Corn Roasting

Last night Windsyr came downstairs holding her mermaid barbie and announced: "It's just so hard corn roasting."

I know my daughter well enough to know that whatever she meant by this, it made perfect sense on Planet Windsyr, so I smiled sympathetically and said: "What do you mean by that?"

She proceeded to show me the many braids she had put in her barbie's long pink hair. "I've done all these, but there's still so many to do!"

And suddenly it clicked. Corn rows. My daughter was giving her mermaid corn rows, and now you see what I mean by my daughter's logic. If making corn rows could be summed into one verb, I think "Corn rows-ting" would be the right one.

Have your kids created any new words I can add to my dictionary?

D.O.D.

Though A.D.D. may be all the rage these days, there is a highly overlooked disorder in the pyschological field that I would like to bring to light. My gut tells me I am not the only one with this disease, and by coming out of the closet I might even find some camaraderie among fellow sufferers.

Let me introduce you to an hour in the life of one who suffers from
DISTRACTION OVERLOAD DISORDER.

The other morning I was cleaning up after breakfast. When I opened the fridge I found it nearly bare which reminded me that we needed groceries. Leaving the dishes unfinished I sat down to write a grocery list, which led me to my recipe book in search of menu ideas for the week. The recipe book reminded me that I had been intending to get some recipes from a few friends, which made me think that some of those recipes might already be posted on my yahoo group. Leaving my grocery list unfinished, I went upstairs to my computer where I intended to check my yahoo group, but upon opening google, I got distracted by the daily news and started to read about the elections. Leaving my recipe list unfinished, I next checked my email where a message reminded me of a birthday party my son was invited to which reminded me I had a present in need of wrapping. The need to wrap reminded me of Christmas, which reminded me of a returned Christmas card which reminded me to put my email address on a friend's blog so she could send me her address. Leaving the present unwrapped, I went to her blog, which of course led to another blog and another where I ended up finding a fun activity posted that I just had to try. This led me to an internet site called myheritage where you can upload photos and use face recognition technology to find out which parent your child resembles most, or which celebrities you resemble. I then realized I needed to switch to my downstairs computer where the photos are kept if I wanted to play with face recognition. But I couldn't go downstairs until I cleaned up the mess of staples and 3x5 cards my son had scattered from the computer desk while I'd been at the computer. The mess upstairs reminded me that I still hadn't finished cleaning up breakfast which reminded me I hadn't finished my grocery list, my menu list, my recipe search, or wrapped the present...

SO....What would YOU do at this point?

1. Wrap the present while you are thinking about it?
2. Finish cleaning up breakfast before the grapenuts cement to the cereal bowl?
3. Check the recipes while you are still logged onto your computer?
4. Stop and clean up the mess of staples your toddler made?
5. Leave the room quickly to find the toddler who has now disappeared with a stapler in hand?
6. Go downstairs to your other computer because it is really quite crucial to find out which celebrity you look like ?
7. Stop and write a blog entry blaming the fact that you can't get anything finished on Distraction Overload Disorder!?

Well, being the prudent mother that I am forced to be at times, I first chased down my son. He had the stapler in the living room where more staples were now scattered, and this of course meant I had to vacuum the living room rug. At some point I also got to the kitchen, the bedroom mess, and the wrapping, but it was days before I got back to the face recognition, over a week before I got to the blog entry, and the recipes I pretty much gave up on for now.

Whether typical housewife hysteria, or truly a disorder of sorts, this my friends, is my life! (You can see why I relate so well to the "If you give a mouse a cookie" series of books.) And speaking of mice, my next entry will feature an incriminating picture of a little varmint who has been sneaking around our garage eating leftover Halloween candy. It's very funny, but will have to wait for the many distractions that are sure to come between now and that next blog entry...(like the fact that I just decided to experiment with font sizes and colors which you will now note in my entry.) See...distracto-woman!!! That is me, and I am not ashamed to admit it, so long as nothing distracts me before I get the chance! :)

Husband bloggers

Now, I don't know about your husbands, but mine had been somewhat slow to come around to the world of blogging. Oh if I twisted his arm enough he would check my/our blog, and occasionally even leave a comment. But when we got started on the whole "hundred day" thing, my husband was finally inducted, self-inducted even, into the world of blogging when he started his own blog to keep track of people's progress and success stories. Now, this really had potential if I hadn't up and gotten pregnant right about then, halting all normality in our family and any semblance of downtime for him, my primary caretaker. Well folks, just as I am back in the saddle again, he is finally able to put time into updating his hundred day blog, and you MUST sample his latest inspirational read. It will put just a little more wind beneath your wings today, and it will also encourage my husband to keep blogging. And let's face it, we need more husbands bloggers. So pay him a visit, and leave him a comment so he knows you were there. And THANKS upfront for supporting husband bloggers of the world.

