Finding Out

When I called to schedule my ultrasound several weeks ago, they were pretty adamant that I be 20 weeks before they see me. When I was pregnant with The Lime, I think I was about 18 weeks when I had my ultrasound. We were hoping to find out before Christmas but it didn't look like that would happen.

So we saved our biggest Christmas gift for the Monday after.

I'm a big baby when it comes to going to the bathroom and I absolutely hate the drinking at least 32 ounces of water prior to the appointment. The drinking part isn't bad, it's the pushing on my full bladder and holding the heck out of it, hoping I don't pee everywhere that I dread.

The technician had LaVor and The Lime wait until she got all of the measurements before she let them in the room, which translates to they were only there for the gender reveal. That's the most exciting part but I still would have liked for them to be with me for all of it.

LaVor and The Lime both guessed it was a boy but I was scared to death it was a girl. And while I would love our baby no matter what, I cried tears of joy when the technician announced we were adding another boy to our family. As horrible as it sounds, I actually think it was causing me extreme stress (I woke up with jaw pain the other day, possibly from clenching at night).

It's fun to now be able to address it as he and imagine what he and The Lime will be like growing up. The first thing The Lime said when we found out it was a boy was, "I can't wait until he gets a big belly and I can muscle him!" The Lime says he's muscling LaVor when he punches him in the stomach. If the baby is smart, he'll stay in my belly as long as he can.

Christmas 2013

LaVor had to work on Christmas Eve as did my brother-in-law, and my sister's sweet babe was sick so the Christmas Eve Breakfast crowd wasn't as large as it normally is.  Since there was a smaller group, we opted to go out for breakfast to Mel's Diner.

The Lime would not sit still (what a surprise) and refused to eat his breakfast...at first.  It took some coaxing to finally get him to take a bite.  Why is it that he'll eat eggs, bacon, and potatoes when LaVor makes them at home but refuses when we're out?  Who knows.

After breakfast, The Lime wanted to go to Target and Toys R' Us, two places that I refused to go near.  We had been the day before and both were crazy, I could only imagine the chaos that was taking place the day before Christmas.  I can't remember what we did the rest of the day, though.  At least up until I put The Lime down for a nap and I got my second migraine in five days.  Thankfully LaVor got off work early and I drugged myself up and went to bed, too.  My Christmas wish was that this migraine wouldn't end up like the last.  I woke up a few hours later feeling much better and was ready to check out the Christmas lights in our area.

One neighborhood a few minutes away had several homes that went all out.  They lined the sidewalks with lights and several families walked up and down the street admiring everything.  We opted to stay in the car and soak it all in with the heater on.

We then drove to the next town over, where everyone else and their mother ended up, too.  These lights were neat and nearly every house had some sort of character, light, or Christmas item in their front yard.  We loved seeing our favorites, Lightning McQueen & Mater, Chip N' Dale (or Chicken Dale like The Lime calls them), Robin Hood, Merida (for our niece/cousin), Ratatouille for me, Up!, and Mike & Sully.

We ate a late dinner of frozen pizza and Carl's Jr. (the only thing open on Christmas Eve) and LaVor read from the scriptures while The Lime acted the Nativity out with one of our sets.

The Lime then opened his new pajamas and instantly transformed into Superman. We had to reel him back in, set out the cookies and milk for Santa, and try to settle down before going to bed. I remember the excitement of going to bed on Christmas Eve and tossing and turning all night, waiting for even an ounce of sunlight to poke through my bedroom window. Most of the time, my sister and I would make our way into our older sister's bedroom and wait out the night together.

I decided to sleep on The Lime's floor to prevent any sneaking from taking place. He woke up once around 6:00 to go to the bathroom. The first thing out of his mouth was, "Did Santa come?!" Thankfully it was still dark outside so I could play dumb and say I wasn't sure. He slept for a couple more hours and then we were ready to see if Santa really came.

The second The Lime saw that he had come, and what he brought him, he said, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! It's exactly what I wanted! Oh my gosh!" It was perfect and I caught the tail end of it on camera. He was so stinkin' excited and appreciative of everything.

The rest of the day was extremely relaxed and casual. My parents, grandma, brother-in-law, and niece joined us for dinner that night. Unfortunately, we started steaming the tamales way too late and they weren't ready in time. Fortunately, we had plenty of beans, chips, salsa, guacamole, and LaVor's delicious homemade rice to fill our bellies. We might go back to a menu that we know how to prepare for next year's dinner.

After dinner, the two kiddos opened presents from Omi and GrandPop while we Skyped with my sister who decided to stay home with the baby.

And just like that, Christmas was over for another year. It always seems so far away but then it's gone in a blink of an eye.

In addition to appreciating the birth of our Savior, his life, and sacrifice for us, I was grateful for the time we were able to spend together as a family this year. LaVor was able to take several days off and The Lime and I just ate up having him around 24/7. It doesn't happen often but we're grateful when it does.

One Cent

My fascination with shoes is equivalent to LaVor's love for ties.  The brighter, classier, thicker tie the better.

Whenever The Lime and I go to Nordstrom Rack, he likes to pick out ties for LaVor (their tastes are very different) and choose a corresponding pair of cuff links.

We met LaVor there one night this week to pick up a final gift for The Lime.  While LaVor bought the item, I distracted The Lime in the Men's department.  He picked out a gift that he wanted to give LaVor for Christmas so when the coast was clear, we made our way to the register.

