My jobs

So I have been a jack of all trades lately and realized that not many people know what I do or much about it.  For over a year I have worked with the catering company Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes as an on-call server.  I work 2-3 nights a month, either Friday or Saturday night. Click here HERE to see a picture of me posted in the recent newsletter.
 The company caters some very big events around the city and I have gotten to see some pretty amazing things- I worked the (now elected) Mayor's wedding this summer, a gorgeous wedding on a rolling estate that included floating lanterns (ala Tangled), galas and auctions with 400-500 guests and 200+ guest Christmas parties in mansions.  We did a corporate Christmas party in the Smith Tower- glass windows gave us amazing views of Mount Rainier in the South and the Space Needle (dwarfed by downtown) on the north. My video from that night won't load, but here are some photos I found online that show what the room is like with the views- our party looked a lot like this.  The most "fun" part about the Smith Tower is that the very old, ornate brass elevator has to be run by an attendant- old school style!

More recently, I started taking care of a 3 month old in October.  Her mother wanted her in-home for a few months.  In late February, she will transfer to a daycare with her older brother.  I watch her around 45 hours a week.  It has made my life crazy in so many ways and shown me a glimpse of what having a 4th would be like.  Now there is even less chance that I will have another!  lol

I've also been lucky to do some research studies that pay well and even been a secret shopper for a local bank- I go in and pretend I am shopping banks for various services and then write up my experience.

I have felt very blessed to have the opportunities to work and generate some extra income.  This Christmas has been our best ever, by far.
I have learned a lot about myself and other people and what makes the world spin.  I work with some really fun people and also see the dark side of some others.  I see so starkly that my Mormon standards are so very, very far removed from most people's and I cherish those standards much more now.  I may be a freak among the staff, but I am glad I can express my standards and be an example of someone who can live strict standards and still be fun to be around.  I also am shown time and time again the destructive nature of alcohol and people's actions when under the influence of alcohol.  My testimony of these things have dramatically increased over the last year!

Fall 2013

Since Franklin has already climbed up to look at the calendar and asked when we can "go house to house"  (trick or treating) again, I guess it's time I post some pics of Halloween and fall in general.

pumpkin patch

Hay bale spiders were so cute!

Our friends came to the ward Halloween party- their engineer dad made these amazing dragon costumes- the wings went up!

church mouse- he surprised us all with his costume- it kind of freaked me out until I realized it was because he looks like a character from Maus

Thomas the Tank Engine

The girls were "Bookoween" characters- at school if they want to dress up, it needs to be from a book.  Odessa was Fire Star from Warrior Cats series and Ada was Laura Ingalls.  On Halloween, Franklin was a monkey.  Look at those cheeks!!

Odessa has LOVED soccer and did pretty well for her first year

Our maiden voyage with the Port-a-bote

It's bigger than it looks, I promise

He did an awesome job rowing all 5 of us, but I still think we should get a little engine

Sweet tooth

We got out Halloween stuff tonight.  In the costumes box is my old lab coat.  I put it on and told the girls "Mom used to wear this to work everyday".  Their eyes got wide because of course they have never imagined me as anything but Mom.
Me:  Yep, I worked at a hospital, I'm a dietitian (in case you forgot).
Odessa:  (narrowing her eyes and tilting her head at me) Then why do you have a sweet tooth and get cavities?
Me:  (no answer)

Touche my dear- especially since I was working a mini snickers out of my teeth!


PS- the interest in IKEA play place and potty lasted all of 2 days.  Maybe he's just not ready . . .

IKEA potty training plan

When Odessa was little, we went to IKEA and she begged to go into their awesome play area, complete with ball pit.  I told her the rules at IKEA are that you have to be potty trained to go in.  We went right home and started working on it.  Worked like a charm and as a reward, she got to go back to IKEA some months later when she was wearing undies and not having accidents.
Ada needed no such inducement- she just wanted to be like Odessa and trained within a year after her.
Franklin doesn't have much interest in toilets or potty training- much less than the girls at this age.  So when we were in IKEA this week (I make about 2 trips a year), I walked him all around the amazing play area.