Rolling in it

I walked by Windsyr who was counting her coins today. She was on a million five, a million six, a million seven...

Remind me to let her count my dollars someday.

Sri Lankan Festivities

So here is a small recap of the big event in Sri Lanka that I may never be at peace about missing, but there are some things life decides for you.

Special thanks to my brother Dan who captured the journey beautifully. I could go to his blog and steal more pictures to show you some of the beauty they encountered during their adventure, but it is probably easier and more ethical to send you to his. (Savannah's blog) It is well worth taking a look. They spent several days touring this incredible part of the world and have some great footage.


In a traditional Singhalese wedding ceremony, the dancers and drummers proceed the wedding party.


Scene from the ceremony

Here Adam is putting a "wedding necklace" on Upekala (Pek.)

Picture of the wedding party including three of my five brothers (Darron, Dan, Adam)


Happy Bride and Groom

Sara and Sandee (and all the women who attended )were outfitted in traditional Sarees for the wedding. This picture is taken at the post wedding party. Pek is as much a knockout in her red "homecoming Saree" dress here as she was in her gorgeous wedding dress.

What is Sri Lanka without elephants? This picture was taken at the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage.

I heard so many reports of the monkeys and how they were everywhere!

This is the Kandalama Hotel where they stayed during part of their touring. It has won awards for its eco-friendly design, and as you can see, it is built right into this jungle without disturbing much!

Back in the Saddle

There's no time like the first day of a New Year to come out of blogging hibernation. If anyone is still checking this blog after my four month leave of absence, I thank you for your loyalty.

As probably most of you know, I was totally knocked off my feet and pretty much out of my life for a good three months by a grueling pregnancy. This is my fourth pregnancy but only my second experience with hyperemisis gravidarum, and let me tell you it is not fun. Only five lucky women in every thousand will experience this level of illness with a pregnancy...and every one of them will wonder if they are dying, (and/or feel like they would rather die than have to endure the relentless suffering of HG.)

At 23 weeks now, I am MUCH improved and almost back to a normal life. The nausea persists around the clock, but the throwing up has tapered off greatly and will hopefully stop altogether. It has been replaced by eating 24/7--as an attempt to abate the nausea (which never helps, but on I eat anyway.)

I feel so grateful to have made it through those very dark days, and I am indebted to friends and family who took over my life, making sure my kids were cared for, my family fed, and my house cleaned, etc. I am especially amazed by my husband who carried the family torch on his own without missing a beat--volunteering in the kids' classrooms, coaching and attending every one of their soccer games, getting all three kids ready and out of the house every morning by 7:45 and handling dinner, homework, showers, the bed time routine, and then dishes, laundry, etc. every night on his own while still making time to tend to my every need and take me for IV's and doctor appts as necessary. (Even when it meant leaving an out of town meeting abruptly to spend a day in the ER with a wife who could barely thank him for it.) He kept me in clean sheets and clean pajamas, ran to the store at a moment's notice to fulfill any food request I thought I could stomach, coordinated with my friends to make sure I had daytime help and visits, etc., and patiently endured the loneliness of this one man show for days, and then weeks, and then months...he is my best support and my biggest hero.

I was blessed to be able to enjoy the holidays, and enjoy them I did. It was hard on Brian and I to miss the HUGE festivities going on in Sri Lanka, where my brother got married on December 22nd. My dad and many of my siblings were fortunate to attend and had the experience of a lifetime. We knew the day we found out we were pregnant that Sri Lanka was no longer an option for us, and it was a true loss. But right now I have to focus on the small, daily triumphs of just being able to function again--and tolerate sights, sounds, smells, motion, touch, and even my own saliva--all of which for months were completely out of the question.

You can imagine this season was a time for my family and I to reflect on the very basics of what is most meaningful in life, and we have learned some hard but enduring lessons through our challenges.

That is a long enough entry for today, but I will be back often now.

Happy NEW YEAR to everyone, and thanks for caring enough to check in on our little corner of the world.