Earlier that day, when I was getting dressed, some change fell out of my pocket.  I never have change or cash so I'm not sure how it ended up there.  On the way to the store, I put my rings in the same pocket while I put lotion on my hands.  When I went to retrieve my rings, I felt one lone penny left in my pocket.

The Lime and I spent a few moments in line before it was our turn to be rung up.  The Lime handed the lady the gift and she scanned the barcode.  I turned my head to the screen to see the total but only saw $0.01.  I thought perhaps her register was having issues so I waited until I received some sort of indication from the lady before I gave her my card.  She looked up from the register and I handed her my card but she wouldn't take it.  "You don't by any chance have a penny, do you?" she asked.  Normally, I wouldn't, but for some reason that penny was still in my pocket.  "I do!" I said.  The gift was already marked as clearance but she said for some reason it was coming up as one cent and I wasn't going to argue with her.

The Lime felt like a big kid, getting a present for LaVor.  And I felt like buying a lottery ticket.  

Why Did We Move?

We just spent our third weekend, in a row, in the Bay Area.  Many people asked us why we left in the first place.  That's a great question.  We seem to be there a lot.

The first weekend there was for Thanksgiving.  We drove down Wednesday after LaVor got off work and came home on Sunday.

That trip included Thanksgiving dinner, the annual Black Friday shopping with my sister and mom, a visit to our old ward for their Christmas breakfast, a drive up to the Oakland Temple to see the Christmas lights, and a stop at the ice creamery for a Black & Tan.

After Thanksgiving dinner, we played a rousing game of "stand on one foot, bend down, and pick a grocery bag up with your teeth without touching the floor with your hands or your other foot".  It was amusing and some of us took it quite serious (me).  Too bad nobody grabbed the camera to capture my amusing poses.

Our second weekend there was just an overnight trip.  When I left my job in March, I was extended an invitation to the Christmas party, even though I am no longer an employee.  How in the world could I pass that up?!

It was wonderful to see everyone and play catch up.  We played the White Elephant game but with exceptional gifts.  I opened up a gorgeous piece from Pottery Barn and begged the other folks not to take it from me.  Unfortunately, it didn't last in my lap very long but I immediately won it back.  Good thing too, because then it was "dead" and all mine!  I love seeing it sitting on our kitchen table and I can't wait to fill it with different things throughout the year.

Mine is the one on the right

Lastly, The Lime and I drove down on Thursday so he could get his teeth cleaned by our favorite hygienist.  It's always music to my ears when we get a good report.  Even though he drinks soda every chance he gets and is still munching on Tootsie Rolls from Halloween.

Since we were already down there, and LaVor's cousin was getting married on Saturday, my sister let the two of us crash at her place.  The Lime loved loved loved being with his cousins and having a constant playmate.  I loved it, too.  LaVor drove down Friday night and we spent the rest of the time with his parents.

It's crazy to see the little girls in the family get married.  When LaVor and I got married, Kelli seemed so young (because she was...that's what almost 8 years will do to ya) and now she's heading off on this wonderful adventure.  We were lucky to be part of their special day.

The groom's family

While we thoroughly enjoyed our time with family and friends, I am looking forward to not having to pack a suitcase at the end of the week. 

And I won't miss the wide range of smells I-5 offers.

Christmas in New York

I've never really thought about a bucket list and I don't know if this necessarily qualifies.  It might just be a life long dream I've had and would love for it to come true...

Spending Christmas in New York.

The Lime and I are watching Home Alone 2: Lost in New York right now and it's making my desire that much stronger.

Ice skating at Rockefeller Center, browsing the ritzy shops on 5th Avenue, visiting the various Holiday Markets, perhaps even catching a show featuring The Rockettes.  And I would really love a cheese pizza like the one Kevin gets when he enters the limo at The Plaza.

And although I'm not a fan of being cold, I think that would just add to the experience.  I wear warm coats and scarves at home but I'd love to really need them, like in New York.

I would make sure to get out of there before New Years, or just avoid Times Square.  Not sure my claustrophobia could handle those crowds.

A New Chapter

When LaVor and I got married, I had a really hard time leaving my parents.  I would cry myself to sleep at night because I missed being at home with them.  Thankfully, we were only 30 minutes away and I could see them as often as I wanted.

After my sister moved and we found out we were moving to the same area, my parents also moved up here.  Once again, we are only 30 minutes away from each other.  I was pretty certain that would be the case for the rest of my life.

But things change and they're heading out of state shortly after Christmas.  It's safe to say I'm not looking forward to Christmas this year for that very reason.

While I'm extremely sad for myself, I'm much more sad for The Lime.

Last week, we drove by the cemetery where my grandpa is buried and I reminded The Lime that's where Grandpa Ray is.  I was 5 years old when he passed away and I have zero recollection of what he was like.  My parents have a few pictures of us together but they don't bring back any memories.  I have to rely on stories from others to learn things about him.

I'm hoping that because The Lime has been around my parents for almost four years, he'll have a few memories to hang onto once they leave.  And even though I've told him several times that they're moving, I'm not sure he fully understands what is going to take place.  There won't be anymore digging in their yard with shovels, or picking oranges, or watching Cars on their DVR, or playing baseball in their front yard.  But what I'll miss the most, no matter how silly it is, is the goodbye The Lime and my dad do every time we leave their house.  I roll The Lime's window down and he yells out, "Bye Poopydoo!" to my dad.  Then my dad does his, "Why you!!!" and reaches in the car to tickle The Lime.  I drive slowly down the driveway so they can repeat it a couple times.  Then we say we love each other and head off.