Me:  That looks like fun, doesn't it?
Franklin:  I want to go in there!
Me:  Look at that ball pit!
Franklin:  I want to go in der!!
Me:  I know, it looks so fun!  They even have a playhouse!
Franklin:  I WANT to go in der!!
Me:  Guess what?  You CAN go in there when you go potty in the toilet and wear underwear!  You have to go potty all the time in the toilet before you can go in there.  Do you think we could work on that?
Franklin:  Oh yes!

Hopefully it will work as well this time as it did last time!

"I'M the Boy!"

A while ago the girls had already gotten down from the table and were in the hallway discussing some dancing roles.
"I'm the boy" one of them said, deciding who would stand where.
Franklin was still at the table, finishing his meal, but when he heard this comment, he immediately struggled to get out of his booster seat.  "Hey!" he shouted "I'M the boy!  I'm the boy!" he kept yelling.  I thought it was only proper that I let him down to claim his rightful role.  So he barged into their play and made them dance with him, the right way.

Franklin IS the boy.  He loves all boy things and I never knew I would be asked "Pwease draw me a car?" over and over and over.  "Now a twuck!  Now a dump twuck!  Now a motorcycle!"  What a strange thing- to draw cars and trucks when I am used to drawing flowers and ponies and kittens and princesses.

I never knew I would enjoy pointing out every fire truck, bus and train we pass.  I get him down from the table and rush him out the door to watch the garbage trucks collect our stuff.  Every other Wed, he strikes gold: 3 trucks come over the course of the morning to collect garbage, recycling and compost.  Often the drivers wave and honk their horn.  I am almost as ecstatic as Franklin.  It's unreal.

I never knew I would cave almost every time he gets his heart set on a baggie of cars from the thrift store.  The other day he saw an advertisement for Chevron that had one of those cartoon Chevron cars.  He loved it.  On a whim, I started looking online for those Chevron cars.  The next thing I knew, I was driving 30 minutes South to buy a bin of 27 Chevron cars from a lady who buys abandoned storage units.  They were priced at a fraction of those on ebay.

He sits at the head of the table and demands milk and throws his green beans.  When Stephen tries to scowl at him, Franklin quips "Daaaad don't be maaaaad".  HE'S the boy and he acts like King and YES we will have a real problem on our hands someday.   But for right now I just smother him with kisses and then draw him another car.

Birthday boy- got a dump truck for the sand box

Hiding his eyes for his big birthday surprise

It's a bike!

He's gotten better since his birthday, but we're still a ways from gliding down the street!

Notoriously bad at eating dinner, he liked crisp tacos!

He just only ate one side . . . 

Another Craigslist find- he loves the Wee Ride!

Birthday ice cream

Cold teeth!!

Update:  Since writing this post, Franklin has dissolved into a terrible two year old capable of making everyone's lives quite miserable!  So we've had to set some boundaries and work on behavior!  The King needs to learn how to play nicely as a little prince.

Post trip

Well, there are 975 photos to comb through and catalog, so I am afraid not many will be coming soon to a blog near you.  There are 3 birthdays in the next 2 weeks, a house to refinance and I'm dealing with an 8 hour daylight savings jump- and while not immobilizing, it's slowing me down to a snails pace at 3pm and 8pm respectively- by far our busiest time of the day.  Groceries are bought, laundry is sorted (but not done) and the trip seems like a  dream.  

In hindsight, here is what I feel like I learned from this trip:

1- Mom's house feels like home no matter where it is.  She could be stationed on Mars for all I care, but my mom manages to make whatever space she's in feel like home.  She is a great cook and a great home manager- everything for all the meals was planned out and was flawless.  It may have helped that she has had visitors 3 times in the last 2 months.  Coming from a time in my life when I sometimes start thinking about dinner at 5pm and barely get the spaghetti sauce heated before adding it to the noodles, a week of grown-up meals that came together so nicely and quickly (amazing what you can do without 1,300 interruptions from little people!) was one of the best parts of this trip!

