Watching the News

So here is the sequence of events that went through my mind while watching only 5 minutes of news coverage this evening-

First we had coverage of the attacks in Mumbai. I sat staring at the TV wondering how anyone could get to the point where they hate other people enough to form a whole attack like this and target specific types of people. I'm very easy going in relation to how other people live their life. I think I'm good at the live and let live thing. So to see people who blatantly hate Americans, or whatever group, just for being in that group - I struggle to understand. 

Second and third topics on the news were  man shot in a Toys R' Us - who knows potentially over buying a toy?!? WOW - then, Walmart worker trampled in the Black Friday rush. He died; they also trampled a pregnant woman who is going to live. 

Suddenly, I feel like I understand the hate that would lead you to target and kill a group of people. Not that I would be the one going out to kill the Black Friday tramplers, but I can see how if you were in another country and this was the news you receive - Americans are evil people who trample other citizens simply because they want a discounted Baby Alive or digital camera. Honestly, we are such a lucky group of people I can see how we could be despised based on the fickle things that turn into horrible occurrences!

From 2008

Naomi's preschool group visiting the fire station.

Starting with the cute little blond who has to pee: Katelyn, 

Eliza. Sam, Andre, Emily, Naomi, Israel, Travis, Jeremy

In front is Marie and Yael with his back to us.

From 2008

Boy, this was a hard day on Gwenie! Look, two shopping bags! haha. 

They are actually See's chocolate bags from the chocolate expo.

From 2008

We went back to Gardner Village this time to see the 

Elf decorations. Brian was busy so it was just Naomi, 

Gwen and I. We met up with some of our friends.

Naomi with the creepy elves.

From 2008

Reid, Gage and Gwen

From 2008

This is what happened to Gwen's snack from Gardner Village. It was just an M&M cookie, 

I don't know where all the chocolate came from!

From 2008

Welcome to the family Mr. Bear!

From 2008

My Aunt Cindy sent Naomi and Gwen this adorable talking bear. They were so excited 

and each wanted to hug it! It tells us the Night Before Christmas story. So cute!

From 2008

Naomi needed to pose with him.

From 2008

You can't see it, but Gwen is putting her fingers in his mouth. His lips move while he talks.

This is sad, but funny. It scares Yael to see it talking! He backs away so quickly with his 

eyes as wide can be! It makes me laugh!

Here's a cute blast from the past. This was taken January 2008.

From 2008

The Change is amazing!

Cranberry Sweet Potatoes

For my Aunt Carol. I hope this is the recipe you were talking about.

2 Large cans sweet potatoes - drained and slightly chopped

2 can whole berry cranberry sauce

1/2 stick margarine

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup dry oatmeal

Mix together potatoes and cranberry sauce. Place in a medium size greased casserole dish. Mix other ingredients into a crumb mixture. Stir half of it into potatoes mix, sprinkle the rest on top. Bake at 350 for 1/2 hour. Serves at least 8.

From 2008

I got a little creative with Naomi's hair. She wanted it to 

look like Marie's. This is as close as I could get!

Vivid Memories

Last night I lay awake remembering some of those vivid moments from life. I was kind of in awe at the fact that some of them can replay just like a movie would: slow motion, zoomed in, music playing. I thought it might be fun (mostly for me) to relive the moments I remember vividly when Brian and I first started dating.  I still like talking about it! It was a fun part of my life. 6 years later I still like to talk about it, I just feel like people don't want to listen that far back and certainly not in that much detail! So you should share some of your favorite memories on your blogs for me to read. I like to hear stories too!

We met at 17 and that story is a whole different blog, maybe for next week's storytelling time. We didn't date until after his mission. I just remember being around him always made me feel cooler than I actually was. I always looked forward to him being at an activity at church or when we'd get together as friends. We went on one date before his mission and that was only because the rest of the group canceled. I had already driven an hour to go see a movie with everyone so Brian and I went to T.G.I.Fridays. While I was at his house I remember being sat down by his parents because I must see the recent wedding photos, Andy and Jen and then Chanda and Morgan. So funny huh? That was the first time I'd met his family. At Friday's we shared a dessert that I can't remember what it was, but I remember it was good and we both raved about it! Then our first date - we watched Mystery Men! Haha!