This has been a year of hard things so it's no surprise we'll be ending the year with probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do.

And I might just cry myself to sleep for the first few weeks after they're gone.

Christmas 2012

Entitled

My visiting teachers came over yesterday and during our visit, we were discussing Christmas and our methods to gift giving.  One of the ladies mentioned how she knew some families where their kids got anything and everything they asked for.  She had asked her teen daughter if she ever felt like she was missing out and wished for a Christmas like those kids.  Her daughter said no.  Then the mom asked her why.  "Because it wouldn't feel right.  I would never learn responsibility or how to appreciate things if I was always given everything I wanted."  "Yes!!" the mom thought, "I am doing something right!"

While driving to the Bay Area last week, LaVor and I were discussing the situation with our country and healthcare.  I shared with him a story I read of a person who had been paying quite a bit for a medication before signing up for Obamacare.  They just recently re-filled their prescription and didn't have to pay a dime.

The whole thing confuses me.

LaVor has a job that offers health insurance that covers our whole family.  But we pay for it.  In fact, the cost is going up this next year.

We not only pay our premiums but we have a co-pay for each visit as well as a percentage we pay after the insurance pays.  I would be a happy lady if our prescriptions were free but they aren't.  When I picked up The Lime's Epi-pens from the pharmacy, both the pharmacist and I gasped for air as she rang up my total.

These are my concerns:

If people are receiving free healthcare, while they are receiving unemployment, what incentive is there to find a job?  Is it really my husband's responsibility to not only pay for our livelihood, but contribute to others?

It may seem like an extremely selfish attitude that I have, and I'll be the first to admit that it is.  Our family is my top priority, not yours, not the neighbors, or the homeless couple asking for money on the corner.  LaVor works hard for us so that we can go to the doctor when we need to and pay for those stinkin' bills.  He doesn't work hard so other people can scoot by without having to lift a finger.

I understand that there are people who are unable to work and should be receiving financial assistance.  My beef is not with them.  I'm weary of the people who are fully capable of contributing to our society but choose not to, because they're taken care of no matter what.

If a 16 year old girl understands how the world should work, everyone else can too.

For two months, we waited and waited to receive the hospital bill from The Lime's ER visit.  I almost pooped in my pants when I saw the charges billed to our insurance and nervously anticipated what our portion would be.

We finally got the bill a few weeks ago and it wasn't as horrendous as I was expecting, although it still was a financial blow, especially before Christmas.  It's a crying shame that even with insurance, hospital bills are as much as they are.

I wanted to call the hospital and dispute some of the charges but the woman I spoke to (twice) said nothing was individually billed, it was all sort of a big lump.  After speaking to her twice, I was too nervous to call back in hopes of negotiating the bill.  LaVor has big boy underwear and said he would call back but hasn't had the time, since their business hours are the same hours he's working.

I was feeling extra brave yesterday, after setting up the Christmas tree and finding a majority of our lights no longer work.  I also lost several ornaments to a certain three year old who couldn't keep his hands off of everything.  Decorating the tree is probably one of my least favorite Christmas activities but I did it and thought I'd continue doing things I don't like; negotiating.

I'm afraid of the word "no", even though I've grown up my whole life with my dad saying, "the worst thing someone can say to you is no."  "No" isn't the end of the world yet it feels like it is to me.  So when I had to see if the hospital would accept a lower dollar amount than our statement said, I was deathly afraid of their response.  But I borrowed a pair of LaVor's big people underwear and dialed the number I had dialed two times before.  Sure enough, the same lady answered.  I explained the situation and she put me on hold, came back and said her supervisor was out but that she left him a message and would call me back as soon as she heard something.

A few hours later, my phone rang and The Lime beat me to it, hanging up on the caller in the process.  I called right back and heard the following, "I just heard back from my supervisor and he said it would be fine to adjust off this much and have you pay this much." What?!?! You mean I postponed and sweated and feared for nothing? My crummy morning had simply been brushed under the rug and I was now hearing angels singing. Talk about a Christmas miracle!

So now The Lime not only got a trip to the ER but he'll get a Christmas, too.

I guess it was all worth it

Grateful for...Z

The Lime thinks he can play any game he wants but we've had to change the rules for Monopoly to adjust to his skill level.  I'm thinking about getting Operation and see how he does with that.

But one game he can play, and enjoys, is Zingo.  He gets so into it that he plays with two board games, and one always has to have a bat.  Whenever someone wins, we yell, "Zingo!!!!"

Zingo is an easy game for him to understand and he's beat us several times.  If only he had a better understanding of losing and how we act when we lose.

Grateful for...Y

Yesterday was a good day.  My brother spent the night Saturday night so he was with us all day, which The Lime absolutely loved.  Another guy to "muscle" with?  Yes!  He was in heaven.

My other brother and his family, my sister and her family, and our parents also came over yesterday for dinner.  We had seven kiddos running around and I found out my six year old nephew and The Lime are twins at heart.  They both got dressed up and were ready to battle the bad guys.  My niece drew me a darling picture that now hangs on our refrigerator.  The guys spent some time in the garage, huddled around my dad's Mustang while the ladies were warm and toasty inside.  I went out to check on them and my heart was warmed.  I really wish we all lived closer.