2- My parents are a great team.  From packing lunches to navigating Scotland's roundabouts, my parents are really amazing to watch together.

3- Stephen and I are still a great team.  I was a little disappointed at first that this trip wasn't more romantic- we were visiting these amazingly beautiful ruins, but this was a family trip after all and even in London it felt more like a rat race and a survival mode stay at a credit card rewards hotel (read bare minimum amenities).  But we had this amazing 10 days to bond over all these adventures and amazing places.  Sometimes when you're in the daily grind and you don't see each other much and you're the one putting the kids to bed by yourself night after night, you start to feel like it's you and kids on a team and dad's playing solo over there, sometimes trying to get in on the action.  But 10 days together makes me feel like we've reset the buttons and we have each other's back.  (Regular dates could also probably help with this!)

4- My kids are far more independent than I gave them credit for.  The kids did so well at Grandma and Grandpa's- I was almost a little let down at how little they seemed to miss/need me.  But mostly, I was over the moon that they were self-assured enough not to need us.  Franklin never cried for us at all according to report.  That doesn't even happen in 24 hours here.  He was so happy to go to all the aunts and uncles and play with everyone that came into his path.  It helped if they brought a car or truck onto that path with them.  He ate meals, learned more words and happily charmed all those that came near.

5- Nothing will fall apart if I am not here to catch it.  See #4.   The kids can do more, the church can run by itself, Stephen learned that work will plod on without him.  It just gives a lot of perspective to the daily race we put ourselves through.  We've both come back a little more determined to no take everything quite so seriously.

Post trip let-down is mediated by my impending birthday and a trip back to Boise to welcome my parents home in a month.  After that, well maybe I will feel let down . . . . lol

Pesky little brother

We've been reading the Little House on the Prairie books and Ada was asking me some details about leeches, which features in one of the books.
Ada:  So, how would an animal get leeches off of them?
Me:  Well, they would use their hind legs I guess.
Ada:  They would need a human to get them off.
Me:  I guess, maybe.
Ada:  What would happen if they don't come off?
Me:  I don't know, I guess they would live there a long time.  They live off the animal they're attached to.  It's like a . . . . (thinking) . . . symbiotic relationship.
Ada:  No, that's not right.
Me:  You're right, a symbiotic relationship is where both creatures get something from each other, it's a parasitic relationship.  The leech is a parasite because it just takes from the host and doesn't give anything back.
Ada:  (lighting up suddenly)  Like Franklin!!

At dinner one night (without Stephen) Franklin was causing an unusual amount of ruckus and howling over not wanting to eat dinner.
Odessa had been very animated, telling us a story but eventually could not talk above Franklin's howling.
Odessa:  It's impossible to CONVERSATE at this table with him!!!

Domino affect

Note:  this blog is of a sensitive nature- about my weight and self esteem.  You were warned.
So I never really lost all of the baby weight after Franklin was born, in fact it yo-yoed down and then back up I would have to say.  I am sure people started to wonder if baby #4 was making a quick debut.  I kept wishing I was secretly pregnant and didn't know it!  Just to explain away the bulge.
I hated the way I looked and kept up the viscous cycle of eating to feel better and then being guilty when I never lost any weight or put more on.  I'm a Dietitian, which made it worse because I SHOULD KNOW BETTER.  I saw every little rationalization and excuse for what it was and that made me feel even worse.

A year ago, I took a first step and bought some new clothes in my correct size that made me feel better about myself.  I started paying more attention to my skin and make-up, getting ready on days I didn't have to be anywhere- this also boosted my self esteem.  About a month ago another mom from school brought me a sample of a skin care product she sells.  I have been amazed- you know all those products that claim you will have smaller pores, your scars will be less visible, you skin will look younger and be more clear?  Well, this is the first product I have ever used where those claims actually came true for me.  I think everyone's skin is so different and often the game of "try one and see" goes on for years and years.