Anyway, we wrote throughout his mission once and awhile, nothing serious ever. At one point towards the end of his mission I got a letter from him with a picture in it. Something about this picture made me decide to carry it around with me for the rest of the time he was on his mission. I didn't actively decide this, I just did it. At the same time I was dating another boy, but I knew from that picture that I couldn't marry the guy I was currently dating so I broke up with him. Yes I broke up with someone for Brian while he was on his mission with no word from Brian's side of the situation. The thought was there though - I could marry Brian. I don't have that picture on my computer, but look at this one for fun!

One sweet memory, that is sweeter looking back because I didn't even notice it at the time, was when he called my dorm number soon after he got home it had been changed. I had moved off campus. He proceeded to call random numbers on campus trying to find someone who knew me. He finally found one girl who knew of me and said she would give me a message to call him. (I never got the message) I did, however, receive an email from him the next day with all of his information to call him. I did not have internet at my house at the time so I was in the library and gasped loudly when I saw it was an email from him. I ran home and called him - I have no idea what we could have talked about! 

So at the time his family had moved to PA. I was down in VA going to school. I went to his homecoming party as a friend the entire time. After talking and talking on the phone and through emails, we met up again. This time I took my group of friends and he brought his entourage with him. I knew 2 of them, but most of them were girls. Anyway, we met in Baltimore at the Harbor. I love that place for more reasons than one! I still remember his bears hugs! He gave them to everyone, but they made me feel special anyway. 

Here is one of those movie moments:   the first time we held hands.

We were pushing through a group of people trying to get out of a sports dinner or something like that. He casually reaches back and grabs my hand. Here is where the slow motion starts and the camera zooms! Now I still remember it exactly! And I remember feeling like a little leprechaun was dancing in my hand with excitement. Though I wanted to stay holding hands with him, I also wanted to run into the ocean and splash around with joy! We remained holding hands the rest of the day - more so I think we held hands the rest of the time we were dating and engaged and for the first entire year of our marriage. We wouldn't let go. He even found a way to shift while driving while still holding my hand. So silly! I still remember how that felt back then, the way he held my hand, the fun when our knees would touch while sitting down, whispering to each during movies. 

Another movie memory is our first kiss. Same day in Baltimore. We decide its time to leave, hug and part ways. His group tells him that they won't take him home unless he goes back to kiss me. I never expected him to kiss me because I know how much of a wimp he is! So here I am standing at a street corner waiting for the light to change so I can cross, excited over the days events, chattering with my friends about how cool it is. I say aloud, "I wish he would come back!" And as I turn to look back I see him running, literally running, across a small field. He picks me up kisses me and spins me around! Can you see the movie? Baltimore Harbor, on a street corner with cars zooming past, my two friends awwing in the background. I think instead of zoom in here we would zoom out to get the grand scope of things! 

Anyway, enough storytelling for today. Back to the real world! Tell me some of your stories!

The Doctor Visit

So I took Gwen to the doctor. Of course I did not take her during office hours, I'm not that smart. No, I just procrastinate it. I often feel like going to the doctor is a waste. They'll either say its nothing, or that its something but can't do anything. But I always worry. Mostly I think I never know when its appropriate to go to the doctor. What symptoms require a checkup? So I took her into the after hours clinic at her regular doctor's office (so nice). Her temp had gone down continually with the Tylenol, but at about 6:00 it didn't go down as low as I would have liked. It was hovering at 102. 