But the highlight of yesterday was when my brother-in-law blessed my newest niece in our family room.  It's not that they chose to do it at our home, we just happened to have dinner here but the fact that they didn't object to doing it in our home gave me the warm fuzzies.  It was nice to have a more personal, intimate setting and we were able to include my sister and her family via Skype.  I think this is only the second baby blessing, out of sixteen, that everyone was able to participate.

Yesterday was right up there with Christmas...I just didn't want it to end.

Grateful for...X

Prior to getting married, I remember driving out to LaVor's house with him one night, after getting into an argument with my dad.  I can't remember what it was about but I do remember being really upset.  As we drove along the freeway, listening to Coldplay's X&Y album, "Fix You" came on and I thought about the story behind the song.

Knowing that it was written for Gwyneth after her father passed away, and I was listening to it after an argument with my dad, made me bawl like a baby.  I still cry whenever I hear it.  In fact, it might be my favorite song on X&Y.

And that says a lot because I really love every song on that album.  And hearing them live was even better.

When LaVor and I broke up, "The Scientist" came out on A Rush of Blood to the Head. I loved the song but it reminded me of such a sad time. We don't have a "song" but I can't help but think of our outcome when I listen to "Kingdom Come" on X&Y.

This album is one of those that you can listen to and not have to skip through any tracks.  It has definitely become one of my favorites.

Grateful for...W

The Lime wets his bed at least once a week. He woke up the other night and tried to climb into our bed but I told him there wasn't enough room and that I'd sleep on his floor with him. When I walked into his room, his Pull-Up was on the floor, full, but he had another one on. I asked him if he peed in his bed and he had. He changed his Pull-Up by himself and wanted to sleep in our bed because his was wet.

I have never been more grateful for a washing machine as I have been since The Lime joined our family. I washed onesies, bibs, burp cloths, and blankets daily when he was a baby. Now I get to wash soiled sheets in the middle of the night. I'm so appreciative when all I have to do is throw the laundry in the washing machine and turn it on. I don't need to transport large loads to and from our house to a Laundromat. I don't need to build strong muscles as I wash them by hand. Although I've always thought washboards were sort of neat.

Washing machines are a modern day convenience that I treasure and value and never want to be without.

Grateful for...V

It was February 2008 that I last saw my brother and his family. Since then, he's added two more kids to his family and The Lime joined ours. Today was the first day of their vacation up in our neck of the woods and we got to visit with them at dinner.

I love visitors, and especially love when we're so excited to see each other. My nieces and nephews couldn't be any cuter and The Lime took an instant liking to them. My brother and I shared a long embrace when we first saw each other. He's not just a visitor but will always be my big brother.

Speaking of siblings, I was on the phone with my sister this morning when The Lime said he wanted to play with his cousin. Amy graciously welcomed us in her home for most of the day, as we snuggled her newborn baby and the two kiddos played everything under the sun. Then her hubby came home from work and we chatted over dinner. Sometimes it's nice to be the visitor, too.

We'll have an extra special visitor tomorrow and I can hardly wait!!

We have a sign in our house that says, "We love having you here!" and it's so true. I'm grateful for the times we can open our home to visitors, whether it's for a quick visit or a weekend vacation.

Grateful for...U

We've had a giveaway pile in the garage since we moved in. It's only taken me almost 8 months to take the box to Deseret Industries. The original box was overflowing so I had to put some items in a garbage bag. One of those items was an umbrella we bought in Bussum, that we haven't used since.

When we were in the Netherlands, we made a visit to the town of Bussum where LaVor's dad and his family lived. We brought my umbrella with us but weren't sure we would need it. The sky was cloudy all morning but we were blessed with no precipitation. That is, until we were on our way back to the train station. We tried to seek cover under my umbrella but we were both getting soaked. LaVor opted to brave the rain until we could find a store to purchase another umbrella. Unfortunately, Mondays are the days where most stores are closed and poor LaVor was now drenched. To brighten our spirits, we stopped at a bakery (one of the few shops that was open) to pick up some sweet treats. As we were approaching the train station, we were blessed to find a store (similar to Target, just not as big) that was open and had umbrellas! Although we spent the rest of the day in damp clothes, we now had an extra umbrella so we wouldn't have to face the same ordeal again.

Soaked, eating our treats while we wait for the train

We were lucky to receive two days of rain this week, one of which was yesterday, the day we went to D.I.. I couldn't find my umbrella before we left the house and it dawned on me as I was driving, that I had the Bussum umbrella in the bag behind me. So when I pulled into the unloading zone, I slyly dug the umbrella out of the bag and tucked it in the console. Just like our trip, it came to the rescue even though I ended up not needing it but I've now given it a second chance at life. At least until I find my umbrella.

Grateful for...T

We bought a box of firewood at OSH a few weeks ago but ran out last week (it wasn't very much).  I had mentioned to LaVor that my dad had trimmed my Grandma's trees a while back and still had all the wood, and he said we could take whatever we wanted.  So we planned for Monday night to be our pick-up day.  LaVor met us there, with his huge work truck, and despite a small delay, we got things rolling.

The Lime was ready to get to work.  He had on his work boots, goggles, hard hat, gloves, and even his gas mask.  Since LaVor had just come from work, he was in his bright orange coveralls.  When we got back home, The Lime insisted on putting his red racing jumpsuit on so he would look like Daddy.

