated, but how on earth can they train their eyes to see what they see? Crazy. Anyways, here are some ultrasound pictures, see for yourself. Can you really see anything at all??? Or is it just the power of suggestion?


Thursday, April 10, 2008

Oooooohhhh Boy!

Yep, that's right. We're feeling a little blue today. No, not sad...but blue. In other words, our little 'feeling pretty in pink' post no longer applies...SINCE IT'S A BOY!!! We had our official ultrasound and found a little suprise. I was pretty bumbed at the time, but I think that my little 3 year old recieved some inspiration today. After the ultrasound, we went to the grocery store. I was still feeling pretty down, and she wrapped her arms around my neck and said...'Mom, baby boys are special too!' And there you have it! What more can I say???

Monday, April 7, 2008

I'm The Fool!

I never get involved much in April Fools Day. My brain isn't creative enough to come up with such great trickery. But this year, I did completely fall for a couple of tricks. I am glad though that Sarah hasn't gone off with an Indian shop keeper for five weeks! I think the biggest prank I ever pulled was to put vinegar in Derrick's orange juice a few years ago. Pretty boring, eh?

When I woke up this morning, I was somewhat hopeful that I was just being 'fooled' again. Unfortunately, it seems to be for real. What could be so terrible??? SNOW! It's snowing again today. Every time I think it might be almost spring...it snows again! Looking on the positive side, we should have a really beautiful spring and summer...if it ever comes!


Who Knew???

Who ever knew that all of the video games, dvd's, and expensive toys we buy aren't really necessary? All a little girl needs is a cool big brother and a couple of pom-poms, and she's set for a great time! It's funny how the simple things in life can bring so much entertainment and fun! Who knew???



Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Ahaa!

I was thinking today...about those things in life that impact us in a really big way. No, not like a new hair style or a really great outfit, but the things that change us...that we never forget. So while this may not interest the rest of the world, I'm going to blog it, since this is as far as I go in my journal keeping efforts. Here's my top 5 list, just for fun.

5. The day I realized that it was Ok to excel elsewhere...other than sports. I was always terrible at sports (still am!), and coming from the 'Moser Family', I felt pretty inadequate when I tried out for every team at school, and never made even one! But then came the day that I ran for student body president, and my family backed me up a hundred and ten percent. I always say that the reason I won the election was because of my mom's efforts. Pretty cool realization. I hope that I can encourage my kids in all of their talents. Thanks mom!
4. The day I went 'dragging main' in Logan with my friends. I always mocked those who wasted their time with such silly things, but just once I decided to give it a try. Talk about giving in to peer pressure! For anyone not familiar with the mainstreet drag in Logan (especially friends in Vegas), it would be equivilant to spending the whole evening driving back and forth down the strip, looking for cute guys. Sounds like great fun, hu?! Anyways, while dragging main with my friends, I met Derrick! Long explanation for a simple (but HUGE) life changing moment!
3. Derrick and I had the opportunity to be 'parents' on the Wyoming trek that we attended with the youth in our Las Vegas stake. We were parents of several of the young men and women in our ward, and to this day...they're still 'my kids'. We had the time of our lives pushing handcarts across the Wyoming prairie. And it was so neat to see the lives of the youth change too. Thanks Jenna, for asking us to volunteer!
2. In January of 2007, we went on a western caribbean cruise with my family. I know...fun, yes, but life changing??? It really was, for a couple of reasons. First, since Derrick and I got married and started our family very quickly, we've never had the chance to just travel and relax together. We've been married for 13 years now and we've never left the kids for more than a couple of days. Even then, we've almost always brought the baby along with us. So to spend an entire week with no worries, no stress, and no responsibilities (or otherwords, NO KIDS!) was just amazing. It was fun to remember exactly how much we really LIKE eachother! Secondly, all seven of my brothers and sisters with their spouses, as well as my parents were able to be there together. Such a thing has never happened that I can remember, and it may not ever happen again. Not that we won't try! Very cool!
1. What's more life changing than becoming a mother!? Every time we have a sweet little addition to our family, I just can't believe what a miracle it is, and what a priveledge it is to be called mommy. And to think, the whole thing is eternal too! Ya, there are plenty of times that I think I would like to resign my position as mother, but thankfully some days, that's just not an option. Thank goodness for walk in closets with locking doors where I can go for my own time out! Things are always better in the morning! It really is amazing to see these little people grow and develop their strengths and their talents and to face the challenges of day to day life. Sometimes, I wish I could have met them when I was a little person myself...they could have taught me so much! So I guess I'll continue learning from them and maybe even teach them a thing or two along the way!

So there are my five 'ahaa' moments. When the picture all becomes a little more clear, if not only for a little while! Hopefully, we'll all of more of those moments that make us say 'ahaa'!