The doctor saw her. Her ears were both clear, and she really doesn't have any other symptoms. He saw a tiny white dot on one tonsil so he didn't do a strep because he says its rare in children under 2. So it could be strep. Or it could be a urinary tract infection which he will test for if the fever doesn't go away in the next day or two. She isn't sleeping at the moment - probably because of too many naps during the day. But she is perfectly happy with only a 99 temp at the moment. Hopefully it will go away completely and we won't have to go back for any testing.

Fever, Fever

The beauty of having a doctor's office that has after hours where I can call in anytime of night to ask a question is so amazing, such a blessing! Gwen woke up last night with a 103.8 temperature. I had no idea what to do. Mostly I never remember what the cut off is for when its an emergency! So I called and talked to a nurse who just assured me that as long as I can get it down with Tylenol or Motrin or even a warm bath, we could keep her home and monitor her. Thank goodness! 4:30 in the AM is not the time you want to run over to the emergency room - not that I haven't done it before!

I just wanted to share...

I don't know of too many people who read my blog who aren't members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but if you aren't we have a bi-annual conference that the entire church gets to watch via Satellite or listen to over the computer. After the conference we get a magazine with all of the talks transcribed for us to re-read. The people who talk are prophets and apostles and other members of the church to teach us guidelines for our lives. Anyway, I've been reading the talks and wanted to share some of the important things I am learning.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin in his talk Come What May , and Love it speaks of how to deal with things that come our way. His Mother once said to him "Come what may, and love it". He poses the question, "How can we love days that are filled with Sorrow?" He answers, "We can't - at least not in the moment." But he gives us some guidelines for how to get through some of the hard things.

First, he says Learn to Laugh.

Second, seek for the eternal - realize that we have eternity to learn and grow

Third and my favorite and the reason I am posting this, the principle of compensation,

He says, "The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude. 

"One of the blessings of the gospel is the knowledge that when the curtain of death signals the end of our mortal lives, life will continue on the other side of the veil. There we will be given new opportunities. Not even death can take from us the eternal blessings promised by a loving Heavenly Father.

"Because Heavenly Father is Merciful, a principle of compensation prevails."

A second talk I love is by Elder Dieter F Uchtdorf who is quickly becoming my favorite apostle! He speaks like he truly understands human sadness and life's shortcomings in general! His talk The Infinite Power of Hope really touched me! 

He begins with a story about his mother during World War II. His father was drafted into the German Army leaving her to care for her 4 children, alone! She finally decided to flee Czechoslovakia to Germany where her parents were. She boarded a train with her 4 small children, Elder Uchtdorf being only 3 at the time. At one of the stops she exited the train to find food for her children, when she returned the train was gone! She searched and searched for the train and instead of losing hope and wallowing in despair, she found where the train had been moved. Luckily it had not left without her. Elder Uchtdorf says, "I know with certainty: her faith overcame her fear, and her hope overcame her despair. She was not a woman who would sit and bemoan tragedy. She moved. She put her faith and hope into action."

He closes his talk with these few statements. "The example of our mother, even in the worst of times, to move forward and put faith and hope into action, not just worrying and wishful thinking, sustained our family and me and gave confidence that present circumstances would give way to future blessings." 

I would like to be a person who moves forward and puts faith and hope into action instead of worry and wishful thinking!

He then quotes Nephi from the Book of Mormon, "Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upong the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

"And to all who suffer - to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely - I say with love and deep concern for you, Never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your spirit.

Those are some of the portions that impressed me in my reading thus far. Thanks for reading and letting me share.

Children's Books

We have tons of children's books, but so many of them just aren't interesting (to me at least). So I'm wanting to beef up our children's book collection with some of those all time favorites for Christmas. What do your children like? Especially any recommendations for 18 months and 4 year olds. The more I search, the more we'll  probably have most of what you recommend, but let me know anyway! 

For Shame

I just have to say shame on Utah! I just cannot get over these numbers -

Number of people in Utah who voted this Presidential Election:

875,768

2008 Population of Utah:

2,850,000

I'm not very political at all, but come on! At least put your vote out there! Less than 1/3 is so pathetic! 