My dad and LaVor cut the wood and fixed the chainsaw a couple of times while The Lime and I were in charge of stacking the wood in the back of LaVor's truck.

I couldn't help but think of a similar situation, about twenty years ago, when my dad had a TON of firewood delivered and us kids were in charge of stacking it in the backyard.  We were horrible complainers and I'm pretty sure that made the situation 10x worse than it needed to be.  I know I was definitely lacking in the teamwork department.

Monday night proved that I've grown up a bit and that our little family thrives when it comes to teamwork.  Nobody complained, everyone pulled their weight, and we got the job done in no time.  Especially when we were unloading the wood, The Lime totally impressed me.  He had a little wagon that he threw wood into and rolled it to the backyard where he stacked his pile with the larger pile next to the house.  I think he was actually having a lot of fun.

I've gotta say, I'm not too surprised that we work great as a team.  I thought about the times LaVor helped me with my wedding cakes and accomplished things I couldn't figure out.  Or when we've put up Christmas lights or cleaned out the garage.  Or when we've gotten lost in foreign cities and had to maneuver our way out of sketchy areas.

Teamwork is what helped us accomplish all of those things, and so many more. I feel extremely blessed for the little team we have and for the opportunities we have to work together.

Grateful for...S

Last Saturday morning I heard The Lime, through the monitor, climbing out of his bed, heard his door open, heard our door open, and looked up to see him standing at the foot of our bed with his blanket and Lucifer.  He hopped right into our bed and snuggled in between LaVor and I.

Snuggles don't happen very often with an almost 4 year old but when they do, LaVor and I eat them up.

Like today, when I got up from the couch and The Lime sat down in my seat.  When I came back, I sat down and hardly squished him, all while pretending I didn't see him sitting there.  He thought it was hilarious and asked me to do it again and again.  When I was done, I sat down next to him and he snuggled right up to me.  It didn't last long but I enjoyed every second of it.

A couple weeks ago, The Lime would ask to snuggle with us before bedtime.  I think it might have been a stall tactic (smart kid) and we fell right into his trap.  He would gather a few blankets from his bedroom, bring them to the couch, and we'd squish together as close as we could.

Being "warm and snuggly" is one of my favorite feelings, especially when it involves my little dude.

Grateful for...R

Growing up, when dinner was ready, my mom would announce, "Dinner!"  Most of the time, we'd hop right up and make our way to the table, but every now and then we'd stay sitting in front of the tv.  It bugged the heck out of her when we didn't even reply to her beck and call, let alone get our buns up and sit at the table.  I totally understand her frustration.

And not just when it comes to dinner.

I've wondered recently if there's a problem with my e-mail and phone because when I leave someone a message, I don't get a reply.  I don't want to be a pest and inquire every day, so I usually let it go at least three before I try to contact them again.  But when they still don't reply, then my blood boils.

It's one thing to not reply to a phone call or e-mail but when it happens to your face, like I mentioned above, that's really frustrating.  Like when I pleasantly wished someone a nice week yesterday and I got nothin'.  I didn't need the same wish back, I would have been happy with an "uh huh" but I didn't even get that.

I think it boils down to being ignored, being treated like you don't exist or maybe aren't worth someone's time (or breath).

I appreciate a small, simple reply, even a brief moment of eye contact, so I at least know I'm alive.

Grateful for...Q

I don't have a lot of variety when it comes to the decor in our house.  Photos and quotes are the most popular.  Both are two of my favorite things.

I've always been thankful for quotes, seeing as I kept every handout from YW for years that included a quote.  I was always ready to share a spiritual thought.  I'm thankful for the ability to remember certain ones.  I'm thankful for the reminders they offer when I pass them in the hallway.

I'm not just a fan of personal quotes but movie quotes, too.  Funny, since I'm not a fan of movies.

We must have watched a lot of movies growing up because my family quotes them like they're going out of style.  And now I'm bringing The Lime on board.

For a while now, when I put him to bed, he asks me to tell him a secret.  The secrets are actually quotes from shows/movies.

"Not in my town you don't!"

"Tell your mother's about your bad attitudes!"

"Pontypandy pansies."

And my personal favorite...

Troop Beverly Hills is a classic!  As is Goonies, Big Business, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Billy Madison, Saved by the Bell, Full House, Hocus Pocus.  All are shows/movies that my family has been quoting for years.  It's fun to go back and watch certain movies and realize, "Oh!  That's where we got that quote from!"

And while none of those quotes have made it up on our walls, they've still become a part of us and will live on for at least one more generation.

Grateful for...P

This week has been a park filled week.  Some days, we even went twice; once in the morning and once in the afternoon.  I'm trying to get as much park time in before it gets too cold and rainy.

We are super duper lucky to live so close to so many parks.  We have two within walking distance and several within a couple minutes of driving.  The Lime has always loved parks but they weren't as readily available in Livermore.

This week, The Lime wore his fireman outfit and went all out with his imagination.  He had poles to slide down, a truck to drive, houses to save.  I found him at one point with three other little boys following behind him as they went to put out a fire.

Sometimes there's an alligator chasing us and we can't touch the ground.  Other times we're pretending to be the dogs on Paw Patrol and we have to help someone.  Today we switched roles and The Lime pushed me on the swing, since that's his least favorite activity at the park (the swings).