I'll even post a notoriously bad web-cam photo to show you

Anyway, I love this stuff - it's called Nerium.  But what was most interesting is that having my skin clear up and look and feel so much better was a catalyst to my starting to exercise every day.  FINALLY!  After almost 2 years and trying and failing, I am finally on schedule to exercise daily.  And now that I am exercising, I don't want to mess that up by eating bad, so I am watching what I eat a lot more closely.  I am so happy!  I have not magically slimmed down in one week, but I am so happy I am finally turning the corner for taking care of myself.   I think one small step is often what we need to get us on the path of prioritizing our needs.  Take care of yourself.

Odessa's big weekend

Odessa, Ada and 2 of their friends participated in the school talent show last Friday.  The friends were working on a play, Odessa wanted to do her hula hoop routine from the church talent show, Ada just wanted to be in it.  The friend's mom and I married the 2 ideas, my friend cut the music for us and this little act was born.  Sorry, it's blurry.

The kids were all on cloud nine the rest of the night.
Then the next day, I took Odessa to get some of her long hair cut- it had gotten damaged and unruly.  I said she needed to get at least 2 inches off.  She sat down at the salon and looked at some magazines until she found a haircut she liked.

She spent the rest of the weekend raving about her hair and combing it.  Doesn't miss the long hair at all, big surprise to me.

My trip looms in about 1 month from now.  I actually wish it would always stay 1 month away.  Close enough I can admire it at arms length, not so close that I am running around packing like a chicken with it's head cut off.  I am afraid if it gets any closer though, I will blink and it will be here and blink again and it will be over.  Then I will be SO SAD.

T.R.O.U.B.L.E.

Me:  "That's a BIG mess, did you make that big mess?"
Franklin:  "I, little boy.  You, big mommy, (pointing) big mess."

Me:  "Are you poopy?"
Franklin:  "No, I not poopy"
Me:  (checking) "Oh, you're right, you're not poopy.  You're a smart boy."
Franklin:  "No, I little boy."

Franklin:  "Milk.  Please."
Me:  "You have to wait a minute."
Franklin:  "Milk!  Please!"
Me:  "Just a minute.  You're going to have to wait."
Franklin:  "Milk!  Please!"
Me:  "YOU. ARE. GOING. TO. HAVE. TO. WAIT. A. MINUTE!"
Franklin:  "NO! MILK! RIGHT! NOW!"


F-R-A-N-K-L-I-N is how we spell trouble around here.

Appropriate, isn't it?  Thinks he's in the driver's (or pilot's) seat

When the girls found out we were having a boy, they said "now we'll have our prince to dance with!"  He's finally big enough, but he's the one wearing their ballet shoes . . . . 

Franklin loves to sing several songs in "staccato", Twinkle, Twinkle is his favorite

Long weekend

Stephen and the girls had a four day weekend, so we tried to make the most of it without actually going out of town.  It's much nicer to sleep in our own beds at night we've decided while Franklin is so little.
See the Picasa Web Album HERE.  I actually took 307 photos over the 4 days, so be happy the web album only has 44 . . .
We took the ferry and drove to Sequim and walked along the Dungeness Spit for a little while.

 Then drove up Hurricane Ridge which was amazing and just the burst of sunlight we were craving.

  Had some good seafood before heading home.

Saturday Stephen fixed some plumbing problems we've had for going on 2 years.  Hip hip hooray for not having to call a plumber!!!
Monday we finally used a voucher to go to the Museum of Flight- Stephen is such a plane nut, he knows them all!  The kids loved it and Odessa wants to have her 8th birthday there now.  Who knew?

What I heard this week

I must have done something that I was pleased with and said "yay" or something because Franklin responded with:   "Good job. (pause)   Good job mommy, good job."

We have to be creative at keeping Franklin at the table- he never eats dinner . . . 

Ada forgot the snack she fixed for herself inside the house.  I had reminded her once and I am trying not to remind my kids of everything 15 times- it drives me insane and I don't think it really helps them remember . . . So as I was pulling out of the driveway, I was calmly telling Ada that remembering her snack was her responsibility, not mine.
Me:  (seeing the neighbor's house)  "Oh crap, I forgot Brenda's thank you notes"  (pulling back into the driveway)
Ada:  (without missing a beat) "Well, remembering the cards was YOUR responsibility.    While you are in the house, you can get my snack!"