Completely forgot about Trick or Treating

Trick or treating was pretty fun with both girls. Brian and I dressed up too for some reason, but the instant I left the house I realized that I didn't have to dress up for trick or treating. Its not FOR ME! Anyway, so I felt a little dumb crossing in front of the Provo Temple wearing a Cruella Deville costume. AwfuL! We went outside of Wymount for a few houses. Brian wanted to stop at a professors house that was just across on the other side of the temple. We are directly south of it. Anyway, we walked over there and the VERY first house we stop at the worst happens. Naomi is so happy and excited so she walks up the house by herself and knocks. I see a man running to the door and putting on a coat. I think to myself how nice that he is getting dressed up just to hand out the candy. THEN, the door opens and he jumps out and growls at Naomi with a mask on. She screams, turns around and in an infantile voice yells "mommy" and runs back to me at the end of the walk. Seriously if I could go back in time I would have walked up to that man and beaten him! He was small, I could have taken him! Idiot! Brian was on the phone so did nothing.  I gave him an evil look and we moved on with our terrified little girl. She cried all the way to the next house and wouldn't even knock. After a few very sweet and nice old ladies she was back into the trick or treat mode. Though she is still asking me why that mean man wanted to scare people. I'm just glad she realizes it was a man! I know where he lives, and I keep thinking I want to write him a letter just to get it off my chest because it is eating me up! 

Still, she got tons of candy! And the girl doesn't even like candy! So she ate about 4 things and now I don't know what to do with all the candy! 

Brian and I were actually invited to a party on Halloween night. So Brian's mom stayed home with the sleeping girls, and we went to a costume party at 9pm! It was fun! I was a good guest and brought a pie. I didn't know a single person at the party though so I spent the entire time listening to Brian talk to a Mechanical Engineering major about performance of various motorcycles. When asked if I had a good time, my comment was "I didn't not have a good time." What else can I say? At least I got out for the night!

Hey!

Why don't people's comments get emailed to me any longer? I just checked and saw so many I didn't know I had. 

Alone for a week

It wasn't until yesterday when I read on my sister-in-law's post about her husband being away and feeling lonely that I realized that Brian had just left for an entire week! He left yesterday to go to Las Vegas for SEMA and a job interview. SEMA is the most gigantic car show I've heard of anyway. He has wanted to go every year that we've lived here and since this is our last year here, it was his last chance. He went to stay with his uncle Dave with some friends from school. 

I just thought it was really weird that it didn't hit me that he was going away. He has only left us for 1 week before. I was pregnant with Gwen then, but was lucky enough to have my mom living down the road. I spent most of my time there so I wasn't Alone. So this is our first official time alone, first time alone with 2 girls too. Yet the prospect of being alone never hit me. Weird huh? 

I think I turned off my brain and still have it off. I don't seem to mind, and that is very unlike me. Especially since I work 20 hours a week now. AND this week I teach preschool! Plus Naomi has a practice for Primary Presentation on Saturday. I just find it extremely weird that I am not freaking out more.

Last night was fine. Naomi and Gwen both went to sleep really well. I made my preschool lesson up. Watched a little TV. Went to bed on my own. I felt a little nervous going to bed, but then fell right asleep. Gwen came into bed with me at 5am, then Naomi at around 7am. When I woke up they were on the other side of the bed from me with Naomi's arm around Gwen. Very cute, wish I had a camera in bed! 

So we'll see how tonight goes... 

P.S. I've also been really bad lately about commenting on other people's blogs. I don't know why that is, but I'll try to be better!

Check out my new link!

You need to visit the link way down on the left hand side below all of the blogs updates called Tastespotting! Its a fun website I found from someone else's blog that shows you pictures of a food and gives you a link to that recipe. I have found some really fun stuff! Check it out!

Also, this is really good! Double Layer Pumpkin Pie. Very easy too!