I'm grateful we can go to the park whenever we want, that there are safe parks where we can play, that The Lime makes little friends while we're there, and I'm especially grateful when The Lime doesn't throw a tantrum when we leave the park (like he did on Thursday).

I'm also grateful when I see other kids throw tantrums and the parent walking away, hoping the child will follow.  Then I know I'm not the only one who has a kid that would rather stay at the park than go anywhere else.

January 2011

January 2012

March 2013

Grateful for...O

While I was making lunch for The Lime today, I offered him an apple, banana, grapes, or orange.  He chose the orange.  He finished his tamale and asked if he could have his treat but I told him he needed to eat his orange first.  Apparently I wasn't supposed to cut it into little pieces but leave them in slices, because he didn't want them anymore.  I cut up an apple for myself but ended up giving him some of it.  I didn't want the orange to go to waste so when I finished the apple, I ate the orange, too.

Boy, did The Lime miss out.  When we were at my grandma's house yesterday, my dad filled a bag of oranges and tangerines for me.  I love summer because of all the amazing fruit but winter brings citrus and you can't beat a good orange.  Juicy, sweet, extremely fragrant.  

And it's only the middle of November.  I can't wait to indulge in the oranges in a month or so.

Our loot

Grateful for...N

It took me about 6 years before I spoke to our neighbors across the street from our old place.  The husband was outside multiple times a day, smoking a cigarette, and we'd wave to each other but never once said anything.  Then there was a shooting on Easter and the neighborhood united.

The day we moved, I pulled into our new driveway and was immediately greeted by Phyllis, our neighbor across the street, who had a plate of cookies for us as well as a sweet note welcoming us to the neighborhood.  I told LaVor she stopped by and he said, "Oh yeah, I met so and so from next door."  What?!  Who are these people and why are they so friendly?!  It wasn't that our old neighborhood wasn't friendly; they were, it just took a while for everyone to break out of their shells.

Phyllis, our new neighbor, expressed to me that she prayed and prayed when she saw our house became vacant because she wanted a "good Christian family to move in."  I think we answered her prayers but then I told her The Lime's toy cat is named Lucifer (after the cat from Cinderella) and she wasn't amused.  Whoops!  She did notice we leave around 8:30 every Sunday for a couple hours and I confirmed to her we were church going people.  She liked that.

It's always comforting when you can trust a neighbor with the news that you're going out of town for a few days.  I'm grateful that I'm surrounded by good people that will keep an eye on things for us and vice versa.  I don't know what everyone does for work but out of our immediate neighbors, there's usually one that's always home which is comforting, in case I need help while LaVor is at work.  Several have also volunteered to watch The Lime for us if we ever need a baby-sitter.  And we don't have dogs barking at all hours of the day/night.  That is the biggest blessing of all!

As The Lime and I were leaving the house this morning, the vacant house on the corner had some appliances being delivered.  I have a feeling we'll be getting some new neighbors soon and I can't wait to welcome them to the neighborhood.  And it won't be in 6 years.

Grateful for...M

"You see how picky I am about my shoes and they only go on my feet."

Gosh, I love Clueless.

And shoes.  Especially my Miz Mooz shoes.  Because just like Cher, I'm extremely picky about my shoes.  But Miz Mooz seems to satisfy all of my crazy requirements.

I'm grateful Santa has been so generous in the past and surprised me with a pair of Miz Mooz heels and boots.  I'm hoping I've been extra good and will find a pair of red Miz Mooz flats under the Christmas tree this year.  Especially since my current pair of red flats are on their last leg and my toes are poking through holes that aren't supposed to be there.

These will do

Or these

One of the reasons I'm grateful for Miz Mooz shoes is their unique style. While browsing the shoes at Nordstrom Rack, I can always spot a Miz Mooz. I'm also grateful for the delicious leather I get whiffs of throughout the day while I wear a pair. They're also extremely comfortable, even when you step in a puddle and fill your shoe with water.

Another thing I'm grateful for?  Although they're extremely expensive, if you wait a season, you can usually find the shoes on sale.

Shoes...on sale, specifically Miz Mooz shoes on sale...I can hear the angels singing songs of thanks.

Grateful for...L

Every week, The Lime and I try to make a visit to LaVor's work, at least once, for a lunch date.  We would do it in Livermore, too, but they seem more special now.

Every morning, when The Lime wakes up, he asks if Daddy is home.  He also asks when Daddy can stay home with us (the weekends don't last long enough).  Our lunch dates are a brief opportunity for The Lime (and me) to get our Daddy fix in the middle of the day.  It's also nice that once we get home, The Lime takes his nap, and then it's just an hour or two until Daddy gets home.  I think LaVor also likes it because it gives him an excuse to get out for half an hour.  The Lime also likes to visit with his "co-worker friends".  He's adopted all of LaVor's co-workers as his own, and they're also his best friends.

I'm grateful LaVor works close enough that we can have our little lunch dates and that his co-workers don't mind we sometimes crash the office.  As long as we don't bring fish, they said we're always welcome.  That means we'll be having lunch dates indefinitely.

Grateful for...K

I've noticed a pattern with my grateful posts...they include a lot of memories.  Unfortunately, this one falls into the same category.

When my parents moved from our house, I had taken a video on one of our last days there but I haven't been able to find it since then.  I got out our small camera the other day and there it was, on the camera and not on the two memory cards.  I was so excited!