My girl

OK This entry is coming in the last few hours of August so that I have SOMETHING to show for the month. I don't know why I have gone blog bust this month--when there has been so much to say and show. I think it comes down to the fact that our summer vacation is nearly over (I know, I know, the rest of you have already started school, but don't forget who was still plugging away academically into the third week of JUNE! We earned this late start!) and before it ends altogether I have been focused on making the most of the last few weeks with my children home full time. I really love hanging out with my kids, I really, really do. I do not love never-ending loads of laundry, daily dirty diapers and eternal housework, but I DO love time with my children, and I'm going to miss it.

This picture is in honor of my little girl. She is the little girl every mom dreams of having and I have never taken a minute of her estrogen fused little life for granted. This picture was taken over two years ago, before she was my recently turned five year old who is starting Kindergarten next week. I know I should be alarmed that she is growing up so fast, but I have enjoyed every second of life with her, and don't think we could have lived it more fully. So rather than look behind, I look forward to what still lies ahead: teenage boy drama, fancy dress shopping, late night talks, frantic phone calls home from college when she needs a quick recipe to cook dinner for a date...

I come from a family of six kids--five of them boys. My mom always said she was glad she got a girl, but that one was enough. Don't know quite what that says about me, but I do think of that often when I look at my little shadow and am grateful for the sugar and spice and everything nice she brings to this mortal ride. Here's to you, Princess Zuri. Fancy Nancy. Windsyr Castle. Family comedian. Resident Mermaid. Thank you for blessing our family with your larger than life personality, and for giving this mommy a daughter.

"Next 100 days" blog

Depending on when we started, some of us are now half way through our 100 day challenge! I hope you are sticking with it and having success!! I have really enjoyed hearing from those who have reported back with your progress. Now I am beyond pleased to announce (since it indicates his conversion to the blog world) that my ambitious husband has started a blog dedicated solely to the hundred day challenge. As the first 100 on the challenge (yes, the goal for 100 people on the 100 day challenge has been reached, although we don't have everyone's goal personally documented as some did not specify their goal, and others are part of groups here and there that I do not have names for) you may already be featured on the blog as one who has accepted the challenge. What Brian would like to do is spotlight different stories in progress as they are recounted to him, so if you'd like to report your experience, please leave a comment at the new blog: "Next 100 days". Of course the hope is to expand the vision even further and get more people involved in the challenge with time (like goal-oriented bloggers in Zimbabwe, for example) so please keep sharing the challenge with your friends and family. We'd also love for you to include the 100 day blog as a link on your own blogs. Thanks again to all who accepted the challenge, and good luck with the second half of it!

Ode to Jen

Dear Regular Potato,
I thought I'd write you a note instead of listening to Mrs. Sackman. (Don't tell her Juniors!) So how's your day? You look really cute today, I love your stirrups. Can you smell my perfume? I finally got some Exclamation! Hey, we should both crimp our hair this weekend and have a photo shoot. I'm excited for the football game tonight--it's gonna be rad. I know you have to cheer for JV, but afterward let's scope out some hotties. Should we sleep over at your house or mine? Doesn't really matter to me as long as we have our Ben and Jerry's. Are we going to the church dance on Saturday? I'm so glad I got to know you this year. You are my new Be Fri/ St End. Our Amy and Jen theme song pretty much says it all: (sung to the tune of Mickey Mouse) A-m-y, J-e-n, Amy and Jen. Amy and Jen (Amy and Jen!) Amy and Jen (Do it again!) Forever we will wonder why they are so dang rad! OK that song is way cool and we need to sing it to Kathleen and Marianne. They will totally love it too. MAJK rocks! We need to finish our class project--the video. Someday we will look back on that and really laugh.

It's wierd to think about life after High School--especially since we're only Sophomores. I wonder where we will go to College and what we will major in. Who do you think will get married first? Do you think we'll marry anyone we know? How many kids do you think you'll have? I'm pretty sure I want six. Let's always stay friends no matter what, OK? Even when we're like middle aged and in our thirties (will we ever really be that old?) let's make sure we still talk on the phone and bust our guts laughing about Bonne-bell lip smackers and Sun-In, OK? Speaking of which, I'm due for more Sun-In highlights. My bangs aren't blond enough. Let me know when you get the new Erasure CD. I'm way excited to hear it. Well, I better start listening, Mrs. Sackman is giving me the evil eye. See you at lunch in ten minutes. I can hardly wait for my Choco-Bliss.