The girls like to have us quiz them with simple addition and subtraction problems, Odessa is practicing for Math in a minute tests at school.  So a lot of meals are spent doing math.  This morning:
Me:  (to Odessa)  "What is 7 minus 4?"
Franklin:  "Free!"
We all laughed and laughed.
Stephen counts with Franklin when he wants him to wait (like while getting his diaper changed).  So through repetition  he knows some numbers.  The following happened while getting shoes on for school.
Ada:  "what's 1 plus 1?"
Franklin "One!"
Ada:  "No, what comes after 1?"
Franklin: "Twoooo!"
Ada:  "So what's 1 plus 1?"
Franklin:  "Twooooo!"
Ada:  "What's 1 plus 2?"
Franklin: "Twooooo!"
Ada:  "No, what comes after 2?"
Franklin:  "Freeee!"
Ada:  "So what's 2 plus 1?"
Franklin:  "Freeeee!"
Ada:  "What's 3 plus 1?"
Franklin:  "Freeee!"
Ada:  "No, what comes after 3?"
Franklin:  "Freeeeeee!"

And they were stuck at "freee" until we headed out the door.

Things we got last week

Don't get excited, Lucky is a "loaner" while her owner recoups and Lucky finds a permanent home.  She is old and deaf and tolerant for the most part of the kids.

We also got our tickets to go to Scotland last week.  My parents are serving an LDS mission to Scotland and (in full disclosure) offered each of us kids financial help to come see them.  Well, in the final 4 months of their mission, they are getting visitors Feb, March and April!  I have planned and accumulated credit card rewards for this trip ever since they left in October of 2011.  I never thought it would really happen until I bought the tickets.  For the first week, I looked up the itinerary every day just to "pinch" myself that this was real.  We are going to be in the UK for 10 whole days not including travel time, so that is a long time away from the kids.  Any tips on "not worrying" about them are appreciated.  But mostly, I CAN'T WAIT!!

What will you cling to?

Yesterday at church a visiting member from Victoria BC told us of a quote he'd heard that profoundly impacted him and it really struck a chord with me too.  His eldest daughter got married last weekend and the person who sealed them in the temple ("married them" in non-church venacular) gave them some advice.  One thing he said is that your spouse is sure to hurt and offend you.  You can either cling to that hurt or you can cling to your spouse.  I think that's so true.  Figuratively and literally, you have to make conscious efforts to cling to one another rather than all the little things that bother you.  This visitor also went on to say this applies in nearly every walk of life.  In a church congregation, you are sure to be hurt and offended by others.  You can cling to that hurt or you can cling to the gospel of the church.  You often have to choose whether you are going to cling to one thing vs another, there are so many instances when you have to let go of pride to retain friendship or hurt to obtain peace and forgiveness or loneliness to obtain fulfillment.  The list goes on and on and I wish I could have put it so eloquently as our visitor.  I am glad he came to church and chose to share with us and I am glad I chose to go to church and ask Stephen to stay home with a very sick Franklin.  With Stephen and I having some heavy callings, when we have sick kids we have to sometimes call the Bishop and ask "who would you like to have at church today?"  ha ha.  I was glad to be there, I needed it.

And so we move on to a few holiday leftovers- the kids in their Christmas Eve PJs- they are posing that way to show off the "ROCK" on their legs (Ada's split chin and bandage really pull down her face here).

Franklin loves being on "sissy's" desk

 And here are too many pics of the girls in their Christmas dresses.  We all stayed home with a sick Odessa last week, so yesterday was the first day they wore them.  Flash vs natural light- makes a real difference!

And more Franklin cuteness- feel free to skip if you are not a grandparent :  )

What I wished I had on tape was the night when Stephen yawned while reading the words and Franklin copied the yawn right along with it.  Now THAT was cute.