This video means nothing to anyone else but I love it.  I love it because it's in our kitchen, where so many other memories took place.  We had thousands of meals in this room, numerous discussions, millions of fights, lots of hugs and kisses, a few broken ribs, lots of rollerskating (when it was raining outside), it's where Indy slept when he was recovering from his numerous accidents, where friends waited for us to finish getting ready, it's the light that we always left on if we were going to come back home after dark.

I think it's a worldwide thing that kitchens are where families and friends tend to congregate the most.  And I can totally understand why.  Who doesn't want to be where the food is?

But even if there's not always food, I hope our family is as fond of and grateful for our kitchen as I was for mine.

Grateful for...J

Shortly after we moved here, there was a knock on our door and naturally, I answered it.  It ended up being two Jehovah's Witnesses, going around the neighborhood, sharing their message.  I always think of our missionaries getting doors slammed in their faces so I patiently listened to what the women had to say, accepted their pamphlet, and they went on their way.

That initial visit has turned into about three or four additional visits.  Each time the Jehovah's Witnesses come over, I end up being the one that shared a message.  I've shared with them the Plan of Salvation, my experiences with family history, our beliefs about what happens after we die, I've shared quotes from Apostles and scriptures from the Book of Mormon.  Our next visit will be about prayer.

I don't know much about Jehovah's Witnesses and their religion.  I had a friend in high school who was killed in a car crash and I attended his memorial service at one of their church buildings.  What little I do know about their beliefs, I don't understand completely.  And I guess I won't any time soon, as long as I'm the one sharing the messages.

I do know that they don't celebrate holidays or birthdays, but can they accept gifts?  I hope so because I'd love to have a Book of Mormon or Christmas DVD ready to go for the next time they come over.

After General Conference, I was feeling the pressure to get out and share the gospel.  I also feel extremely guilty when the sister missionaries strongly encourage us to provide them with a name of someone to teach.  Do you know how hard that is when the only person you interact with on a daily basis is a 3 year old who already attends church?  But when my Jehovah's Witness friends stop by, I have the opportunity to share my testimony and plant a little seed.

And I'd like to think that counts, even a little bit.

Grateful for...I

When I was younger, I got food poisoning from three different items; salami, egg salad, and a green salad.  The only one I steered clear from for YEARS was green salad.

Two years ago, I had In-N-Out for lunch one day and ended up getting extremely sick later that night.  While I don't know for sure if it was the In-N-Out, or just a random bug that only struck me, I wasn't phased one bit.  Want to know why?  In-N-Out is the best when it comes to fast food hamburgers (I might be cast out of my family for saying that).

I remember the first time hearing about In-N-Out; my brother and his friend were on their way back from Omi's house and had stopped at this "new" place they had found.  Unfortunately, there weren't any near our house so we couldn't find out for ourselves how good it was.  Then I remember being at the Oakland Aviation Museum with my dad, at some get together, and this food truck pulled into the parking lot.  Turns out, it was the same place Tommy had told us about...In-N-Out.  And boy, was he right.  It was the best hamburger!

A few years later, one was built about 20 minutes south of where I grew up.  We'd go there occasionally if we were in the area, or if a friend asked what I wanted to do one night and I suggested watching airplanes at the airport and then eating at In-N-Out.  It was also around this time that the Drive-In across the street from our house was torn down and a new shopping center was being built.  And to our benefit(?), an In-N-Out was in the works to be built.

I don't know exactly what it is about the hamburger that I love so much but I do.  The fries are just okay by themselves but when we dip them in the spread, they're taken to a new level.  And I no longer order just a plain shake, it's gotta be a Neapolitan.

They certainly know a thing or two about running a business, and a simple menu.  While I love cheesecake, I hate going to the Cheesecake Factory because their menu is huge!  Way too many choices.  In-N-Out on the other hand is simple and straight to the point.  I like that.

And now I'm discovering that I shouldn't have written this post before eating something because now I'm starving and In-N-Out doesnt open for a couple hours.

Grateful for...H

The last time I had my teeth cleaned was right before we moved.  That means it's been 7 months that we've been here.  Jeepers!

While I do my best to keep my teeth clean (LaVor might say I do too much), I can always tell when I'm due for a cleaning.  Especially my darn wire that keeps my lower anteriors nice and straight.

Unlike when I was a kid, I actually enjoy getting my teeth cleaned.  I think that's mostly because I love my hygienist.  I had a good hygienist growing up, even though when she flossed it felt like my teeth were going to fall out of my head, but the one I've been seeing for almost 8 years is the best.  She's kind, gentle, personable, thorough, knowledgable, outgoing, and did I mention kind?  I always leave the appointment running my tongue across my teeth and thinking, "Ahhhhhhh!  Bliss!" and I'm never in pain (mainly because I floss).

It also doesn't hurt that my hygienist is my friend, and one of my former co-workers that I was SO sad to leave.  I've met very few people that have as big of heart as she does.  She really is one of a kind

I called our insurance today to verify the frequency for cleanings and they confirmed it was four per calendar year.  While our oral hygiene is in check and we don't need such frequent visits, I wouldn't mind seeing my hygienist every three months.  She's just that good.

Grateful for...G

A few weeks ago, on our way home from Apple Hill, we drove by my grandma's place and I asked The Lime if he wanted to stop and say hi.  He said yes so we flipped the car around and made a quick visit.

She was sitting in the lobby, catching up on her Z's.  I gently touched her knee, nothing.  I touched her arm, nothing.  Then I shook her and that woke her up.  While it was a surprise visit, she was still happy to see us.  Especially The Lime.