Love ya,
Sweet Potato

Part Two: Mexico with My Man

Now, lest the following entry look like bragging, please remember: Brian and I EARNED this relaxation! (See previous post!)

The Mayan Riviera was the perfect getaway, situated 40 miles south of Cancun, with its white sand, blue Carribbean water, snorkeling, swimming, and excursions to Mayan Ruins at Tulum and Chi-Chenitza (which the people are so proud to claim as a new wonder of the world!)

Everyone asked us if we were on our honeymoon, and we would answer: "Yes, in a way" because it pretty much felt that way without our kids for 5 days! I don't know how to put my enjoyment of this trip into words, so I won't even try. I think the pictures speak for themselves...and you'll see I have a lot of "speaking" to do! :)

Part One: The Ma and Pa Memoirs

I am going to do a 3 part series in honor of my husband and since today is "Pioneer Day" it seems fitting to start with memoirs of our recent "Pioneer Trek."

In Utah July 24th is like a second Fourth of July, only bigger. It is a State holiday with fireworks, parades, rodeos, and all kinds of celebrating in honor of the arrival of the Mormon pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley, where Brigham Young declared "This is the place." Some made this thousand mile journey pulling handcarts, eliminating the need (and therefore cost) of oxen to pull covered wagons. It has become popular for Latter Day Saint youth to re-enact this exodus, dressing in traditional pioneer clothing, and pulling/pushing handcarts for a stretch of miles over a period of days to get a small taste of the experience.

Brian and I had the opportunity to accompany a group of youth two weeks ago as the assigned "Ma and Pa" of a "family" comprised of 5 "sons" and 2 (a third joined us the last day) "daughters." We were part of a 9 handcart company, our own handcart being a 500 pound load that we pulled 13 miles in the course of three days over rough and hilly terrain. It was extremely hot--especially in our long sleeves and long dresses--and a bigger chore than any of us had imagined. On the last day in particular, we "trekked" the last mile and a half straight up hill.

It may seem funny or strange to undertake such an activity in the age of convenience and comfort, but it is an experience not soon to be forgotten by those who participate and those who have "trekked" know it is not something easily explained to or shared with anyone who was has not.

I can't even describe how much fun it was for Brian and I to slip into this Ma and Pa role. We loved our teenage children and the reflective moments of "family time" we shared throughout each day. We loved the camping, the square dancing, the stick pulling (Brian is somewhat of a legend for it) the hatchet throwing, the soap carving, the interaction with a great group of people, and the beauty we were surrounded by day and night.

The first day of our trek marked the 150th anniversary of our ancestors Mary Ann Weston and Peter Maughan burying their three year old son along the trail as he had fallen off their wagon and been run over by the wheels. This was at the front of our minds throughout the trek as we missed our own precious children (safe at home with grandma) and tried to even fathom what that must have been like. It was hard enough to put one foot in front of the other in a trek reenactment for the fun of it in July 2007--so how this family had done the same when it was their real life and their real loss and a monumental sacrifice to follow their faith, I can't begin to comprehend.

But I am grateful for the strength and fortitude of such faithful forebears and for the legacy they left for us to learn from. I am also grateful for this experience that gave me a more personal insight into their journey, and a refreshed, renewed perspective of my own life's path. I loved sharing this experience with my husband, and seeing him in action with those big teenage boys who looked up to him and respected him in ways his own boys will one day.

Of course the pictures I include can never convey the rich experience of the adventure--but they are my small tribute to the memory of the Mormon Pioneers and the trail they forged not only literally but spiritually for the beneficiary generations to come.

Triple Whammy

Within the span of four days, there are three birthdays to celebrate , each belonging to one of my MI's. (The hip way to refer to "most importants" according to the book I just read.) The fun starts July 20th (which coincided with my return from Mexico so forgive the belated nature of this entry--but it was a fantastic stint in the Mayan Riviera--and much footage will follow) with my DAD's big day. My MOM is right on his tail with a July 22nd b-day and the very next day, my own PRINCE CHARMING turns another year wiser. And buffer, of course.

This triple whammy is a lot like the week in December when we celebrate two sons' birthdays and Christmas within a one week span: When it rains, it pours. But birthdays are cheerier than rain so you won't find me complaining, however you will find me struggling to balance so much love and celebration, which I am doing even now as I try to write this entry. How to give proper air time (web time?) in tribute of the two outstanding people who gave me life, and the stand-out person who is my life. Overwhelming indeed.