Although we grew up 2 hours from her, we didn't see her very often.  When we did, she always had little cans of apple, grape, and pineapple juice for us, as well as miscellaneous gifts she collected on her trips.

She was never very lovey dovey with us (my dad and sister say my grandpa was more of that type) but we knew she loved us.  Yet with her great grandchildren, she can't keep her lips away from their cheeks.  And I LOVE IT!

Grandma calls The Lime her Little Hunk and has to show him off to all the ladies in her complex.  When I bring her pictures of him, she asks for extras so she can hand them out.  She always wants to hug him, kiss him, and make sure he's safe (especially when GrandPop is tickling him..."Be gentle!" she says).

I've loved living closer to Grandma and getting to know her better.  Especially when she tells us stories of her youth.  But I need to make a better effort at seeing her more often.  She'll be 88 in a few weeks and I want to soak up the time I have with her. 

And I want The Lime to have bright pink lipstick on his cheeks for years to come.

Grateful for...F

When we knew for sure that we were moving, and started looking for a new home, we knew the thing we both wanted most was a fireplace.

In our old place, we lived in a duplex owned by a couple that owned the two-story duplexes next door.  Those had fireplaces and every time one became vacant, we'd contact the landlord only to be told they already had someone set on moving in.  So for almost 7 years we longed for a fireplace, especially during the winter when our PG&E bills were outrageous and we could smell the neighbors' fires when we went outside.

Most of the houses we looked at had fireplaces, including the one we settled on.  Finally, last night, the weather was cold enough that LaVor (with The Lime overseeing the operation) whipped up our very first fire. 

While it didn't put out nearly as much heat as I'm used to (my parents had a wood burning stove in their old house...that sucker was HOT), it was still fun, toasty, and has made our house smell like Christmas! 

And it'll keep the heating bill in check.

And we now have a mantle to hang our stockings from.

And The Lime is anxiously awaiting to make s'mores.

I love fireplaces.

Grateful for...E

E sort of threw me for a loop. I had a list of things I wanted to mention; electricity, emergency rooms, E:60, eyes, ears, earth, envelopes. Then I read a girl's blog yesterday, specifically her baby's birth story, and it hit me...epidural!

Her entire pregnancy she planned for a natural home birth but after 36 hours in labor and 5 hours of pushing, she ended up having a c-section at the hospital.

My sister has now delivered both her babies au naturel and I don't know how she does it. I do know she goes to a different place and thinks of the ocean, but the ocean scares me just like giving birth without an epidural. But she's Wonder Woman (remember her husband was deployed and she was a single parent for 9 months?) and can do anything.

I, on the other hand, am a wimp. I like things to be easy, especially if I have options. And I realize I've never talked about The Lime's birth and my firm decision to get an epidural.

Light contractions started on Saturday morning, January 16. I had my last baby shower that morning and made some final purchases that afternoon. I had every intention to go to church the next day but LaVor objected. Good thing, because the contractions got stronger on Sunday, but not enough to take action. I hardly slept Sunday night and ended up calling the hospital early Monday morning, letting them know of my progress and we'd be there in a couple hours. I took a bath, we got our things together, dropped something off at LaVor's work, and were on our way. Once I was checked in, the first thing I asked the nurse was when I could get my epidural. I was dilated to a 4 and she said I could get it right away. Hallelujah! The anaesthesiologist was in my room in no time and administered the epidural with ease and I was in heaven!

Feelin' pretty.darn.good!

Once the shakes went away, I was able to sleep for a couple hours before I woke up and the fun began. While I couldn't feel my legs or the contractions, I could feel the urge to push and that was about all I wanted to feel.

So while natural birth might be the answer for some, I was so grateful having the option of an epidural and putting it to extremely good use.

Grateful for...D

We've been to two wedding receptions in the last month and a half that turned into huge dance parties.  And while I'm not a dancer, I love to dance!  (Who knows what movie "I love to dance" is from?)

The Lime has always danced around the house but when we went to Jared and Lia's wedding in September, he showed us a side we've never seen before.  He was right there, in the center of the dance floor, showing off his moves.  Unfortunately, his moves mostly consisted of the Bernie Lean.  What a riot!

Dancing at the receptions made me miss church dances. They were the highlight of my youth, always something I looked forward to. I didn't just stick to my region either, I was always on the hunt for a dance. The New Year's Eve dances were always a treat as were the youth dances that were casual. I only wish I dressed cuter during that time in my life. I don't know why I thought boys would think I was cute if I dressed exactly like them.

Dances were also where we met tons of new people. Funny story. I was a newly 14 year old and had seen a boy throughout the dance that I thought was cute. I never got the courage to ask him to dance and they announced the last song. Another girl beat me to it and I was so stinkin' sad. Then the DJ surprised us and played one more song so I rushed over and asked him to dance. He was super short but still cute. I don't ever remember seeing him again until one Sunday at church, about 7 years later. I went up to him and asked, "You weren't by any chance really short when you were younger, were you?" He said yes and we made the connection. He ended up going on a few dates with my sister. The world is small.

I don't miss much about being in high school and my early 20's but I do long for those Saturday nights where we'd dance and dance and dance. And then go to Denny's and fill up on fried appetizers. It was always a fun, clean, carefree activity where we could sing along, act silly, be with friends and family, and enjoy ourselves.

That was the life.