I thought through some alternative options to save me the blogging anxiety, but I think you'll find my list as impressive as the lounge singer in La Laguna, which was Mexico's answer to American Idol's worst moments, so the blog entry won out in the end.

1. Play dead
2. Plagerize a few Hallmark cards and call it good
3. Conveniently "forget" and plead innocent on account of early Alzheimer's
4. Convince my loved ones that birthdays are "so yesterday" and you'll stay young longer if you ditch them
5. Send flowers instead-- or better yet, a singing telegram, if those still exist
6. Leave my self-appointed Hallmark-Central post 6 months early because half a year ain't half a bad!

Or,

7. Just Do It, Because Michael Jordan would, and he's rich.

So I'm doing it, in spite of the fact I can never do my MI's justice, but hoping my sincerity will compensate for my inability and that my poor attempt is better than no attempt at all.

DAD,
You are not only kind, gentle, smart, funny, talented, and P.A. of the year-- you are to the family what "Houston" is to NASA, serving as mission control to keep us informed, connected and up to date on the details of each other's lives. The grandkids adore you, your children enjoy you, and your lifetime of learning, growing, shaping, redirecting, and authenticating has developed very real and very rooted relationships with the people who matter most. I love your "ideas of the week", whether a new invention, a small business/large business/family business idea, a book or movie plot, or even a new and improved form of societal living. My favorite part is your passion behind each idea, even if dreaming it up is more the sport than actual implementation. Just today you shared your latest plan: A bakery that sells butter tarts to Canadians in Phoenix. See what I mean? You rock. And I love that you're Canadian too. You are pleasant and easy to be around, full of humor, endearing chit chat and enough trivia to blow anyone out of the water, while also able to carry on deep and meaty discussions on any level with any person. Your busiest years stretched behind you, and your shining golden years still ahead, you are healthy, happy, admired, appreciated, and have accomplished much with your life. Thank you for your friendship, your dedication, and your love.

MOM,
You are confident, independent, free-spirited, and adventurous...the kind of grandma who would bungee jump off the highest bridge in South Africa, be the last one on any dance floor, and squeeze the marrow out of life, never wasting a moment, but never hurrying too much. You are a true lover and respecter of nature and animals, taking time to notice a beautiful spider web in Oahu, listen to a howler monkey in Mexico, or worry about a starving stray dog in Chile. You raised your children with wholeheartedness, attentiveness, and a playfulness that makes childhood the stuff of fairytales. You raised five boys and a girl with a vigor and vitality that taught us each to love the world and every person in it. You were always there to listen when we were ready to talk, and always there to remind us of the best that was within us. Your token question to me after any social event was not "did you have a good time?" but "did everyone around you have a good time?" and this worrying more about others and less about myself fostered in me a deep sense of compassion that has served me my whole life. You are a people person, a solid "yellow" and the life of any party. You are the embodiment of faith, which has generated miracle after miracle in your life and the lives of those who have the privilege to be on the receiving end of your prayers. I take pride in being your daughter and great satisfaction in being your friend. Thank you for your example, your fervor, and your love.

BRIAN,
We culminate the triple whammy with you, but your post is coming tomorrow. It is past midnight now, and you are sleeping as your birthday officially begins. I am excited to delve into my thoughts about you, Johnny A, and post some fun pics of our latest adventures. Stay tuned...I love you.

SIBS in Seattle

Although you have to go to Team Biddle's blog to find out what SIBS stands for, you have to travel back in time to New York City to understand what SIBS are all about. The SIBS reunion in Seattle (We were missing one, but will track her down for the next) was everything it should be: Food, shopping, food, girl talk, food, touring on the DUCK, and more food. Oh yes, and chocolate. Marie's husband was very accomodating to let us steal his wife away from baby Noe-Noe for hours at a time. He is also one of my heroes as he worked on the network for i-Phones and furtively carried one for three months before the world was allowed to see it. I also had the treat of meeting up with Adam and Pek who were in town for Pek's tournament.

Anyway, I love my dear friends from the days of tracting, fearlessing, teaching, and always plenty of laughing on the streets and in the projects of Staten Island and Queens. We are already looking forward to our next SIB get away- leggings, party bracelets, knock off purses, matching_______and all!!!